Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Lend Me An Ear

Good photographs are so important when selling on the internet so I am always trying to improve them whenever I can.  My new lightbox has helped tremendously but I was in need of some good props for displaying my pieces.  I like to present a variety of photos of the item I am selling to show all the angles as well as how it would actually hang and help visualize the size and length.


I recently purchased this display which I thought would be perfect for showing off a choker style necklace as well as an earring.  I was sadly disappointed, however, when I discovered that there wasn't a single type of earring that would fit through the hole on the ear.  The hole was at the wrong angle and the "ear" was too thick for any ear wire to go through.  Since the display is made from plaster, drilling a larger hole was not an option.  The piece sat on my shelf for several months before I finally came up with an idea.

I took some photographs of the display.  I reprinted the picture in life-size on a heavy cardstock and punched a small hole in it.  I then placed my earring in the hole and photographed it again.

  

I like how it shows the proper size and length of the earring and it works for both dangle and post styles. I've learned that if something doesn't work just the way you want it to, it always helps to improvise.

6 comments:

Cara Jane (surfingcat) said...

What an inventive way round the problem!

Cindy Lietz, Polymer Clay Tutor said...

What a clever girl you are Carolyn! I don't think I would have ever thought of that.

That's weird about the hole being wrong for putting in earrings. I wonder if that was just a mistake or if they are all like that? I have seen this style of display out there with earrings hanging from them, so it makes me very curious.

Good job for figuring out such a great work around!

Melobeau said...

Very clever and very ingenious!(not to mention VERY effective)

2 Good Claymates said...

Thanks. I was really sad at first when the display piece wouldn't work for an earring -- I don't think that one was defective but rather a design flaw. Anyhow, at least I found a way to make it work. I don't think I would ever buy another one made from plaster again as it marks up really easy as well and could break. I know for next time and thought I would help pass the info on in case anyone else was looking for such a thing.

Beadcomber said...

You're ingenious Carolyn! Thanks for this great tip! I have the same Venus bust, but in black and like you frustrated not being able to use larger or clip-ons with it.
What did you use to print this out on? Matte Photo paper or card stock?

2 Good Claymates said...

Hi Tina,

I just printed it out on regular 8-1/2 x 11" cardstock that I use for my earring and business cards.