| How to Photograph Clothes for Sale Posted: 12 Mar 2019 05:00 PM PDT Great photos are the best way to show off clothes for sale to potential customers. Start by steaming and lint-rolling the clothes to make them look their best, then showcase them with a mannequin, model, or flat lay format. Use a light backdrop, bright lighting, and lots of different angles to capture the colors and details of each garment. With the right tools and a little hard work, you can get beautiful product photos that are sure to draw in sales! EditMaking the Clothes Look Their Best - Steam or iron the clothes to get rid of any creases and wrinkles. Hang up the clothes and use a small handheld steamer to smooth out creases in the fabric.[1] Smooth, wrinkle-free clothes will look much more polished and appealing to customers.
- Remove any stains from the clothes. If you can easily get the stains out yourself with bleach or a Tide pen, remove stains yourself. However, if the clothing is delicate or difficult to clean, take it to a dry-cleaner to have any stains removed.
- If the article of clothing has very minor staining, it may not be worth it to pay for dry-cleaning. Instead, you could reduce the price accordingly, be upfront about stains, photograph them well, and let the buyer handle removal.
- This is especially important with vintage or antique clothes, which can be fragile and easily damaged.
- Inspect the clothing closely for other flaws. Look over each piece for issues such as loose threads, missing buttons, rips, or broken zippers. You can fix most of these small problems yourself buy trimming hanging threads or sewing matching buttons back on. However, issues like broken zippers or major rips are not as easily fixed.
- Document any un-fixable issues in your listing and be upfront with the buyer when you sell the garment.
- Use a lint roller to remove any dust, hair, lint, or stray threads. Any little specks and spots that show up in the photos will distract customers and look unprofessional. Take extra care to remove these before you start photographing. Lint-roll the whole garment once, then spot-check it once it's in position to be photographed.
EditSetting up Your Equipment - Use your smartphone for a quick, inexpensive option. With bright, natural lighting, smartphone pictures can look great and get the job done. Position the garment next to a bright window and use your back-facing camera to frame it. Focus on the garment and adjust the lighting, then take several pictures.
- Use a DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) camera if you have access to one. Taking photos with a DSLR will make your listings look even more professional and higher-quality. A higher megapixel count will be able to capture the color and details of the garment more accurately. Make sure you use the correct settings to get the best photos possible.[2]
- Set your ISO at no higher than 600-640 to prevent graininess.
- Set your aperture higher than F/11 to keep all the details of the garment in focus.
- Select a white balance according to the type of light source you're using. The most common settings are natural sunlight, tungsten, fluorescent, and LED.
- Photograph the clothing you wish to sell indoors against a white or light grey backdrop. This will help keep the lighting consistent, prevent distractions, and ensure that the colors are captured accurately. You could use a white wall or a smooth sheet, or for a little more money, you could purchase a roll of seamless paper from a photography store.[3]
- Always stand the model or mannequin in the center of the backdrop, directly in front of your camera.
- If you have a c-stand, use it to hold the seamless paper backdrop in place. If you don't have one, just tape the end of the paper to the wall or ceiling.
- Take photos next to a window for nice, natural light. This type of lighting brings out vibrant colors, looks relaxing and appealing to customers, and won't cost you a thing. Set up your backdrop and mannequin, model, or Flat Lay area in an area next to a bright, open window. Shoot during the morning and late afternoon for the most even indirect light.[4]
- Rent or invest in a simple lighting kit for a more professional effect. You can find inexpensive beginner kits online for reasonable prices. The most important piece to have is a large softbox, which creates diffused, even light and softens shadows.[5] Professional lighting is best for taking catalogue photos or documenting a full clothing collection.
EditDisplaying the Clothes - Purchase a mannequin for a convenient, cost-efficient option. Mannequins are a good investment that can help provide consistency to your photos and keep your budget low in the future. You can set up the mannequin and take pictures at any time without having to pay or schedule a model. Mannequins also let customers visualize themselves wearing the clothes.[6]
- You could purchase a standing, full-body dress mannequin, or you could also get a set of hollow-backed partial mannequin bodies. These also come in sets that include a male, female, and gender-neutral child mannequin.[7]
- Clothes that work best with mannequins include jeans, blazers, long dresses, coats, and blazers.[8]
- Unless you're selling mostly strapless items, make sure to purchase mannequins with arms that can fill out sleeves.[9]
- Hire a model if you have enough of a budget to do so. Seeing the clothes on the model gives the customer a better idea of what the clothes will look like in real life. A good model can also more clearly appeal to your target market. For example, if you're selling your clothes with teenagers in mind, having a teen model will draw in teens and help them imagine how it would look on them.[10]
- You could also ask a friend to help you out with the modeling.
