Too Professional Looking

The vintage and supplies sections don't have be handmade items. As for the rest, it's a little tricky. They can be items that have been mass manufactured but have been hand altered. For example I don't have to weave the cloth but if I hand dye or paint it then it qualifies. A lot of people are professional crafters so even though the items are hand made they look professional. There probably are people sneaking in somethings they shouldn't but I don't worry about it or let it bother me.

You can really get a professional look to your photos with a regular digital camera by following some of the tips on the Etsy blog. Just going outside makes a huge difference for my photos. While Etsy is starting to look more professional, I do not believe that the products are any less handmade than they were before. If you follow the tips and tutorials offered on Etsy Success, you can see a huge difference in your own site and photography.

My own experience with Etsy is though my wife's business. As she has gained experience (she is a potter and jeweler), her work has steadly improved. My own work has also improved because of this (I take most of the photos and do some of her descriptions---I am a writer and photo-journalist by trade). My original photos of her jewelry and pottery were horrible---it is amazing how hard taking pictures of ceramics is. Personally, I like the fact that the site is becoming more and more professional. The writing sites I belong to are also looking more and more professional. I think it is simply because people are learning how to run businesses on the internet.