Crafty Business: Snap Happy!

It's Crafty Business time again and this month we'll be getting snap happy. Photography is a stumbling block for many small crafty businesses and good photos are essential for online selling, so although we've done this topic before, I reckon it's well worth revisiting.

We're going to set up a makeshift home studio using simple, inexpensive equipment, and we'll look at how to compose a photograph and get the best out of your camera. Professional photography is a bit beyond the reach of most of us when we're starting out, but we'll learn a few tips and tricks that can help you brush up on your product photography until you can afford to hire a pro!

We'll need some products to test out our wee photography studio, so bring along some of your work to model – whether it's tiny and sparkly or bulky and textured, we're up for a challenge!

Have a think about what type of product you've had trouble photographing. What aspect of photography do you find most difficult? Post questions or comments here or on the Crafty Business wall on Facebook and we'll do our best to cover them on Monday (and follow up with notes here, for those who can't make it along).

So, come along to Board of Design at 16 Bedford Row at 7pm on Monday 2 August and join us for crafty company, business support and a glass of wine. And feel free to bring your knitting!

All the fun of the fair

As mentioned at tonight's Crafty Business session, there's a handy article by Millie and I about selling at fairs and markets in issue #8 of World Sweet World, if you're lucky enough to have a copy in your collection. If not, track it down at your local library – it's full of other crafty titbits too.



You can also download the Crafty Business Craft Fair Checklist in PDF format by clicking here.

Suggestions for wrapping and packaging that came up were:

• Shardlows, for paper bags and all manner of cool packing stuff
• Montarga, for rubber stamps
• School Supplies/Office Max

I'm really keen to hear feedback on what would be useful for future sessions – please feel free to leave comments below.

Selling at Fairs & Markets

We're not terribly well organised for Crafty Business this month, what with Miss Millie away and A Craft Affair fast approaching, but we do have a new venue, so yay! Head along to 16 Bedford Row at 7pm on Monday 5 July for an informal session revisiting selling at fairs and markets.

We'll discuss craft fair basics and share some tips and tricks for satisfying your adoring public and making sure that selling at craft fairs is a rewarding and profitable experience. Your input is encouraged – I'm sure there'll be a few people coming along who have more experience with fairs and markets than I do, so please feel free to contribute your thoughts and ideas. Likewise, if you're freaking out about your first big craft fair, don't be afraid to ask lots of questions!

A Craft Affair is next Sunday, so if you're a stall holder or interested in what's involved in being part of the event in future, we'll fit in a quick Q&A session for that too. It's also a chance to pick up a poster or two to put up at work, school, kindy or the local supermarket.

Come and join us for a healthy dose of inspirational crafty company, business advice and a glass of wine at 16 Bedford Row, 7pm on Monday 5 July.