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SOAPMAKING101 CO-OPS/FAST BUYS Cold Process
ADDITIVES CRAFT SHOWS
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When taking slides of your work (soaps, etc.) Keep these things in mind. Use good quality slide film. I have a automatic 35mm and use 64 speed slide film. Background and light are very important. Background should be a simple color. Grey, Green, Purple, Blue, black is ok for close up shots but it can flatten the look of the slide. Now lighting, if taking the shots out side, morning and late afternoon is best, indoors, you can combine sun and indoor lights. I know a couple that bought a flood light and use that to take shots. I use two photographer lights. You can add filters and so much more stuff. So, lets say you have chosen your background color, and you are going to shoot in the late afternoon outside. Now lets talk about designing the shot. Yes, design it. Remember, the jury only gets a matter of a few seconds to see your slides. So you must make sure they know what it is. Close up shots of soap can be any where from 1-3 bars, depending on how close up camera can zoom in. I combine my shaped molded soaps with simple bars. You want the image to fill the space of the slide. Maybe have some herbs dripped around, a touch of lace, maybe a flower in the corner. Pump the design up a bit, this will also give them a sense of your style. A group shot of a variety of your products is good also. If you sell more then soap, you must at least show a group shot of the other products. The booth shot does not count. Maybe show bath salts, lotion bars (one closed, one open, etc). Use the same background color in all shots. Now lets say you have a special way of making up baskets, Take a shot of that. I hand paint pillows, so I always add a shot of that. This shots helps them see what separates you from any other soaper being juried. Booth shots are best taken after you have set-up at a show. I will use a whole roll of 24 on booth shots. This way I have them ahead of time. If this is your first show, set up your booth (or part of it) inside or outside. Don't forget to put up a backdrop so it doesn't look like your living room! You want the display shot to take up the whole shot. Start in front of your display and walk to either side looking through the viewer the whole time. Some displays look good straight on, some on an angel. When I take slides I use a whole roll of 32. I will shoot 5 different items, or groupings and take 5-8 shots of each. You really only need five different slides, that is the most I have ever had to send it. But, most shows only want 3-4 and one booth slide. The more time you spend on your slides, the more you will learn and the more shows you will get into!
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