Working on a new Etsy Avatar!

My sister is home from Chicago! She is my personal photographer (she does all the pics of the kiddos for me, plus family portraits). I have begged her to come over today and take new pictures of me for my avatar. I will post the results later. (View her website portfolio at http://mgrayson.com/)

Here are some tips for avatars that I have learned spending time in the Etsy online virtual labs...

-Close up
-High contrast
-Bright colors
-Interesting
-Showcase product (must be currently listed in your shop_
-Showcase media, medium, supplies, tools
-Be a self portrait (people like to see the people behind the names)

Here are some links to some of my favorite Etsy Avatars...

http://yarnabees.etsy.com/
http://simplyinvitingcards.etsy.com/
http://marialuna.etsy.com/

Here are the results! I like how it turned out. It is over exposed on purpose. What do you think?

P.S. The jewelry that I am wearing in my picture are from an Etsy seller friend! I worked on her Etsy shop decorations and in trade she made me custom jewelry! Check out her shop here... http://carlsbadcreations.etsy.com