- To save money, use a mannequin or dummy for the basic side, front, back, and close-up detail shots, and use the model to show what the article of clothing looks like when it's paired with an outfit.[11]
- Pin and tuck the clothing until it fits the model or mannequin. Use pins and clips to pull in waistlines or adjust straps, and use magic tape to hold down any gaping armholes. Of course, you shouldn't alter the clothing to the point that it doesn't look like the original garment, but you want to show the best fit possible.[12]
- This is especially important it your mannequin has a hollow back and cannot fill out the clothing properly.
- Use flat lay photos to showcase the item in a simple, clean way. You can easily create a flat lay photo by laying out and arranging an article of clothing on a flat background, then shooting straight down at the garment. To add the illusion of depth to the clothes, use techniques such as tucking in fabric around the underarm area or adding tissue paper inside the clothes.[13]
- The flat lay format works best with skirts, sweaters, shoes, scarves, handbags, towels, and kids wear.
- If you don't have the budget for a model or a mannequin, this technique is a simple, affordable alternative.
EditTaking the Photos - Take photos from the back, side, and front of the garments. Be thorough as you document each piece. If you're using a mannequin, rotate it in front of the background and take photos from each different angle. If you're hiring a model, have them turn slowly and take a series of photos showing each angle. The more thorough you are, the more likely people are to purchase the clothes you're selling.
- Get up close to show details in the clothing. Customers want the experience of being able to pick something up and get a closer look at it, even while shopping online. Imitate this experience by getting close-ups of the fabric texture, buttons, tags, delicate stitching, and patterns. Use lots of different angles and close-ups to let the customer feel like they're getting the full picture.[14]
- Take photos of any tags, instructions, and flaws on used clothing. If you're selling used clothing, you'll need to provide extra information about each piece. Document the brand name, any tags that show that the clothing has never been worn, and wash/care instructions. You should also take clear photos of any imperfections in the clothing, such as stains, rips, or tears.
- Customers will trust you much more as a buyer when you provide clear, upfront information about the garments.
- Take pictures of different poses that showcase the clothing. If you hire a model, have them try several different poses for each outfit, such as a hand behind their head or with their hands in their pockets. Make sure the poses you're using don't cover up too much of the product with accessories or hands.[15]
- For example, if you're photographing a flowy dress, you could have the model hold out the sides of the dress to show off the fabric.
- If you're photographing a men's winter jacket, you could have the model turn slightly to the side and put his hands in the pockets.
- Avoid sitting, jump shots, or motion shots that might blur or distract from the garment itself.
- Sort through your photos and choose the best ones for your listings. Once you've transferred your photos onto a computer or device, look through all of the photos and delete any that are blurry or too dark. Pick several of the best photos for each garment listing, including 1 shot from each of the front, back, and side angles, as well as a close-up shot that shows the garment's texture.
- If you're selling new clothes, you should also include a photo of a model wearing the piece as part of an outfit.
- If you're selling used clothes, add several photos of tags, care instructions, or imperfections.
- Take more pictures than you think you'll need. The more options you have for your listing, the better!
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| How to Store Peppers Posted: 12 Mar 2019 09:00 AM PDT Sweet and hot peppers will last for a year or more when you store them properly. Whether you have an abundance of fresh peppers from your garden or the market, get the most out of them by storing the extras that you can't use right away. Freeze them or dry them for easy use in the kitchen all year long, or pickle and can them to preserve them and store them for up to 2 years! EditFreezing Peppers - Wash peppers to remove any dirt and let them air dry. Choose fresh, ripe peppers that have no soft spots or blemishes. Rinse them under cold water and set them on a clean towel or paper towel to air dry.[1]
- Ripe peppers should have a firm texture. If they are soft, then they are past their peak ripeness and no longer fresh enough for freezing.[2]
- Cut bell peppers up to remove the seeds and membranes. Cut bell peppers or sweet peppers in half, pull out the seeds, and cut out the membranes. Cut the peppers into a size of your choosing.[3]
- Consider how you will use bell peppers and cut them into strips or chunks that you can easily use straight from the freezer to prepare recipes like fajitas or soups.
- Leave hot peppers intact to freeze them whole with the seeds. Freeze hot peppers whole with the seeds and membranes because those parts contain most of the heat. You will be able to cut them up when you take them out of the freezer if a recipe calls for it.[4]
- Jalapenos are a type of hot pepper that you can either freeze whole, or cut up before you freeze them.
