FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER

Allow me to introduce you to a photographer who presents her photos not only to hang and display, but also to wear. As are the other photographers that I have interviewed, this one is also a member of P.O.E. - Photographers of Etsy. Come and meet



Here is our interview with Jessica -

Briefly describe what you make?

I take photographs, both digital and film, and then sell prints of my favorites in my shop. I have also expanded into some accessories, such as greeting cards, necklaces and key chains, all made from my photos.

What mediums do you enjoy working in most?

Digital photography is great for instant gratification and learning and improving on the spot since I can immediately check my photos and make adjustments. But I love 35mm film, especially black and white, and would like to devote more time and effort to taking more film photos in the future. Outside of my etsy shop, I'm a novice crafter and enjoying knitting, embroidery, and making things with felt.

How long have you been creating craft?

I've been into arts and crafts as long as I can remember, always making home-made gifts or ornaments for my family. But I didn't really get started with photography until 2 years ago. It had always been a passing interest for me, but it wasn't until I bought my first SLR camera in 2007 that I really fell in love with it.

How did you get started?

After experimenting with taking photos, I took the plunge and purchased a digital SLR camera. Shooting digitally sped up the process of how quickly I could review and edit my photos, and that made the possibility of opening an Etsy shop a lot more realistic. Though I have been a buyer for a long time, I only started selling my photographs on Etsy in July of 2008.

Where does the name of your shop come from?

My day job is a film and television editor. "Flash frame" is a film term for a single frame that shows up for a fraction of a second. I liked that the term was connected to my film-making background, but also sounded like a photography term since both flashes and frames are relevant to still photography as well. It seemed like a good name to bridge those two interests of mine.

What would you most want people to know about your work?

Every photo in my shop is something that I would hang in my home, and I'm truly flattered and humbled when others feel the same way.

What words of advice do you have for other artists?

My advice would be to make time for art. I think a lot of times when life is hectic, creating art can become less of a priority. But making something with your hands or capturing something beautiful can be its own reward by making you slow down and appreciate what's happening around you. That alone is worth making time for. Of course, I'm guilty of forgetting this too, and need to get better about taking my own advice.


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Wonderful! You have got to see the photography for your self. Come right now to Jessica's shop!

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Would you like to see yourself on this page. You can be interviewed too! Just contact me through my shop at Etsy - Past Perfect.

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER

Another wonderful member of POE - Photographers Of Etsy is here to to tell us about her work. Please come and meet


Here is our interview with the photographer, Racquel -

Tell us what you make?

Fine Art Photography and Soldered Chainmaille

What mediums do you enjoy working in most?

For my jewelry I love working in silver, gold, gemstones and artist made lampwork beads

How long have you been creating craft and how did you get started?

I have always made crafts of some variety ever since I can remember. As a child I was into painting and cartooning. At age 10 I submitted my portfolio to an art college in NY. I conveniently left off my age and won 1 out of 5 art scholarships they hand out each year. Of course when they found out my age (thanks mom!) I of course could not accept the offer. I stopped painting in High School when my AP art teacher decided to break me down and discourage me from pursuing my dreams. This was my 3rd year in the program. Every year at the end of the year we submitted our portfolios to Princeton where you would get a rating of 1-5. If you received 3 ratings of 5 you received a full art scholarship. The 2 years prior I received both 5s and was on my way to my 3rd. Everything I painted or drew in my 3rd year was ripped apart by my teacher and I could not find the will to create any more. I eventually dropped from the class as I could not create anymore. From time to time I will pick up a pencil and do a cartoon but the passion is still not there.

For years I could not create then about 10 years ago while struggling through a horrible divorce I need something to keep my mind occupied. I tried a few different crafts but nothing that I was passionate about. 7 years ago I stumbled upon a bead show and I was hooked. I tried different types of designs but found that I did not like strung designs so I started exploring silver. This is when I discovered the world of maille. After mastering weaves I decided I needed to learn soldering so I set off on that adventure. After many hours and many months (really almost a year) of wasted silver I perfected my craft and it was ready for sale but that was not to last.

