By Christina VanGinkel
I had made a half a dozen different necklaces that I wanted to sell on Ebay. Each was different from the others, no two alike. Describing them was possible, but I knew that a potential buyer would never be able to comprehend exactly what they each looked like from a description alone. Thankfully, I had a digital camera, a Sony Mavica that was easy to use, and just as easy to download pictures from onto my computer. Within ten minutes, I had snapped several pictures of each necklace, so that I had a variety of pictures to choose from to post with any auction or sale I may place online. A few years back, I would have had to snap a whole roll of film of the six necklaces, or waited until I had finished a few more, than waited until the roll was developed, hoping that I had at least one useable picture of each necklace. Then, I would have had to scan each picture into my computer, individually, all before I uploaded the photographs to list them for sale on a site such as Ebay. Thankfully, those days are gone!
With limited markets in many areas, crafters today often sell their merchandise online, either though Ebay or various other online outlets. The main requirement to participate in these ventures, besides actually having a craft to sell, is to be able to adequately describe and offer photos of the product they are selling. If you are still snapping those photographs the old-fashioned way, save yourself the hassles you are surely enduring, and purchase an easy to use digital. Even a basic model will provide you with enough features to sell your wares online with ease.
What exactly are the benefits of digital? Thanks to the digital camera, you no longer have to wait until you have enough finished craft items to fill an entire roll. Nor do you have to hope that each picture you took is good enough to represent the items you are selling. With a digital camera, you can snap a photograph, instantly see it, upload it to your computer to clarify that it is of optimum use, and be ready to list the item it represents, i.e., no film to develop, no scanning, just instant photos.
Who would have thought that a camera would so affect the way crafters are able to promote and sell their wares? Besides the initial photographs, a potential buyer may contact you and ask for additional photos. Again, thanks to your camera being digital, this request can be met with no additional cost to you, other than the time it takes to photograph, upload, and email the pictures.
Antique sellers have netted many of these same benefits from the digital camera. By being able to offer close-up photos upon request from a potential buyer, their avenues for sales have opened up far beyond the areas they may live and work. From small-time antique hunters, to large enterprises that deal with high volumes of items, digital cameras have drastically changed the way they work.
Even those sellers who did not set out to sell something online, will be surprised at how much a difference having readily available photographs can help sell an item when they suddenly find themselves on the selling end of a deal.
No comments:
Post a Comment