ok peoples…. I need some help! 

There are lots of ways you can take product photos….. Some can look stunning and make you more likely to buy the product just because it looks great, some can make the product look bad simply because the photo is dark, grainy and terrible.

Photos of products you’d buy online (like pads) are REALLY important, because it can be what people base their buying decisions on.

But I see in my travels lots of pad makers who are not doing their pads justice by the fact that their photos aren’t the best. I’ve been turned off buying pads because the photos are so bad I assume the craftsmanship is too (or just simply I can’t see enough detail to make me comfortable buying it)

So….

I’ve taken some photos of the same pad in many different locations around my house and on different backgrounds.. to show what a difference just the background can make to product photos… so I can try to convince some pad makers that it is important to put some thought into how they photograph their products and think beyond just using a piece of white fabric or something…

I’ve simply cropped and resized them…. as you can see the lighting around the house and outside can make the pad appear completely different too (dark blue to royal blue). Normally if I am photographing pads inside I use my graphics program to adjust the brightness/contrast to fix the low-light dimness they tend to have… but I’ve left them be for this to demonstrate how lighting also affects the look… as this is also something to consider.

So… reply and tell me which photos you like the best.  Which ones would make you more likely to buy the pad (assuming you were in the market to buy a pad of course).. which ones do you not like.. and why. If we can discuss this, it might help pad makers work out how best to display their products.

I know the other option is to have no background (edit the photo in a graphics program to remove it)… and setting up fancy light boxes and stuff to make a more professional photo…… but here were just focusing on if you have to have a background and you’re just going to be taking photos in a basic form (without light boxes and graphics editors), what’s the best way to do that to make the product look best.

I’ve actually written up an article for CPS about this too… but I’m hoping to get some discussion happening here so that people can see what other peoples thoughts are, not just my own

The Photos!

(Black Fabric, “White” Fabric)

(Bamboo Velour Flat, Bamboo Velour Wrinkled)

(My Doona, Computer Chair)

(Microfleece flat, Microfleece Wrinkled)

(Dyed BV flat, Dyed BV Wrinkled)

(A throw rug flat, the throw rug Wrinkled)

(Cotton couch cushion, Metallic thread scatter cushion)

(Tutu skirt)

(Coloured balls, Bamboo placemat)

(Book, Teatowel)

(Various shots using a gold metal basket on bamboo velour)

(Floorboards)

(Plain white paper, Particle (wood) board)

(balcony Railing, Blossom tree)

(Daisies and Weeds, Wooden decking)

(2 kinds of concrete)

(Fence, Grass)

(Flowering Bush, Tree branches)

(Clothesline, Garden of weeds)

A Procraftination pantyliner, a Yurtcraft Geisha, a Go With The Flo and 2 Luna Wolf Lovebug liners.

And pads I got in a swap:

I’ve been terribly slack updating this…. so I’ve actually got more new ones than this (there is a yellow Sanguine pad, and a black Geisha Platinum Panties pad), but they are probably stuffed in a drawer somewhere or hiding among the mess..

Naturally Hip (orange), Punky’s Pads (Large Geisha), Sanguine (Blue Batik), Fussy Butt (Purple Velour), Modest Maiden (Blue liner), Yurtcraft (Geisha with fan), Platinum Panties (red Geisha)

Go With The Flo, Quirky Quintessentials and Platinum Panties

Here is my other Platinum Panties Geisha pad I misplaced

Aren’t you jealous!!!

Isn’t it beautiful!!!!!!!!

It was a birthday present from a friend. It is felted, hand dyed and appliqued with a woman worshipping the moon. Which is (accidentally I believe) almost exactly the same as the avatar I use a lot:

and she has a pentacle tattoo on her lower back very cool.

The drawers pics weren’t enough for some people, so I got asked for pics spread out more…  I actually took these upside down and then flipped them (doing it the otherway meant I blocked the light from the window), but I didn’t realise until I’d flipped them that they now have a weird angle to them…(but leaving them upside down meant all the prints were upside down) so nevermind the weird angle thing…

Also… normally when I take pics of my stash, its to show off bought/swapped pads I have, not normally pads I’ve made for myself (mostly because I don’t have the chance to make pads for myself much)… but I’ve included some of my favourite pads I’ve made myself.

Bought/Swapped pantyliners:

Some of the nicer pantyliners I made for myself

Bought/swapped smaller pads

Some of the smaller pads I’ve made for myself

Bought/swapped medium to long pads

Bought/swapped long and extra long pads

And lastly, some of the extra long pads I’ve made

These pads are basically all jammed in as tightly as possible.

I basically can’t fit any more in!  When my stash grows more I’m going to have to think of what to do with them.  The drawer unit only has 4 drawers and they are now all completely jammed full.

and typical…. after taking these pics, I found that I’d left 10 pads in the washing machine, and I can count at least 6 extra long pads that I’m missing (not sure where)… so it’s still not a complete stash pic *sob*

Pantyliners:

Short – medium Pads:

Medium – long pads:

Extra long pads:

Here are my current favourites!

“Where’s the rest of them?”  you may ask…. well I find it hard to buy pads in such a long length.  I do have a Naturally Hip one on the way.