With the economy being down and silver being up I had to pack things up for a while. I was going crazy as I need to create to survive. But wait a minute what about that nice camera I used to take pictures of my jewelry? Why could I not create with that? Well I was on a quest to now learn a whole new skill. I bought a ton of books, read many online articles and joined online groups that helped push me to keep growing. After 2 years of practicing and practicing (then upgrading my camera form an XTi to a 40D) I thought it was time that I would try selling my art.

Where does the name of your shop come from?

SM Gemstones comes from Sacramento Mountains which is what I get to look upon every day. Sirius Imagery came from my husband and I combining businesses. His business name is Sirius Group. Yeah, nothing exciting and creative there..

What would you most want people to know about your work?

I take pride in my work and I don’t start selling it until I have mastered the skill. With my photography (while I do not claim to be an expert) I do take pride in letting me alone determine how the image will come out. Even though I have a Canon 40D with all the nice auto features I still shoot the old fashion way in manual, leaving me in full control of the images produced. Most my macro shots are also manually focused allowing me to get closer to the subject than the lens in auto would normally allow.

What words of advice do you have for other artists?

Learn your trade before trying to sell it. I see too many people who will buy jewelry supplies or a nice camera and immediately start selling their work before mastering it. This hurts all artists especially if you customer is disappointed in the craftsmanship as they will think this is the way it is with all artists. Also once you have mastered your craft charge a fair wage for your skill. Again selling something cheap hurts everyone as customers will learn that our time is not valuable.

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You must visit Racquel's photography shop at Etsy, her nature work is fabulous. Please also take a look at her jewelry shop - she does great work.

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER

Our featured photographer is new to Etsy and a recent member of POE - Photographers of Etsy. I would like you to meet
CharismaPhoto

Here is our interview with Christina:

Briefly describe what you make?

I am a photographer. I take the majority of my shots with my Canon 40D and then I also own a toy Holga camera that I like to take around with me. While my 'day job' is spent being a graphic designer, which I love, I have always had a special place in my heart for photography, it moves me. My friends and family will tell you that they always see my face behind the lens. In the past year I have pursued this passion and fell deeply in love with it! I have been shooting more and more in HDR format which gives me really good detail in the shadows and highlights of my shots.

What mediums do you enjoy working in most?

Definitely Digital Photography. I am constantly with my camera or my computer. I love being out in the world with my camera and taking as many shots as I can then being able to go home to the computer, download them and just play around with them until they reflect me as an artist... that is when I feel very accomplished.

How long have you been creating craft?

Oh wow, well my mother would tell you since I could hold a crayon! Growing up as a kid I loved to draw and I had one of those cheep plastic 110 film cameras that my parents bought for me. Then growing up I took every art class my high school offered and went straight into art in college. That is when I refined the graphic design side of me. I took photography classes and then once I got my graphic design degree I got a job where I get to do both. I feel very lucky that I am able to work all day long at what I love, get paid, and then come home and work on it more just because I can!

How did you get started?

I think I have my mother to thank for that. Growing up she was known for ALWAYS having a camera in front of our faces to document the first day of school, Christmas morning opening stockings, every birthday... you get the idea. So it just became natural to always want a camera around and then from there I started to become the one behind the lens taking shots of every event that I went to or every vacation that I was on... it just happened naturally I guess!

Where does the name of your shop come from?

My name is Christina Marie and I thought that I would try to mix the two names together and found Charisma not only kind of reflected both of my names but it felt right, it felt like me so I went with it!

What would you most want people to know about your work?

I would want people to know that my work comes from every part of me. I try to expose the soul in something that most people would just pass by an never take notice. Kinda like giving a voice to the voice-less. My hope would be that when people walk away from looking at my photography they look at the subject differently, they don’t see a dirty rusty car they see a piece of work that has history and character.

What words of advice do you have for other artists?