- Spread the peppers out on a baking sheet. Put the cut up bell peppers or whole hot peppers on a sheet with space between them. Make sure that none are touching so that they don't freeze together.[5]
- You can use a cookie sheet, baking pan, or any other metal sheet that will fit in your freezer.
- Put the sheet in the freezer for 15-30 minutes until the peppers are frozen solid. This is called flash-freezing and will keep the peppers from freezing together once you transfer them to a more compact storage container. Remove the sheet from the freezer when the peppers are hard to the touch.[6]
- Put the peppers in a sealable plastic bag or airtight container in the freezer. Transfer the peppers from the baking sheet into a plastic freezer bag or other freezer-safe container once they are frozen solid. Put the bag or container back into the freezer and store the peppers for up to 1 year.[7]
- If you are freezing the peppers in a bag, squeeze out as much air as you can before you seal the bag.
- Label the bags or containers with the date that you froze the peppers to keep track of how long they have been frozen and use them within a year.
EditDrying Peppers - Use a food dehydrator to dry peppers quickly and easily. Cut large peppers in half and leave smaller peppers whole. Spread the peppers out on the screens in the dehydrator, set the temperature to , and dry the peppers per your dehydrator's instructions.[8]
- It can take from 4-12 hours to dry out peppers in a dehydrator. Refer to the instruction manual for your food dehydrator for specific drying times and directions.
- Dry peppers in the oven if you don't have a food dehydrator. Spread peppers out on a baking sheet so that they are not touching and put the sheet in an oven set to . Crack the oven door open so moisture can escape. Check on the peppers and rotate them with tongs every 30 minutes.[9]
- Cut large peppers, such as bell peppers, into pieces and remove the seeds to decrease drying time. Leave smaller and hot peppers intact.
- It can take 1-2 hours to dry peppers in the oven. Peppers are dry when they are brittle to the touch.
- String peppers together and hang them if you live in a dry climate. Use a needle and thread to string the peppers together by the stems. Hang the string of peppers in a dry area with sun and good airflow for 3-4 weeks.[10]
- You need a daytime temperature of in order to hang-dry peppers.
- The peppers are dry enough to take down when they are brittle to the touch.
- Dental floss works to string peppers together to dry if you don't have a strong thread.
- Store dried peppers in a moisture-proof container. Put the dried peppers in jars or other airtight containers in a cool, dry place for up to 1 year. They have the best flavor within 3-6 months.[11]
- You can also use a food processor or the type of coffee grinder with a blade to grind dried peppers up into flakes and powders to use in the kitchen.
EditPickling and Canning Peppers - Wash canning jars and lids with soap and hot water and rinse them thoroughly. Set them on a clean towel to drain and dry. Always use new lids when you pickle and can peppers.[12]
- You can recycle canning jars and the rings that hold the lids in place.
- Canning jars and lids are available at kitchen supply stores or online.
- Fill the canning jars with peppers to below the rim. Place whole hot peppers or sliced bell or sweet peppers in the jars. Pack them tightly together, but leave headspace at the top.[13]
- You can also add any other seasonings that you would like to the jar of peppers. Some common spices for seasoning pickled pepper are kosher salt, peppercorns, and garlic cloves.
- Cover the peppers with 2 parts vinegar and 1 part water and close the jars. Use distilled white vinegar and cold water. Leave of headspace at the top of the jar and run a plastic knife between the peppers and the sides of the jar to remove any air bubbles before you screw the lids on.[14]
- This is the standard ratio of vinegar to water to safely pickle and preserve the peppers. Some recipes may call for a different ratio or type of vinegar. If you are using a different recipe, follow it exactly to safely pickle your peppers.
- Put the jars in a deep pot half full of hot water with a rack at the bottom. Use a metal or wooden rack that will keep the jars from touching the bottom of the pot. Fill the pot to about halfway with water and heat it up to just under boiling temperature, then place the jars carefully onto the rack.[15]
- Make sure that the pot is deep enough that you will be able to cover the jars completely with more water after they are on the rack.
- Make sure the jars are not touching each other so that the water can circulate.
- Add hot water until the jars are covered by at least . Heat up water to just under boiling temperature in another pot or a kettle. Pour it carefully into the pot with the jars until they are covered completely.[16]
- If you accidentally let the water boil, just turn off the heat and let it sit for 30 seconds to 1 minute before you pour it in over the jars.
- Bring the water to a boil and let the jars boil for 5-10 minutes. Heat the pot until the water comes to a gentle boil at about . Start a timer once the water is boiling and leave the jars boiling for 5 minutes for sweet peppers and 10 minutes for hot peppers.[17]
- If you live above then add 5 minutes to the boiling time.
