I must have taken 200+ pictures (I’M NOT KIDDING!) of Isabelle to get this fabric looking right… and I’m still not 100% sure I succeeded. I tried every combination I could… light tent, in the living room, on the dining room table, on the fireplace, back in my sewing room again, with a white lacy fabric, with the gray again, on the opposite wall, and nothing seemed to make any sense. I read 3 articles last night on doll photography and woke up Tuesday morning with high hopes, but it all vanished when I got back to my computer and saw what I had taken… almost everything had to be deleted and taken again. Am I discouraged? Yes, a bit. Am I upset? No, it’s happened before, and I’m sure it will happen again. I just have to keep trying new things.
Here are a few that were good by themselves, but not for a full shot… for the most part, I loved how clear these were.
Some of my pictures were too busy with the white background (it was Rebecca’s idea to lighten things up!), some of them were too fuzzy, so I tried my tripod, Rebecca thought the glare of the snow coming in the windows was too much light and washed out some of my pictures. I know how to use the photo editor in Picasa, but the pictures weren’t good enough to get a good start. I could go on an on about it, but I’ll stop…
The thing that matters is I DID get a few pictures to work and managed to get Isabelle’s dress listed on Ebay. You can click on the picture at the right side bar or you can click HERE to see the auction.
I’ll let you read the story in the listing, but here are a few pictures till you get to read it…
Don’t worry, and think you’ve seen them all… I think I had 27 pictures in the listing. :o)
Rebecca told me not to do any more Valentine dresses, but move straight to Easter… I’m not sure I can do that.. I have too many fabrics and dolls who want a pretty Valentine’s Day dress. Is it too late?
Thanks everyone,
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
Beautiful dress (with magic sleeves), exceptionally great fit.
Awesome presentation and photos. I do think that beautiful Isabelle could sell anything though.
Hope the weather is improving for all and that everyone had a chance to see the lunar extravaganza.
Hi Jane,
Good to hear from you…
I think Isabelle could sell most anything too. She is my little sweetheart.
Today is one day closer to Spring! Yay!!!
Thanks Jane,
Blessings, Jeanne
Wow! Those pictures did turn out well! So clear, you can see the little embroidery on the eyelet on the bodice!!
I”m curious–wherever did you find that tiny heart-shaped candy box? Or did you make it? It’s the perfect scale for Isabelle.
Jane is right–I, too, think Isabelle could sell anything! She would look good in a gunny sack, I think! LOL
Hope your auction goes very well!
Hi Charlotte,
Thanks for your compliments on the dress…it was nice to finally take a few decent pictures.
The red Valentine box came with a swap one time that I participated in on the Little Darlings doll forum.
Thanks Charlotte,
Blessings, Jeanne
Oh, how sweet in more ways than one, Jeanne! Yes, Isabelle CAN and does seem to be able to sell anything, and I see a bid already! Yay!
As for pictures, I do prefer a light background, like you have done with the lace. I don’t know what it is, it just brightens up the listing, whereas the gray looks too gloomy compared to the white. Maybe not a stark white, but a soft one is really good for highlighting the outfits, unless, of course it is a completely white dress, which I don’t recall you making, at least not lately.
The story line is just perfect for the items you have, and who wouldn’t want that big chocolate candy bar?
Now, Rebecca says to go straight to Easter dresses? You know, Easter isn’t until April 21st,and I do think you have plenty of time before that to make another Valentine dress, and even something green for St. Patrick’s Day! Just my opinion, unless you have something big coming up to do. You do such a wonderful job on those sweet Valentine dresses, I would like to see another one!!!
Boy, was it cold yesterday!!! Still covered in snow here, but with it going up to 44 degrees today, it should melt soon.
Hi Linda,
I was looking at some pictures online to see what backgrounds were the most appealing and what colors made the dolls outfits pop off the page the best…didn’t really come to any conclusions…
I didn’t listen to Rebecca…you’ll see tomorrow!
You’ll love it!!
A lot of our snow melted today…I didn’t get out but George did…
Thanks Linda,
Blessings, Jeanne
Such a pretty dress ! I like that it’s not a dedicated “heart print”.. red works year around:)
Isabella is such a beautiful girl.. she looks wonderful in any setting.
I find that the photos I take into the shoot are better than the first ones.. even the doll seems more relaxed and “into it!” Some of my favorite shots they have posed themselves:)!
Hi Shara,
I’m not a huge fan of “dedicated” holiday prints either…too limiting if you ask me.
