Inspired- the dark and murky background

As I experiment and ponder my new shop, one thing has been a sticking point for me- the background. It seems to me when I shoot something to go online I'm often more concerned about the background than the object (thereby betraying photography as a greater love than selling the object). Is it too dark, too light? Is it the right colour? Is the patina thick enough? Are their words that shouldn't be seen, or marks and stains that- though you know are perfectly innocent - look quite unpleasant in the uncompromising eye of the camera?

necklace -available tonight

Shots like the one above make me feel like I've got it right. (And make me think I should stop messing about and just be a professional photographer already.)

But while dithering about on the internet (some would have me call it 'research and networking' - I call it finding new blog) I came across the blog of a wonderful Australian-based food stylist, Katie Quinn Davies.

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Her photography showcases both the dark and the light, but it's the dark that I love best- that cobblestone, ink and ash colour scheme that so suits blood-red fruits and pewter plates. Her style is very similar to Chris Court- who you probably know best from his sister Sibella's book Etc. (Which in my personal view is just as much his book than hers, but I digress.)

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I recently made a treasury where I showcased some of my favourite sellers, but on closer inspection what I really ended up doing was just picking my favourite backgrounds! There's a trend on Etsy for vintage shops to be a white wall and a scrubbed timber surface, with perhaps some doily lace or dried flowers. It's quickly becoming the vintage shop's answer to 'necklace on an open book' that is so common in jewelry shops, or 'carousel against turquoise sky' that so pervades the photography section. But that doesn't stop it being awesome.

(incidentally, what's this trend amongst photographers to have their site scroll sideways? ives me a headache!)