- If you live above then add 10 minutes to the boiling time.
- Remove the jars carefully and let them cool for 24 hours. Turn off the heat and use tongs to lift the jars out of the water. Be careful to keep them level and place them on a rack or towel to dry and cool.[18]
- After 24 hours, check to see if the lids are sealed properly. The lids should be concaved towards the center of the jar, and if you unscrew the ring that holds them in place you should be able to lift the jar up by the lid.
- If the lids are not properly sealed, then repeat the boiling process again or store the jars in the refrigerator.
- You can store sealed, unopened pickled peppers for up to 2 years before they start to lose their quality.
- Don't touch your face, eyes, or any other sensitive areas of your skin when handling hot peppers. Wash your hands thoroughly after handling them to avoid burning yourself.
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| How to Tell if a Chicken is Sick Posted: 12 Mar 2019 01:00 AM PDT Chickens are relatively hearty pets, but they can be affected by a number of diseases. Typically, you'll look for changes in their behavior, as well as changes in their skin, feathers, and feces to determine if they're sick. Many symptoms are common to a variety of diseases, so it's always a good idea to have a sick bird checked by a veterinarian before you begin treatment. EditWatching for General Signs of Sickness - Look for chickens that hide in the roost and aren't active. Chickens who are happy and healthy are on the move during the day. If 1 or more of your chickens is trying to hang out in the roost instead of coming out, you should check the chicken for further symptoms.[1]
- For instance, when you open the door to the roost in the morning, your chickens should want to walk out.
- Instead of sitting on the roost, they may also sit around with their feathers puffed out to keep warm.[2] When chickens become ill, they commonly sit around and try to keep warm in order to conserve energy.
- Check if the chickens are eating. Keep an eye on your chickens when you feed them. If you have any that hang back and don't eat, that could indicate sickness, particularly if it's a food your chickens enjoy.[3]
- If you have one you suspect might be sick, try feeding it a special treat to see if it shows interest. If it doesn't, that will confirm your suspicions. For instance, try cooked oatmeal or corn. Chickens also love mealworms.
- Watch for any behavior out of the ordinary. Maybe your bird is holding its wings in a funny position. It might stand away from the rest of the flock. Alternatively, you may notice it's limping or has trouble standing up. Anything different could be a sign that your bird is having a problem.[4]
- You may also smell an odor coming from the chicken that's not normal.
- Notice stomach problems like vomiting and diarrhea. Though some vomiting is done for courtship reasons, vomiting can also indicate sickness, particularly along with other symptoms, so keep an eye out. Similarly, a very bad odor in the chicken's feces could also indicate a problem, as could an unusual color or texture to their feces.[5]
- Loose stools are also a problem.
- Pay attention to the chicken's coat and eyes. If your chickens are sick, their coats are going to suffer. Look for disheveled, dull-looking coats, as that could indicate your chickens are under the weather. Similarly, watch for cloudy or runny eyes, another indication of sickness.[6]
- Chickens may also close one or both eyes more often instead of being alert.
- Ragged feathers mean your chickens aren't feeling up to preening themselves.[7]
- Examine the chicken's wattle, comb, and facial skin for changes. Sometimes, these areas will go pale or change to purple. Other times, they may swell or get lesions. Any change from bright red with the wattle or comb is likely a sign of sickness.[8]
- Check the egg quality. If a chicken is sick, her eggs are going to suffer. They may have a soft shell or have problems inside the egg, like being too watery. Alternatively, the eggs may come out misshapen.[9]
- You may also notice the chicken has trouble laying eggs. She may strain while trying to pass an egg.
- Contact the vet if you notice one or several of these symptoms. If you have a veterinarian on call, have them come visit your flock, especially if multiple chickens are having issues. Otherwise, take the sick chicken in to a large-animal veterinarian if they start showing these symptoms. It's a good idea to take precautions, as well, such as quarantining chickens who are showing signs of illness and making sure common areas are cleaned out regularly.
- The veterinarian can help you narrow down what the problem is and point you to an appropriate treatment. They can also tell you whether your whole flock needs to be treated or not.
- If you see signs of specific illnesses, contact your vet immediately.
EditChecking for Avian Influenza and Respiratory Diseases - Look for coughing and sneezing. The symptoms of these diseases in chickens are similar to the symptoms in humans. Chickens will normally sneeze every once in a while, but if you notice persistent sneezing throughout your flock, that could be a sign of a respiratory disease.[10]
- You may also notice coughing spreading through your flock.