One of these days something will click and I’ll figure it out it all out…
Thanks so much Shara,
Blessings, Jeanne
ADORABLE ! ! What a sweet, dreamy outfit. The colors are beautiful on Isabelle though like others have said she looks beautiful in everything. I really like the photos with the lace background, it really seems to make the colors pop. The valentine candy box and card complete the theme. Another note – I never would have noticed the difference in the embroidery but as the designer and photographer you notice those things when you scrutinize your photos; a clear sing of a perfectionists! Great Job.
I vote for another Valentine outfit, as Linda said Easter is a little later this year.
Here in Michigan we had a super clear sky and very cold. I did see the eclipse but no red :o( but still very amazing.
-8 yesterday morning, better today. Stay warm.
Thanks so much, Leigh,
I appreciate your kind compliments in your comments and also thank you for the kind card you sent a while back. Your words in it really encouraged me and made me feel so blessed to have met so many nice friends.
Well, you’re going to be thrilled that I decided to make another Valentine dress…yay!!
Thanks Leigh,
Blessings, Jeanne
You’re most welcome. Yeah for another Valentine dress.
You managed some beautiful pictures anyway. The first ones are such beautiful portraits of Isabelle. The ones with the gray background seem to me to have better lighting, but the ones with the lace background seem to show the real color (or what I think is the real color) better, and the lace background is perfect for Valentine’s Day. The third one down after your “box and card” comment seems to combine both light and color best, in my opinion. What did you do to produce that one?
The outfit itself is worthy of Isabelle, but I understand from Linda’s comment that there’s not a chance she’ll get to keep it. By the way, I love the writing on the card.
If we get to vote on the next outfit, I’m with the “another Valentine’s Day dress” group. You have a week to make one and still have plenty of time to get it shipped to the new owner and safely on her doll before the 14th. There’s even time for a green dress for St. Patrick’s, but much depends on how much life is going to interfere with doll dress production. It would be nice to have a couple of Easter dresses and still have time for something for May Day. Listen to these holidays — spring is going to come.
Hi Marilyn,
One of these days I’ll get the picture taking thing all figured out…until then, I’ll just have to wing it..
I’m not sure which picture you meant…the 3rd one down on “this” post or th he 3rd one down in the Ebay listing…. but chances are I probably couldn’t tell you what I did anyway…
When Rebecca saw the card, she asked me if I used my left hand….I smiled and said yes…
Everyone’s going to be happy because I overruled Rebecca and went with my gut.
I’m going to show it tomorrow!!
Thanks Marilyn,
Blessings, Jeanne
Oh, Isabelle is such a dreamy little thing in this outfit. Love the story of her new beau, Bobby. I would like to hear Susette’s take on the photos. Did you use your camera or new phone? In the first three shots, it appears that the focus is off as various parts are in focus and others are not. In the third, by the fireplace bricks, one side is in focus and the rest blurred. But, I really like the lighting in all three. The dark and the white bricks. The effect in all is lovely. The fourth by the fireplace is over exposed. I really like the lighting on the fifth one coming from behind and the side so there is no facial shadow. I like the last of that group by the window, but her face has a shadow. And not too busy at all for those. After all, Isabelle is the star. 🙂 The full length poses in front of the lace background appear muddy to me, except the head shot which showcases the dress very well. The last shots against the gray are superb. Especially, when blown up. Only problem seems to be yellowing from the lights. Filters? It also seems on most all of the photos that the auto focus leaves some parts of the photos sharp and others not so much. I only wanted to point out what I noticed as a really old photographer myself. 🙂 After all of the photo critique, I believe that the photos tell a really fun story and will make this dress an immediate success. Only trying to help solve problems.
Bobby must like Isabelle a lot because that is a really big box of candy. Hope she shares it. 🙂
Hi Joy,
Isabelle might ge more than Bobby if she keeps looking so adorable in her dresses!!
The pictures used in this post were all done with my phone….I think…that’s the trouble…I take pictures and I never can remember which one I had in the light, which one I used a tripod, which one I was at eye level..I guess I need to put a piece of paper in my picture to be able to tell…
That candy bar that Isabelle wanted to give the winner has been very tempting to me but so far I’ve resisted.
Thanks Joy,
Blessings, Jeanne
What a wonderful presentation. And I love the story. Isabelle is her usual pretty, sweet self and her ensemble is absolutely lovely. Can’t let my girls see this or they will all want one. Fallon and Claire will want the one on ebay because they say I’m way too slow at making them new outfits. And where did you get that tiny candy box? Did you make it? My LDs have the perfect shoes for the dress. When I make an outfit I sometimes shop Deb’s Adorables and find matching shoes. They have a pair of red with white trim.
I understand your picture-taking dilemma. I had the same problem when taking pictures of my village, and I had the streetlamp problem too. I noticed I had a picture I forgot to send. It’s taken up the main street. Saving that for next year.
