Book Feature: Expression of Interest

Part of what I do is picture research, which involves finding great photos to feature in books. Whilst I can't normally share what topic I'm currently working on, I can now offer you a way to express your interest in being involved. If you are a crafter, blogger, artist, photographer or designer with great photos of your work and you'd like to have them featured in a book, let me know by completing this form. I'm going to check the list regularly and will be in touch via email with anyone whose images are a great match to the book I'm working on with an invitation to participate. You can also follow me on Twitter for updates.

Chunky Crochet Planter by My Very Own Eye Goggles. Photos: Heidi Adnum

gerrard gethings

London-based photographer, Gerrard Gethings, takes portraits of dogs "with care and craft usually reserved for human portraits." It shows - they're beautiful. I thought you might like to see them; visit Gerrard's website for more. Gerrard has also self-published a book of dog portraits, called Dogonimics.

 Photos: Gerrard Charles Gethings (posted with permission) via fstoppers. 

wish-listed: books about food

When it comes to shopping, window or otherwise, my preference is for books, homewares and fabric. (If they're gifts, then that's even better.) It seems that the more books I cross off my wishlist, the more I add in their place. I was in shock when Amazon (UK) so abruptly ended their 'free shipping to Australia' deal last year. It was a huge blow for Santa. I keep adding and adding to my wish-list, though, for if nothing else to keep me focussed on what I would really like to buy next time I go shopping. (I notice my brother hasn't since added anything to his wish-list; he's gone cold turkey.) This week I've added four new books that look great: J'aime New York by Alain Ducasse, Great Pub Food by Rachael Lane, Kitchen Garden Cooking With Kids by Stephanie Alexander, and French Food Safari by Maeve O'Meara with Guillaume Brahimi. Have you tried any of these?

taking great photos: french edition

The Crafter's Guide to Taking Great Photos has been translated into French! 'Photographiez vos Créations' is now available from publisher Eyrolles, and also at Amazon.fr and fnac. Read a few tips from the book on the Blog Français d'Etsy. Oui oui.

taking great photos: japanese edition

I'm very excited to announce that the Japanese edition of my book is now available! Find out more about 'Craft Photo Lesson' here and pre-order at Amazon Japan. To celebrate the launch, BNN, the Japanese publisher, is generously offering four lucky readers a chance to win their very own copy. For your chance to win, tell me why you need a copy of the Japanese edition. Send your entry as a comment on this post or in an email to me. Perhaps you or a friend is just about to launch your own product line in Japan and taking great photos is on the to-do list. Maybe you have a well-established online shop that you feel isn't reaching its full potential and beautiful new photos are exactly what's in order. You have until Friday 28 September to enter. BNN will send each winning copy directly from Japan to its new owner anywhere in the world. Good luck!

Main image: Ohoy Wallpaper by Fine Little Day

2012 craft awards nomination for best new book

I'm absolutely delighted and feel very honoured to receive a nomination for Best New Book in the 2012 Craft Awards. Huge thanks to everyone that took the time to nominate The Crafter's Guide to Taking Great Photos; I'm so pleased that you're loving it. It's great simply to be nominated but if you can, please vote for me and spread the word! Visit the Crafts Beautiful Magazine website to cast your vote. Thanks for all your support, I appreciate it.

photography workshops

I had a great time at Etsy Success Sydney. It was lovely to meet so many great people and present with Lara. Something I'm reminded of every time I have the opportunity to take part in special events such as Etsy Success Sydney is how much I enjoy teaching, sharing and helping to develop skills when it comes to photography. For some time now one of my goals has been to start up a series of local photography workshops. I'm not yet quite sure what format they're going to take, or even where they're going to be held, but I know they'll be relaxed, down-to-earth, friendly, and open to everyone. To help me develop a programme and structure for my photography workshops that best meets your needs, I'd like to ask for your help. I've put together a short ten-question survey and would love to hear your thoughts on things like choosing the best days, times, duration, regularity, and, of course, content. If you might be interested in taking part in one of my to-be-determined photography workshops, I'd be grateful if you could complete the survey, found online here. It shouldn't take more than a few minutes to complete. Your results can remain anonymous (just don't enter your name and email address at the end) or you can choose to provide your details to be contacted about the workshops when more information is available. Thank you, in advance.

etsy success sydney

Are you going to Etsy Success Sydney? I am! Join us at the event on Saturday, 2 June, at the Museum of Contemporary Art from 9am to 10pm. Stylist Lara Hutton and I are speaking on The Basics of Product Styling and Photography. Tickets cost $100 and include access to all sessions, day-long catering and a delegate pack. Etsy Success Sydney is presented as part of the Vivid Ideas program at Vivid Sydney 2012 (25 May — 11 June), a festival of light, music and ideas, and a major celebration of our creative industries. Oh, and guess what? EtsyAU has kindly offered me one double-pass for a lucky reader (valued at $200). To win the tickets, by Friday, 25 May, tell me in a comment (below) or email why you need to attend the event. Good luck!

giveaway winner: gaelle lalonde

Hooray! One copy of Taking Great Photos is going out to Gaelle from Germany. Gaelle, originally from Canada, is a crafter and illustration student. She has crafted with women with special needs, earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts and is currently working on her Masters in illustration. Thank you to everyone who took the time to enter. 