Above all – create for yourself. Stand behind your work even if others look down at you. Do what makes you happy, that is all that matters in life. Be able to look back at your life in 50 years and have no regrets because you tried all you wanted to try!

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Come and see Christina's shop. She has photographs that elicit some interesting moods. These are must sees!

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER

Here is a photographer that uses her photography to create not only wall art but other craft. She is another member of POE - Photographers of Etsy. Come and meet Jen and learn all about her and her shop -



Here is our interview with Jen -

Briefly describe what you make?

I offer photography in mats, in frames or on cards. I also create photo pendants and crystal sun catchers. I've been using a camera for as long as I can remember, and I mainly focus on nature. The etsy shop, however, includes my work as well as my husband's, who does a lot of the black and whites. The sun catchers started as a fun project last year. I got the idea from Rob's aunt, who also creates them using simpler bead designs. First I purchased the crystals and pretty soon I became obsessed with buying beads. It's a fun, different outlet.

What mediums do you enjoy working in most?

I'd have to say taking macro photos is my favorite way to photograph things right now. I really like the detail you can get from using the lens. I've also been fortunate to be able to photograph many animals, especially pets of friends and coworkers. There is so much expression in their eyes and mannerisms. You'll never get the same shot twice. I'm a big fan of Rachael Hale, a mainsteam pet photographer who photographs these amazing photos of kittens and puppies. In the past year I've been very drawn to horses, and was able to visit a local farm to fulfill that desire.

My husband is much better at using the long lens (I shake too much!). He's captured the majority of our long-lens images. He's also photographed our most popular image, The Temple of Love, which has been sold several times as an 18x22 image.

How long have you been creating craft?

I've been photographing since I was a kid with a cheap 110 film speed camera. I would photograph my cat, Blackie, my books and plants in my yard. Eventually I was able to use my dad's Nikon to do point and shoot photos. But in high school, I borrowed the Canon Rebel (film) from school and fell in love with it. I've been an SLR girl ever since. In high school and in college I was able to learn in the darkroom, and became an Ansel Adams groupie. I was obsessed with trees and really appreciated how he created his images.

How did you get started?

I think I was given the camera as a gift when I was young. If my parents knew how expensive all the film processing would have been, I bet they would have second guessed that purchase!

Where does the name of your shop come from?

When I joined etsy I didn't know how to do shop labels, so I just used my first initial and last name. Afterward, I "renamed" the shop to McGuinness Photography, even though I'm unable to change my etsy name at this point.

What would you most want people to know about your work?

We offer quality photographs and hope they make people as happy as we are when we create them. Some of our best images were taken without time to get a second shot. Rob's Temple of Love is one of these. It was a hot summer day and we had spent three hours outdoors photographing the garden. "Just one more," he told me, and I slumped on a park bench and waited. I'm glad he took that last shot- it's one of the best!

I feel so honored when people purchase images from our shop or at our fair booth and plan to hang them on their walls. It's nice to know that people like to look at the image every day! ;)

What words of advice do you have for other artists?

If people tell you to abandon your craft because you'll be a starving artist, ignore them. It's important to have a creative outlet in your life. If you're fortunate enough to be able to do it full time, that is a major accomplishment! But if you still have to work a day job (like us), that's OK too. I think it's important to evolve artistically, so even a little creating each day can make a big difference in the long run. Also, join a group where you can bounce ideas off each other. I've received so much great support and advice from the people I've met through the Photographers of Etsy team and Etsy for Animals team.

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Jen does beautiful work and if you are short on wall space you will find calendars, cards, and jewelry all featuring Jen's photography at her Etsy shop.

New CPSIA Law to Put an End to All Handmade Crafts for Children

A law unanimously passed by Congress with the intent to protect children from imported items containing lead was written in such a way that it will effectively end the sale all handmade for children. The law goes into full effect in February 2009.

