This post is sponsored by the amazing OttLite company and gives me the opportunity to show you #WhatsUnderMyOttLite. They may have cookies on the Dark Side, but yours don’t have to be them…bring them into the daylight! #ad
So, I’ve been doing cookies for almost 3 years now. The majority of that time honing my craft has while I had a full-time job and was teaching taekwondo 3x a week, so all of my cookie work usually started after 830 pm. It’s something that a lot of cookiers and crafters deal with because, you know, life.
Even after leaving my job, I still end up working late into the night/early morning. Just this last week, I’ve stayed up until 4 am working on orders 4 different nights! Aside from being a zombie, the biggest problem I (we) face is getting good pics to share once I’m done with the orders… Rushing to get them packed just adds to the stress of trying to get some good snapshots in.
The success of our enterprises often hinge on getting the best shots of our products to put into our shops and on to social media. But unless you’re living in Alaska during the best 6 months of the year, perfect sunlight before dawn is just not gonna happen…
A few weeks ago, someone posted in one of my cookie groups on Facebook about a store having their OttLite lamps on sale. I didn’t know anything about them, so I was a little hesitant to purchase one and my procrastination in making a decision caused me to miss the sale. I was not happy about that, but I did it to myself; I have to make sure that it’s something that I really want + need before I spend money on it and I was less interested in purchasing something on which I’d miss the sale.
On an aside, one of my favorite songs is Ironic by Alanis Morissette. That’s how I felt when I finally got an OttLite and came out of the dark. I’ve so been missing out…
So here’s the technical description from the company:
OttLite brings the power of natural daylight indoors with its innovative and functional lighting products. Founded by Dr. John Ott, the father of time lapse photography, OttLite helps you see details clearly & colors accurately while reducing glare & eyestrain. From floor lamps to table lamps to magnification, has the right lamp to help you do what you love, longer.
And, OttLite’s innovative and feature-rich LED desk lamps are intelligently designed to combine great features like USB charging ports, multiple brightness settings, adjustability and even storage with incredible natural daylight LED illumination for a great lighting experience.
All of that to say…OttLites are the awesome sauce!
For this particular project, I got to try out the Natural Daylight LED Flex Lamp. I had to choose from their large selection, but since natural daylight is what I need, I was thrilled to have the option of a lamp that would give me that type of light.
Deets:
- Super Bright Natural Daylight LEDs rated to last up to 40,000 hours
- Multi-position shade lets you easily adjust the light angle over your projects
- 3 brightness settings – up to 400 lumens
- Flexible neck directs powerful illumination where you need it
- Touch control elegantly and easily adjusts lighting scenarios
- Contemporary design with matte finish
- Height adjusts from 13.5 to 25.5 inches
I really love the flexibility of my lamp, both in usage and utility. I’m using it to take pics of my cookies when I get done with them in the middle of the night, but it’s also pretty sweet for lighting pics of my DIY projects when it’s cloudy, raining and overcast, especially during the winter. I’ve always wanted to make a mini photo studio but don’t have the space or attention span to follow through on it, so this lamp is seriously the bees knees 🙂
So, check this out…
This is an unedited picture of my work station under the absolutely horrid lamp over my kitchen table. It’s more enraging at 3 am when I haven’t slept:
This is an unedited picture of my cookies with the OttLite on the lowest + warmest setting:
This is an unedited picture of my cookies with the OttLite on the medium setting:
This is an unedited picture of my cookies with the OttLite on the highest + brightest setting:
And this is the unedited pic of the tray in daylight:
The window near my table rarely gets enough sun to make for the best photos, so there is a lot of time spent trying to stage cookies near a window in the living room, praying I don’t drop and break the cookies on the way to get the money shot.
The best part of it is that taking the pics under the OttLite makes it much easier to actually edit them.
Compare the editing process under my crappy light:
…to the editing process of a picture taken under the OttLite:
There is still going to be a little editing that I will need to get the perfect picture, but starting with an OttLite makes it soooo much easier!
You can check out more at: http://products.ottlite.com/p-408-natural-daylight-led-flex-lamp.aspx#Description
Are you curious + interested yet?
