A Chat with Sonya Maizell

Nine Birds is an Artisan Jewelry Studio based in New Jersey. Every piece is handcrafted by the studio’s owner, Sonya Maizell, with the intent to bring magic and sparkle to buyers’ everyday lives. 

Having worked with Sonya on a number of collections, I asked if she would share what pushed her to seek a product photographer and the impact professional photography has had on her business. 

“If there’s one thing the internet has in abundance, it’s tutorials on taking your own product photos using your phone. I read those handy, bulleted lists and thought, this seems so easy! I can totally do that! Why waste money on a photographer?

The problem with my online store with its homemade product photos was exactly that… it looked homemade. I had worked so hard to make my jewelry lines fashionable and refined. But through the lens of my iPhone, they just looked unprofessional and tacky. What was the point of making beautiful products if they looked dull in the avenues I used to advertise them?

 “I had worked so hard to make my jewelry lines fashionable and refined. But through the lens of my iphone, they just looked unprofessional and tacky.”

Since bringing Taylor in to do my product photography, it has elevated my brand beyond belief. Before, the gap between a high-end brand and my own was insurmountable. Now, I’ve become a competitive force in my target market. My online sales have gone up, my acceptance into fine art shows, galleries, and stores has skyrocketed, and overall, I feel my credibility as an artist has genuinely improved. But most importantly, my work is now just as dazzling in photographs as it is in person.” 

Need more Nine Birds in your Life?

Click Here to see some of the most recent images I created for Nine Birds, and don’t forget to check out Nine Birds’ Website for a look at Sonya’s beautiful designs.

Sonya was also featured on the Business: Handmade Podcast, which you can listen to here.