Illustrations: Gaelle Lalonde

taking great photos giveaway: from me!

I'm so pleased to offer one copy of my book to giveaway. For your chance to win, tell me why you need a copy of the book and how will taking great photos help you. Post your entry in the comments field below or send it to me via email. (If you enter via commenting below, be sure to include an email address so that I can contact you if you win.) You're also welcome to attach or link through to one or two of your photos, if you like. Entries are open from now until Friday, 16 March. I'll announce the winner on Monday, 19 March. Murdoch Books is going to send the lucky winner one copy of The Crafter's Guide to Taking Great Photos (AU/NZ version/cover) to anywhere in the world. Good luck!

taking great photos giveaway: from heather

Are you feeling lucky and living in South Africa? If you are, Heather Moore from Skinny laMinx is the girl for you. Heather's running a giveaway on her blog for one copy of The Crafter's Guide to Taking Great Photos. You have until 29 February to enter. Good luck!

Photos: Cushion Covers by Heather Moore, Taking Great Photos AU/NZ cover.

tim mantoani: behind photographs

Photographer Tim Mantoani's new book Behind Photographs: Archiving Photographic Legends looks amazing (I've ordered my copy!). Tim photographed one-hundred-and-fifty photographers with their iconic images using the similarly iconic Polaroid 20x24 camera. Take a look at Tim's gallery here. 

 

Photos of Elliott Erwitt, Harry Benson and Brian Smith (I've always meant to read Breaking The Surface): Tim Mantoani. Via Chase Jarvis.

taking great photos: free button download

To my fabulous contributors for The Crafter's Guide to Taking Great Photos. You are welcome to download any of these free 250x250px buttons that I made for your website or blog. Find the US button here, the UK button here and the AU button here. Link your button through to your choice of Interweave, Amazon.com, Search Press, Amazon.co.uk or Murdoch Books.

taking great photos giveaway: from frankie and canadian living

Are you still feeling lucky? Two more giveaways of The Crafter's Guide to Taking Great Photos are rocking and rolling: 
Frankie - click here for more details and your chance to win a copy

And there are two days left to enter at Canadian Living - click here for more details and your chance to win a copy. Good luck!

Photos: Frankie (top) and Canadian Living (bottom)

taking great photos giveaway: from jenny and jenny

Today might be your lucky day! Two of the gorgeous crafters interviewed in The Crafter's Guide to Taking Great Photos are each hosting a giveaway of the book:
Jenny Gordy from Wiksten - click here for more details and your chance to win a copy.

And Jenny Nemlekar from Jenny N Design - click here for more details and your chance to win a copy.

Photos: top Wiksten; bottom Jenny N Design

taking great photos: blog tour

My book and I are officially on tour. A blog tour! Yes, we've hit the e-road and Jenny's post on Crescendoh (and her review of the book) is the first stop for the US and Canada. Next up will be:

24 January - papernstitch 

25 January - Mark Lipinski’s Creative Mojo Podcast 

26 January - Rena Tom

27 January - CraftBuds      

28 January - SweatShopofLove 

31 January - Wiksten **giveaway**

1 February - Jenny N Design **giveaway**

2 February - Rifle Paper Co.

3 February - See How We Sew **giveaway**

4 February - Imagination Kids Toys 

6 February - Canadian Living Craft Blog **giveaway**

UK:

7 February - Feeling Stitchy    

8 February - UK Handmade        
9 February - The Academy             

AU/NZ:
9 February - Frankie Magazine **giveaway**

10 February - WhipUp.net
South Africa:
20 February - Skinny laMinx **giveaway**

 

taking great photos has hit the shelves

Hooray! My book is now available in the UK from Search Press and Amazon. In the US, Interweave are now dispatching advance copies, and Amazon will have stock on 3rd January. All four offer international shipping, and Murdoch Books will launch the book in Australia in February 2012. 

the crafter's guide to taking great photos

I'm so excited to announce a special project that I've been working on since late last year: my first book! It's called 'The Crafter's Guide To Taking Great Photos' and it will be released near to the end of this year (it's available now for preorder, see links below). The book is designed for crafters who take their own product photographs and who want to improve those photographs without blowing the budget. Crafters are guided through camera basics and how a photograph is made, along with tips and techniques for how to use photographs to best tell their brand story. Best of all, it's jargon-free. In the coming weeks and months, I plan on sharing some more about the book, as well as featuring some of the amazing contributors that I've worked with, and some other fab things. For now though, it gives me great pleasure to finally be able share the covers with you: US Edition

UK Edition

Image credits, clockwise from top left:
US Cover: Slide Sideways
UK Cover: Pigeon Toe Ceramics / Lisa Warninger photographer, Michelle Chang, Heather Moore, Karma Tank  (The covers may change, but if they do I'll let you know!)