I began keeping a photographic record of my artworks as soon as I started creating them. I’ll admit, my first photo attempts were pretty ordinary. Now, though, after years of practice I think I can take a half-decent shot. Below, I share my 7 top tips for taking stand-out photos of your artwork. I also outline a number of reasons why it’s a good idea to photograph all your artwork, even if you are a beginner.
Why It’s a Good Idea to Take Photos of Your Artwork
- If you decide to sell or give away any of your paintings you will want to cherish the memory of them. (they are like your children)
- You can look back to see how you have improved over time or keep a count of how many paintings you have completed.
- Good photographic images are often required if you want to enter art competitions or approach galleries.
- Imposter syndrome can strike any of us at any time. Photos are a great way to look back and reassure yourself that you are, in fact, quite talented.
- You can show off how amazingly talented you are on social media
No Need For a Fancy Camera or Lots of Equipment
You don’t have to have a lot of photographic knowledge in order to take great photos of your work. Neither do you need an expensive camera. In fact, I have given up using my expensive camera and now shoot all my art photos on my iPhone. There are, however, some basic things you should try to remember if you want to take professional-looking art photos. I have detailed my top tips below.
My Top Tips for Taking Stand-out Photos of Your Artwork
7 Tips For Taking Photos of Your Artwork
- Take your photos prior to varnishing or framing
It is virtually impossible to photograph a painting under glass without reflections appearing in the final image.
Similarly, a shiny surface will always give off an area of reflected light. - Use natural light but not too bright
Shooting photos outside is the always the best option as there is an abundance of natural light. Cloudy conditions are best, followed by shooting in the shade. Direct sunlight can be too strong. Not only will you be battling with shadows, you risk an area of reflected light which will appear as a bright spot on your image.
- Be aware of your light direction
The light source should be as square on to your painting as possible so as to avoid one side of your work appearing darker than the other. You can check this by looking to see that any shadows fall directly behind your painting or painting support. If you are unable to eliminate visible shadows entirely then I recommend turning the painting so that the shadow falls to the bottom of the artwork.
- Use a tripod or other steady surface to mount your camera
It doesn’t matter how steady you think your hands are, mounting your camera on a fixed object is going to reduce camera shake and give you a clearer image. A tripod is ideal, however standing the camera on any steady object such as a box or upturned plant pot will give you equally good results. The trick is to gently squeeze down on the shutter button rather than pushing on it.
- Use a timer
Almost all cameras and smart phones have a timer function. It is a good idea to set the timer for at least 2 seconds so that any slight movement caused by pressing the shutter button has subsided by the time the photo is taken.
- Shoot as square on as possible
Try to ensure that the edge of your artwork aligns with the edges of the camera’s frame on all four sides. By this I don’t mean that every side needs to be the same distance from the camera frame, just that each side is the same distance from one end to the other. You can zoom in temporarily to check this prior to taking the photo.
- Use editing software to crop and adjust
Any less-than-perfect photos can often be fixed with the use of photo editing software. There are endless free options you can use, including those on your phone or camera in most cases. An editing program can crop out any unwanted areas, adjust light and colour as well as remove any distortion from your images. The only thing you cannot fix with the computer is blur. If you take a blurry photo you will always have a blurry image unfortunately.
Storing Your Photos
Once you have created your art photo portfolio you need to be able to easily find them on your computer. I recommend creating a separate folder on your computer just for your artwork. Give each artwork a name that you can easily remember.
As your portfolio grows you may want to dissect your folder into categories and/or create a number catalogue as a cross reference.
It is Best to Be Prepared
Even if you feel your artwork is not at the stage where it is worthy of being shown in public, I would still encourage you to take photos of your work. Remember, it will take some time to fine tune your skills. By starting now, your photos should improve along with your paintings. You don’t want to be creating amazing works of art, only to find your photos cannot do them justice. You never know when unexpected art opportunities may come your way so it is best to be prepared with good quality photos.
I hope you have found this article to be useful. If you have any art photography tips that you think might benefit others I would love to hear them. Please leave a comment below or join my Facebook group “You Can Learn Art” and share your ideas.
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