Pricing and photographing handmade products
Two things decide whether a listing converts: whether the price reflects the work, and whether the photographs show the object honestly.
Neither needs expensive equipment. Both need method.
Count your hours
Labour is the cost most makers leave out.
Price the batch, not the piece
Materials bought in bulk change the unit cost.
Daylight beats a flash
Indirect window light shows texture and true colour.
Show scale and flaws
A hand or a coin in frame prevents returns.
A pricing method that holds
Add material cost, your hourly rate multiplied by real hours including finishing and packing, and a share of fixed costs such as tools, studio, and utilities. Then decide your margin deliberately rather than by guesswork.
Remember delivery sits outside the product price on Handmade — you quote it per order — so do not bury courier cost in the item price and then quote it again.
Photographing without a studio
Shoot near a window with indirect light, use a plain background, and keep the same setup across your catalogue so the shop looks coherent. Include one image showing scale and one showing texture up close.
Photograph the actual item you will send where possible. Representative photos of a different piece create disputes when the buyer compares.
Listing details that reduce returns
Accurate dimensions, honest production days, and clear care instructions prevent most avoidable complaints. Buyers can request a return after delivery, and an operator reviews it — the cheapest return is the one the listing prevented.