Razzily Rhino – (light blue velour) – Love it!!!!  I need more of these.  Lovely thick and long pad, perfect for nights or really messy heavy days.  I never have to doubt this pad will do it’s job.  Its a non-waterproofed pad that snaps onto a winged waterproof base, so you can wear it without the waterproofing if you want, and the 2 part system lets you buy more of the pad part, so you have less plastics – a good environmental thing!  Except I only have one base and one pad, but the theory is good

Hag Rag – (Fairies) – This pad makes me smile, I love the fabric!  I also love this long length!  I got an extra snap setting so it snaps closed more narrow in the crotch, and I actually made my own PUL backed bamboo fleece insert to go inside, so its super absorbent too.  I have a couple of this length, but this one is my favourite print.

Diana - (Purple velour) – Love this pad!!!  Really narrow crotch with lovely wide ends.  Nice and thick so you know it’s up for the job, but because of the shape it barely feels there at all.  And of course… it’s PURPLE!  in both the velour top, and a flannel back.  You couldn’t get more purple.  Fantastic!  Such a shame she doesn’t sell her pads, others are missing out!

Here are my current favourites!

Twinkle Lily - (Pink & purple) – Stunning fabric combination, and this is the newer style, which is narrower through the crotch and a lot softer/more flexible.  I love it.

Mimi’s Dreams – (Purple witch) – Its cool having witches on a pad   This one is a nice thick feeling pad, without feeling too bulky, so it feels nice and secure.  I like the shape and it’s well made.

Unknown – (yellow stars) – I got this in a swap, and it’s been a favourite ever since.  No idea who made it, but I was impressed with the fit and make of it… and its purple on the back!!

Razzily Rhino – (blue velour) – Nice and absorbent, and I love the style.  It’s a separate snap on winged waterproofed part, so you can wear the pad with the waterproofing or without it.

Devilindisgize – (Geisha) – I’ve always loved these (I have 3 of them).  Nice and long, nice and narrow through the crotch, and a fantastic print.

Go With The Flow – (swirly velour) – Divine!  This is one of my absolute all time favourites, because it’s a really comfortable pad (nice and narrow through the crotch but nice flared ends), and the top velour is just beautiful! (the photo doesn’t do it justice)

Punky’s pads – (lavender floral) – This is the longer length and I love it.  Such thin pads, so they feel really comfortable.

Picanini - (Purple paisley with silk top) – I have 2 pads in this length (the other has a black velveteen top with a black and red tribal type print back), but I think I like this one the best.  Its nice and narrow in the crotch, and a good length.  With a really interesting and unique shape.  I find it feels really light and cool, being silk, though I do find the velveteen topped other pad I have to be better for a gushy flow.

Rainbows - (Purple velour) – I have 2 of these, they have a snap on booster that gives waterproofing.  I love the deep purple of this, and it’s nice and thick without feeling bulky at all.  Its been a favourite ever since I got it.

Here are my current favourites!

Punky’s Pads – (Hello Kitty Geisha) – One of the cutest print pads I have. Geisha Hello Kitty – what a hoot! (and I’m not a HK fan really). Lovely trim pad.

Twinkle Lily - (Flower pad) – I’m not really a fan of fleece topped pads, and it’s a smige too wide… so from practical comfort aspect it’s not one of my faves…..but I could not live with myself if I didn’t snatch this pad up the second I saw it! (seriously! the adrenaline was pumping until it was successfully checked out and I could go have a relaxing cup of tea and celebrate my purchase). Its got artificial mauve flowers glued to the backing – I’ve never seen that on a cloth pad! it’s totally unique and beautiful!

Vaj Pads – (Pink owls) – I actually really like this colour combo.. it’s got a sort of green backing which fits really well, and its a lovely shape when worn, nice and trim and comfortable.

Angel Pads – (black paisley and hand dyed mottled purple velour ones) – This is the old style (paisley) and the new (velour). Love them both! I love that the old style one has an A sewn into it, and the top is purple mottled hemp jersey and I love paisley!… and the newer style is a lovely contoured shape in delightful purple velour!

Modern Acorn – (pink I don’t know how to describe print) – One of my absolute all time favourite pads is this. The print placement is perfect and the fabric just screams “opulence” to me. Plus I love the shape and the comfortable fit. Love it to bits!

Hag Rag – (Aqua “Spells”) – This is really cool… it’s a spellcaster print with books and potions and Witchy things matching pocket insert too. Unfortunately I don’t have the second snap setting that I find makes the more comfortable, but the print is just so cool that I still consider this a favourite.

Rainbows – (Purple velour) – I have 5 from her in this fabric (3 this size, 2 larger), my first velour pads…. and the 2nd pad I ever used that wasn’t a handmade one… so it’s been a favourite for a long time. Well well used, and still looks great. Nice and absorbent, as well as being nice and trim through the crotch so very comfy.

Scarlet Moon – (not shown, purple butterfly) – I can’t believe I misplaced it when taking this pic! but I have a pic of it here http://mypads.wordpress.com/2008/04/16/more-new-pads . As with my raving about the smaller one… it’s unbelievably well sewn, as well as the fact it’s a cool shape (I requested both ends be the fan shape because I love it), and it’s purple haha, a really nice butterfly print. Stunning stunning pad. Probably shares my Absolutely best favourite spot with the Modern Acorn one.

Picanini – (not shown, black witches) – I’d also not taken a pic because it, like the butterfly Scarlet Moon was hiding in the washing machine!  Buggerit!!  Pic of it here http://mypads.wordpress.com/2008/02/20/more-stash-pics it’s a beautiful and very interesting/unique witchy print.  Love the shape of these (“Curvy” pads), they fit really well, and they are really trim.