OttLite is so fabulous that they have some pretty enticing offers for my readers…
Just for taking the time to check this story out, you are eligible for 30% off any purchase on OttLite using coupon code OttliteLED30. Don’t be indecisive like I was because the deal is only good through May 31, 2016. Note: Only USA customers can purchase through OttLite. Canadian customers, please call 1-800-842-8848 to speak to the Customer Service team to place your order.
Not enough for you? Well, how about this…
OttLite is giving one lucky reader their very own Natural Daylight LED Flex Lamp just like mine! All you need to do is comment below and, with the hashtag #WhatsUnderMyOttLite, tell me what project you would make shine with your very own lamp!
*Contest runs until March 8, 2016. Winner will be announced on March 9th.
WE HAVE A WINNER!!
CONGRATULATIONS TO DESIREE!!
Winners must be 18+ years old and reside in the US or Canada (not including Quebec)*
Purchase or enter to win your own OttLite and See the Difference! Best of luck!!
Share this:
#WhatsUnderMyOttLite I’d use this to take brighter pics of my cookies & cakes ☺️
Definitely the right tool for the job!
#WhatsUnderMyOttLite I would love to use this for my cookies. I have a window on the north side of the house that gets terrible lighting and it would really help with my pictures for sure!
Absolutely! All of the lighting in my house is bad, save for 10 min at a time :/
Your cookies are absolutely beautiful!! I got the same OttLite that you did, and I am so impressed with it!
Thank you! It’s such an awesome tool and I can’t believe that I’ve missed out on it for so long!
It would make my cookie pictures look bright and colorful.#WhatsUnderMyOttLite
I know they’re beautiful in real life and this would definitely make them look great in pics!
#WhatsUnderMyOttLite I’d definitely use this to take pics of my cookies late at night. A lot of times, that’s the only opportunity I have to take pics before I box them up. My kitchen light just doesn’t cut it!
I know what you mean! Mine is the ugliest light ever AND a bulb needs to be replaced *grrr*
Hi Katherine! I am one of the others hosing a OttLite giveaway, and I just wanted to stop by and wish you luck! Your cookie look great, and yummy!
Thank you so much Linda!! Best of luck to you too! 🙂
#WhatsUnderMyOttLite I would love to do this on my dinner shots when the lighting is so horrible!
And I know they would be delicious photos! I love corn fritters (anything with corn really) and they look great!
#WhatsUnderMyOttLite
I would love to use this light to help with taking better photos of my decorated baked goods such as cookies, cupcakes and cakes. Also would be perfect for my craft desk where I don’t get much daylight for making cards, crafts and project life albums.
Oh that would be awesome! You sound so very talented…I look forward to seeing your work!
#WhatsUnderMyOttLite I would love to have one of these to take better pictures of my crafts! I have really bad lighting and by looking at the difference it made in your already gorgeous cookies I’m jealous! 😀
Aww shucks…thanks Christina! 😁 If you win, you definitely have to show me your work!
Absolutely! 😀
#WhatsUnderMyOttlite. I would greatly appreciate winning! I’m usually up decorating cookies until the wee hours with early morning pickups. Too often I have sent cookies off with customers without taking photos of my work.
Isn’t that that the worst! This lamp will definitely help us Cookiers out in that department 😉
#whatsundermyottlite I do a lot of crocheting and I think an ottlite would be helpful both in working on and photographing my crocheted projects.
I’m sure it would be! I love your Eiffel Tower embroidery project…so cute!
LOL thank you!
I love your cookies and this lite looks amazing!!
Thanks Michelle! <3 It really is...I love it!
#WhatsUnderMyOttLite I would use this for all my styling/craft projects! I always seem to need more LIGHT!!!
I know, right?! You would definitely be happy with it 🙂
What a big difference the lighting makes!
It’s amazing!! I can’t believe that I didn’t know about this sooner 🙂
#whatsundermyottlite ummm free printables, small product shots…this is a game changer!
IT SO IS!!! I can’t tell you how much I love this thing! I’m actually starting to make more stuff just so I can take nice pics 😁
#WhatsUnderMyOttlite
I would use my lite to take pictures of my hair bows. About to start making hair bows and fashion scarves. And your cookies look great as always.
Thank you! Let me know…I have a serious scarf obsession ❤️