About the floss on the trim, I absolutely did not notice it was off. If I had done it I would have noticed. Guess I’m not really good at critiquing the work of others, only mine – mercilessly.
I found out some of the problem with my Ann Estelle Sofie’s dress being too small. I never have problems printing downloaded patterns, but this one was a problem. I had to print it from the computer to get the control line and then actually upsize it on the printer and copy it to get the correct length. I could not make the adjustments from the computer. But I’m good to go now and have reprinted all the patterns pieces from this particular vendor.
No snow here – yet. Can’t really tell what’s coming. There is a deep dip in the jet stream that is bringing some really cold air to Texas. The last one moved further east than expected but this one appears to be coming all the way through with some frozen precipitation with it. They say if it snows it won’t stick, but sometimes I just like watching it come down.
Thanks Barbara,
Isabelle’s Valentine box came from a doll swap I participated in a few years ago.
Isabelle has some red shoes but they were too bright of red…so I had to use white.
I think I first noticed the floss wasn’t in the same holes when I was threading it through, but didn’t think it would matter…wrong…it did!
We’ve got more winter weather on the way in a few days…its okay wit me as I’m getting lots done in my sewing room!!!
Thanks Barbara,
Blessings, Jeanne
Dear Jeanne, Isabelle is adorable. The dress is lovely. I think the photos are fine.
Don’t worry, Isabelle will work her magic for you. Little Darlings always do (smile).
Thank you Dorothy,
Isabelle’s already worked her magic on me and has since day one!! I love her!!
Thanks for your kind comments,
Blessings, Jeanne
Beautiful outfit. I think the sellers who block out the face of the doll who is modeling is really missing the selling point of how adorable the dolls look in the outfit. Makes you imagine how your own favorite doll would look. The one thing I wondered about is the eyelet lace on the pantalettes, would it be overkill to add the red floss on them? I’m sure you’ve tried both ways being the perfectionist that you are and I’m curious.
I vote for another valentine outfit.
I live in the southern outskirts of Pittsburgh so we missed the foot of snow they called for but did get the single digit cold. Did someone say spring is coming?!
Hi Dorothy,
I think those sellers are so worried that someone is going to think the doll is for sale so they block the face out. I think its awful practice to show something that way. All you have to do is make it clear and say that your doll us NOT for sale. Show her face…let her enjoy her chance at modeling!!!
The floss actually does better when it’s laying next to something instead of just floating… if you know what I mean.
You’ll be happy to see what I decided about the next dress tomorrow. :o)
Thanks Dorothy,
Blessings, Jeanne
Jeanne, I don’t see a thing wrong with your pictures. They look great.
The dress is darling on a Little Darling! The color looks fine.
Make more Valentine dresses if you want. They are beautiful.
Remember no matter how hard you try to make the picture perfect
what comes across on each individual’s screen is dependent on their
computer or device.
Huggs, Jeannie B. in TX
Hi Jeannie,
Nice to hear from you!!
Thank you for your wonderful compliments on Isabelle’s dress and her pictures….I try hard!! :o)
I realize that about the computer monitors but one time I sold a dress, describing it as dark turquoise and the lady wanted to return it (1st one ever…) because she said it was more Teal… fortunately the dress grew on her over the next 2 days and she decided to keep it.
Another Valentine’s day dress IS coming! Yay!
Thank you Jeannie,
Blessings, Jeanne
That is just a darling dress with ALL the right details. The pantelettes in the same fabric are just the best addition and I love the over-sized matching hair bow. I remember when those were extremely popular when my daughter was very young. Some had the fabric encased in elastic. I had my mom make a couple to match the Easter dresses she made. The story you came up with adorable. Must be Isabelle’s first crush/
As Linda stated, Easter is really late this year, I think as late as it can be. It can be just shy of a month earlier. There would be time to make another Valentine dress (yes, please!). The Victorians were very big on Valentine’s (Love’s Own Day) *hint hint* Samantha and I, too would love to see a St. Patrick’s Day dress (You’ll need to get Nellie down for that one IMO, wee Irish lassie that she is) That would still leave time for an AG and LD Easter dress.
We had a slight thaw today and I got to go out and run some errands. Best of all, there was sun!!!
Hi Laura,
I’m glad you like Isabelle’s dress and thanks for your sweet compliments! She’s going to get a big head from all the sweet comments!
Another Valentine’s day dress is coming…you’ll see the first of it tomorrow!! Then we’ll talk Easter…and its funny, but I have a pink corduroy coat left from last year. I already have Nellie and Samantha on the cutting table… :o)
Thanks Laura,
Blessings, Jeanne