- You'll see these symptoms in diseases like avian influenza and infectious sinusitis.[11]
- Some of these illnesses are treated with antibiotics, but some are caused by viruses that can't be treated with medication.
- Check for drainage from the eyes and nose for infectious sinusitis. Infectious sinusitis can cause clear drainage from the eyes, as well as foaming discharge from the nose. These areas may also be swollen and stuffy.[12]
- You may also notice raspy breathing.
- Watch for a purple color in the comb, wattles, and legs with avian flu. Sometimes, this disease can cause these areas to take on a purple hue. They may be tipped with blue or purple while the rest of the area looks paler than normal, for instance. While this condition isn't unique to this disease, it can be a symptom.[13]
- The comb may also flop over.
- With pox, you may notice lesions on the face, comb, and wattle.
- Avian flu is a virus that cannot be treated with medications.
- Check the egg quality. All of the respiratory diseases can cause changes in egg quality. For instance, eggs may come out in funny shapes or not have hard shells. Different changes in eggs can point to different diseases.[14]
- For instance, if egg laying slows down and you notice a decline in the shell quality, that could be infectious bronchitis. This disease can be treated with antibiotics.
- Newcastle disease will cause a decline in egg laying as well as in the inner egg quality. This disease cannot be treated with antibiotics, but your vet may give you some to prevent other infections.
- Pay attention to sudden deaths with avian flu. The avian flu, in particular, can cause some birds to die even if they aren't exhibiting other symptoms first. If you have an unexplained death in your flock, you may want to check your other birds for this disease.[15]
- Infectious laryngotracheitis can also cause a large number of bird deaths, and it cannot be treated with antibiotics, as it's a virus.
EditLooking out for Coccidiosis and Other Intestinal Diseases - Watch for a light-colored comb and skin. The stomach disease coccidiosis stems from a parasite in the intestinal tract, and like many diseases, it can cause changes in the chickens' comb and wattles. Typically, with this condition, these areas will look paler than normal.[16]
- A healthy chicken's comb and wattle will be bright red.
- Look for bloody droppings and other changes in this area. Intestinal diseases like coccidiosis can cause blood in the stool, though not every infection will cause this symptom.[17] In severe cases, it can lead to yellow defecation that has a foamy texture and appearance.[18]
- Keep in mind that chickens do shed their intestinal linings from time to time, which is perfectly normal. That will be more brown-red rather than bright red.
- Be aware of bird deaths. Coccidiosis, as well as other types of intestinal diseases, can also cause fairly sudden deaths, and it could have already spread to the rest of your flock. While that's a scary thought, it's treatable, as long as you start immediately and separate out the birds you believe are sick for treatment.[19]
- A necropsy can be performed on a dead bird to determine if it's coccidiosis or another condition.
EditNoticing Specific Signs of Other Diseases - Look for itchy birds and ruffled feathers to detect lice or mites. While not a disease per se, lice and mites can cause problems for your chickens, such as anemia. If you think your chickens might have lice or mites, inspect the base of the feathers near the back end of the bird to look for lice or mites.[20]
- You may notice clusters of tiny white eggs. Alternatively, you might see parasites moving around on the bird, either small black specks or white parasites the size of rice.
- Lice and mites can be treated by dusting the birds a parasite powder or spraying them with a parasite solution for chickens.
- Notice birds who are thin with bad feathers, which could indicate roundworms. This intestinal parasite can make your chickens lose weight, and they may not feel like taking care of their feathers. Also, the skin around their mouths may be paler than normal.[21]
- This parasite may cause diarrhea, and you may see matted feathers near their rear ends.
- If one bird gets this, you'll need to treat the whole flock.
- Pay attention to a bird having trouble laying eggs. This condition is called being egg-bound. You may notice the bird hanging out in the coop more. Its behavior may be erratic. You may see her straining to lay the egg. Think of someone with constipation and how that would look in a chicken. It may make noises while trying to lay the egg.[22]
- There's not a lot to be done for egg-bound chickens, though a warm water bath around her back end or applying lubricant may help.
- Watch for temporary paralysis for Marek's disease. This disease is caused by a herpes virus, and it is fairly widespread. In some cases, it can cause lymphoid tumors that press on or enlarge nerves.[23] In turn, that can cause paralysis, which may only be temporary or could be permanent.[24]
- This condition can't be treated.
- If you think your chicken is sick, contact a veterinarian to have it examined.
- Put your sick chickens in quarantine so that the disease cannot spread to the rest of your flock.
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