What background do you prefer

[koolbraider]

Yup, I know this is probably another way to ask about props but I remembered a question on our previous forum: completely white background or a background with "something" that adds some potential interest. Personally, I like a completely white background but that's probably I am prop-challenged. What do you think of when deciding "to white or not to white"?

[Michele]

I use pastels with a small white plate for my pictures. I'm white balance challenged. I can never make an all white background work for me.

[caeterle]

I think you already know my answer.

I know it's not recommended for online shops, and I remember that way back when I was still on ArtFire they wanted to convince us all to use white backgrounds without any props to make it look like the big stores, and I also know I'll never make it into an Etsy front page treasury ... but I love my black background.

White without anything is supposed to look more professional, but I have always been drawn to jewelry pictures on black background myself, even before I even thought about making any myself.

[DawninCal]

I love props if they are used correctly. If you take a look at my AF shop, you can see my experiments with props in the early days. I still like a lot of those photos, but in order to have a cohesive look, I have settled on a white background, a white plate, a white cup and a piece of white coral. Those items satisfy my need for props and also maintain a the white theme that everyone seems to think is so important.

Cat, your black background photos are stunning and I'm not completely convinced that white is the be all, end all that so many insist is the only way to go.



Dawn

[j3jewelry]

I don't use a lot of props anymore but I used to try to make them work. Lots of times it would be to set something at a different angle to get an all-around shot, but I was never that great at it. Nowadays I like the white I get from my light box (Ihang earrings from clear fishing line that is strung across the box, about 2/3 up to the top), and I will use a slate 12"x12" tile for other contrasty shots I want to achieve. Haven't gone much further from those yet. Time will tell.