Podcast Summary: How to Sell Your Stuff on Etsy

Episode 201 | "Etsy Product Photos that Convert – with Brittany Reynosa"
Host: Lizzie Smiley
Guest: Brittany Reynosa (Bricks and Co. Photography)
Date: October 2, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode delves into the critical role that photography plays in the success of an Etsy shop. Lizzie Smiley invites her brand photographer, Brittany Reynosa, to share in-depth, actionable advice on taking product photos that do more than just look good—they convert shoppers into buyers. The conversation is equal parts technical, inspirational, and practical, with Brittany breaking down specific techniques, common mistakes, and the mindset behind truly effective "scroll-stopping" images. The episode is designed to help both DIY shop owners and those considering hiring a professional photographer.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Importance of Conversion-Focused Photography

• Lifestyle vs. White Background:
  Brittany champions lifestyle photography over plain white-background shots, especially for Etsy.
  • “Anybody can take a great photo—using that loosely—on a white hat…We want to give your potential clients FOMO.” – Brittany Reynosa (05:43)
  • The first photo should evoke an emotional response and “stop the scroll.” (07:54)
• Communicating Use & Experience:
  Great photos allow customers to imagine owning and using the product:
  • “You can’t smell a candle online, so we want it to look really good…show people in use.” – Brittany (05:43)
• Amazon vs. Etsy:
  Amazon requires white cutouts, but Etsy thrives with emotional, lifestyle images (07:54).

2. Tips for Creating High-Converting Product Photos

• Lighting is Everything:
  Good lighting can salvage even basic equipment:
  • “Lighting would be for sure number one.” (10:42, 17:05)
  • Brittany prefers natural light and recommends shooting by a window if you lack equipment (10:32).
• Staging & Focus:
  • Stage with props, but don’t let them outshine the product:
    • “Everything else is just kind of a silhouette around it; your main focus is your actual product.” (09:13)
    • Strategic cropping can reduce customer confusion about what’s for sale (11:13).
• What is a “Silhouette” in Photography?:
  “Just little bits added all around [the main product], where these are—they make the photo—but this is your main product.” (12:22)
• Editing for Truth:
  Don’t over-filter or use misleading presets:
  • “We try to edit as true to color as possible.” (32:00)
  • Over-editing can lead to disappointed or confused customers (33:24).

3. Advice for DIY Sellers and Product Photography Beginners

• Start Simple:
  Use available natural light, a phone camera is OK if that’s what you have (23:33).
• Biggest Mistakes:
  • Relying on plain white backgrounds or bad lighting (23:33, 24:15)
  • Overcrowding the frame and confusing the focus (25:11)
  • Using photographers with no product experience (23:33)
• Essential Equipment:
  • “If you already have a pretty decent camera and you have a really great lens and some great lighting, you are going to do great.” (17:38)
  • Favorite lenses: 50mm 1.2, 35mm prime, 24–70mm for versatility (21:31).

4. When & Why to Hire a Professional Photographer

• Signs You’re Ready:
  • If you’re not seeing conversions or standing out in saturated markets (44:24)
  • “This [photography] should be your first step. A great website…there’s so many great ways…but the image is what they see first.” (44:58)
• Value of Investment:
  • Professional photos can increase sales, as evidenced in Brittany’s client stories:
    • “They made more sales after updating their website…than they did with their Black Friday sale.” (35:41)
• Expanded Services:
  Brittany offers brand photography, product shoots, content days with video, and even ongoing subscriptions for regular content (51:06, 52:28).

5. Mockups & Strategic Photo Planning

• Creating Mockups:
  Brittany can photograph blank products for digital mockups––great for testing demand quickly (39:45).
• Angles & Smart Mockups:
  • Strategic angles make photos feel real but require advanced editing for accurate overlays (41:01).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Brittany on Creating ‘FOMO’:
  "We want to give your potential clients FOMO. I want them to see your photo of your candle and go, ‘Oh my gosh, I have to have that candle.’" (05:43)
• Lizzie on What Converts:
  “That lifestyle photo is what's gonna…break through saturation. You evoke an emotion…create a feeling…” (07:54)
• On Mistakes Beginners Make:
  “They roll out a white backdrop and they just set it on there and take a photo. That’s not going to be cute.” – Brittany (24:17)
• On Editing:
  “We try to edit as true to color as possible…” – Brittany (32:00)
• On Photography’s Business Value:
  “Your imagery for your brand is that’s what they’re going to see. They’re not reading the text first.” – Brittany (44:58)
• On the Power of Content Days:
  “She books us monthly…now she has all of these curated clips ready to go for her. And she makes reels and TikToks…they just hit 10,000 followers.” (35:41)
• Humor & Relatability:
  “It looks like it would be easy to just, why can’t you just set the candle right there and take a photo? But it’s gonna be lighting, for sure.” – Brittany (24:39)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment/Topic | |-----------|------------------------------------------------| | 05:43 | Brittany’s approach: Emotional, lifestyle shots & FOMO | | 07:54 | Why lifestyle photos convert for Etsy vs. Amazon shots | | 10:32 | DIY tip: The value of natural light | | 12:22 | What is a “silhouette” in product photography | | 17:05 | Top 3 skills for budding product photographers | | 17:38 | Equipment: Lighting and lens priorities | | 21:31 | Favorite lenses explained | | 23:33 | Common amateur mistakes in product photos | | 32:00 | Editing: Staying true to color | | 35:41 | Client success story—conversions after better photos | | 39:45 | Mockups for product testing and experimentation | | 44:24 | When to hire a pro photographer | | 51:06 | Brittany’s services & content day innovation | | 55:18 | Where to find Brittany online |

Brittany’s Pro Tips for Etsy Sellers

• First Photo: Always a lifestyle shot to catch attention (29:09)
  • “Your first photo needs to be a lifestyle photo…your second one should be the white background…”
• Editing Approach:
  Use software like Capture One, Lightroom, or Photoshop to touch up images but always maintain color accuracy (30:13–32:09)
• Batch Shooting & Mockups:
  Photo sessions can yield blanks for quick digital testing using smart mockups (39:45–43:12).
• Maximize ROI:
  A small investment in professional, conversion-optimized photography can pay off in dramatically higher sales (35:41, 44:58).

Where to Find Brittany Reynosa (Bricks and Co.)

• Instagram: @bricksandcophoto (55:18)
• TikTok: @bricksandcompanyphoto
• Website: (Link to be provided in show notes by Lizzie)

Final Takeaways

This episode reinforces that outstanding, conversion-focused product photography is accessible to both beginners (with some strategy and effort) and scaling brands (ready to hire a professional). The right photo isn’t just about beauty—it’s about storytelling, evoking emotion, and nudging browsers to become buyers. Whether you’re DIY-ing or investing, focus on lighting, clear focus, emotional resonance, and honest edits. If your photos aren’t converting, it might be time to bring in an expert like Brittany Reynosa.