I’ve only recently moved back to Folksy from Etsy after many years away but I’ve been back here a good few months and I am noticing that one particular seller, selling similar items to me, now has their product photos in the same style that I do. Not only are they in the same style they are on the exact same mannequin that I have (ok, the mannequin could be coincidence) and displayed against the exact same style of fence that I have and it has been painted the exact same colour. Not only that, how many people would think of using pins or hooks on a fence to hang the shawl out fully as well? Most people would use a chair or something.
Now, I have developed my photo set up over a number of years of trying various styles but I have been using this particular set up since at least September 2021 when I changed my entire shop of about 100 items (at that time) over a couple of days to the new style photos, I have an Instagram post to prove it, and I know that this person has only been listing product photos in this style recently because when I came back I checked out all of the other products in the same category before I started listing anything and I did numerous searches for knitting, crochet, shawls etc etc and I found nothing styled anything like mine. Also, upon checking this persons sales, it is only the last four sold items that have an almost identical background to my products.
These photos are SO much like mine, I had to do a double take cos I thought someone had actually stolen my actual photos.
Obviously I am angry because these are in the EXACT same style as my product photos to the point that even I thought they were my products. There was nothing wrong with this persons choice of photographic background before so why can’t they just continue with their own style?
Do I have a right to be angry?
Would you be angry?
Is there anything that I can do about it?
Can I get this person to stop copying? Is it copyright or plagerism or something?
I won’t name names, I don’t think I have to, its such a small category of items and if you look at my product photos for my shawls its so obvious.
I have since been and checked out this persons FB photos and the earliest photo I can find that is against any kind of blue fence or blue door was taken several months after I started using my set up but then they seem to have taken others in other locations, which look better in my opinion, and more unique for their own “brand” look. Lately they seem to be favouring copying my set up though, which is sad really, cos I live on an ex-Council housing estate just outside of Birmingham with a tiny garden with just the one photo set up option when this person looks like they live in the countryside and has what appears to be a farm style gate and beautiful stone walls etc that the majority of us would die for as an outside photo studio…
This is a hard one, I have found what I think is the seller you are referring to but tbh they did not look the same at all. Unless I have the wrong seller.
I have a book on photographing craft items and I expect so do a lot of other people so backgrounds could be the same, such as using photo boards.
Also using software such as Photoroom.
Personally unless the colours and designs are identical would not worry.
I think it is one of the things we have to live with I’m afraid. Inevitably some degree of copying or borrowing photo layouts will happen and as long as it is not exactly identical there is not much you can do about it. Of course some overlap in design is inevitable (there are only so many ways to photograph a shawl and against a wall is one of them). I suppose you could look at it as a compliment to your very good photo designs - it’s not much comfort but they do say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
It is quite possible that the other person doesn’t even realise she is using the same/similar style background to you. My workshop is wooden - painted white - and many of my photos are taken using it as a backdrop. Since starting to use it I have seen many photos taken against a white boarded backdrop - admittedly probably a more common colour. I’m not good at product photography and hands up - I do pick up ideas from other crafters. In the end it’s the product that counts - and yours are beautiful
I think that you are worrying far too much…lots of people use similar layouts for taking pictures of their work and with many hundreds of sellers, items and photos are often going to look similar. Just concentrate on your lovely work and enjoy what you do. No good getting stressed about it.
If someone likes your items, then they will buy them…if someone likes another person’s items, then they will buy “their” items…it is life.
It even happens to the royal family…a royal bride will hardly be out of the church when someone will have copied their dress and people will use similar photos and backgrounds.
Smile, continue with your beautiful work …it will eat away at you if you let it fester.xx
When I first started to style my products, I would photograph them against a white wall, and on white furniture, and I would add flowers to compliment the artwork or to add depth. I never checked if anyone else was using this styling - it just felt natural (and I really like the process of styling). However, you would be amazed how many paintings are actually photographed against a white background and with flowers and it never occurred to me they copied me (they might think I copied them), it just felt that I wasn’t the only one to think of this setup. There are quite a few guides here on Folksy (forum and blog) with tips on how to take product photos or how to style your products so more often than not, people just apply what they read and see. Also, every now and then, I would change the setup up but again, I never really check if anyone else has the same setup.
Don’t stress about it - people who like your products will buy them. Also, when people look at your shop, they can clearly see that you are consistent with your photography. Don’t change your style. Maybe other people haven’t found theirs yet and they keep experimenting. xx
People are buying your products, not your backgrounds. I don’t look at one shop and then another and even consider which item I’ll buy that’s influenced by the best background. So long as your photos are well it and well done, and this person is not doing exact replicas of your work it doesn’t matter.
Customers arn’t going to notice the background on your photos they are looking at your products not the photography. The other shop has used various backdrops for her photos and probably just coincidental that one is similar to yours, I’m not really sure why it upsets you and it certainly wouldnt be a copyright issue.
Your work is beautiful, I wouldn’t worry about it, just concentrate on your own products and photography, like someone else mentioned the other shop probably doesn’t even realise the photos are similar and may not have even seen yours and I’m sure you’re not the first person to have used a blue fence as a backdrop for photographing.