The law requires that anyone - large business or home businesses making any item that can be used by a child under the age of 12 - that is ANY item - must be tested by an independent laboratory that has been approved by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. This testing must be done on all components of the item. Testing will cost from $150 to $500 per item or component. Every time any component lot changes - that is - let's say you use a yard of fabric for an item - and then you need another yard and that yard comes from a different bolt of fabric - that item must be tested again. At the expense and the nature of handmade craft, it will be impossible for any home craftsman to sell any item that will be on the "children's list".

Beyond the effect on home craft, this law applies to the Toy Industry, the Children's Garment Industry, the Children's Furniture Industry, Children's Book Publishing, and on and on. Imagine what a child's shirt will cost in the next few months. Think about what that doll your little girl wants will cost.

This is a tragedy beyond belief. This may not have been the intention of Congress but it is the result.

The following news article relates the facts of this disaster better than I can.
http://www.patriotledger.com/opinions/opinions_columnists/x845827383/New-law-to-put-thousands-out-of-work

Please read and comment - there and here.

If you would like to be heard by the CPSC regarding this law you may comment at this link.
http://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/newleg.aspx

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER

We continue our features on photographers with another Etsy Photographers of Etsy member. Her shop is



Come and meet Brenda!

Briefly describe what you make?

I'm an experienced photographer and custom photo art designer. Through both my prints and my custom work, I concentrate on two areas--color and mood. Most of my photographs and designs include close-ups and bright colors. It's what I've always been drawn to as an artist, and I like to share my particular close, colorful view of the world with others.

What mediums do you enjoy working in most?

There is never a time when I don't have a camera in my hand, be it my beloved Nikon or just my iPhone. I view the world through a photographer's lens, but I also love creating personal art from those views, whether it's digital scrapbooks, custom art prints or even posters and canvas crafts.

How long have you been creating craft?

For me, that's like saying, "How long have you been breathing?" Practicality kept me from an art career, but I've been an artist since birth. I take classes in new media every chance I get, and I believe that all of those experiences have influenced how I capture the world through my photography. A few years ago, I traveled 100 miles every weekend in the middle of winter to learn glass blowing. I was the only woman in the class, and I soon figured out why--the equipment is SO heavy. I had visions of producing stunning vases and bowls, but eight weeks of hard, hot, heavy work showed me just how special it is when someone can produce something beautiful from glass.

How did you get started?

My father was a film photographer when I was growing up, and I was inspired by watching him. I took photojournalism classes in college, and I haven't put my camera down since. I barely had money for film back then, but I loved spending time in the dark room experimenting with all of the different ways to manipulate and improve my shots. Digital has been great in that way, because it really allows you to experiment, not only inside the camera, but once you move to processing through the computer and in final print production.

Where does the name of your shop come from?

I'm sure I'm not the first photographer to choose "point of view", but it's really how I feel about photography and photographic art. I am in awe of so many fellow POEs (Photographers of Etsy), but I could never replicate their work, and I hope everyone sees a distinct point of view with mine.

What would you most want people to know about your work?

Photography is probably one of the most under-appreciated art media on etsy. I take anywhere from 100-400 shots for every one I offer for sale. Every situation requires different lighting, filters and lenses, and it's really hard to know what works until you get back to your desk and look at all of it. My custom art prints take even more time, as I search for just the right colors, textures and words to accompany an important photograph. I really care about the quality of the work I produce, and I will only put something up if I truly think it's worthy of a sale. In fact, I've been known to take some of my work down once I see it in comparison to the other offerings in my store.

What words of advice do you have for other artists?

Do what you love, not just what will make money. I don't participate in sales or buy one/get one offers, because I believe in the value of what I'm offering. Be proud of each and every piece of art you produce, and always be willing to self edit, even if it means ditching something you've been working on for days, weeks or months.

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Brenda has a broad spectrum of subjects in the photos in her shop . She also does custom and personalized work. You must come and see what she has to offer.

This is the time of the year that the gift of a photograph can share and mean so much between you and your loved ones and friends. Come and see beautiful gift items - at all of the POE shops.