Showing Your Work in its Best Light
Since 1981, The Photography Studio has created thousands of commercial photographs for hundreds of artists and businesses. I offer here some suggestions to help you get the best possible photos of your items. While in this article I speak about photographing artwork, everything I say also applies to any other type of merchandise.
Carolyn Wright The Photography Studio, Inc. 34 Verano Loop 505 471.3212 photstudio@aol.com www.thephotostudio.com www.ceramicimagssf.com
TIPS FOR GETTING THE BEST P OSS I B L E P H OTO G R A P H S OF YOUR PRODUCTS AND ARTWORK.
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f you have things to sell, great photos of your products make the sales process much easier. From sumptuous images of mouthwatering entrées to breathtakingly vivid renditions of jewels, perfect photographs of your products bring clients to your door. Unfortunately, photography may not be your area of expertise. So, how do you get those great photos?
• First, decide where to photograph your work. One option is a photo studio with controlled lighting. Another is your place of business. Many of the images in this issue were photographed onsite at galleries. We used portable lighting systems along with existing light sources, such as the sun or interior lighting fixtures. There can be problems with lighting onsite however, because different types of light create color casts in the photos. We can correct most of these digitally, but if your artwork requires critically accurate color, try to bring your pieces into a studio. • Make sure your artwork is free of dust and fingerprints. Have materials you normally use to clean your pieces available. If your work is reflective, like bronzes or oil paintings, try to delay the final high-gloss polish or lacquer coating until after the photo session. • Consider the purpose of your photos. Are they simple catalog shots to show your art clearly? Or are they dramatic ad shots to grab the viewer’s
attention? Does the image need to match other images on a page? What about props? Bring some that might enhance your pieces, along with display hardware you normally use. Be careful not to overdo the props; the focus of the photo should be your work, not things around it. • If your objects are three-dimensional, like sculpture or jewelry, consider what angles look best. If your work is flat, decide whether to include a frame in the photo, although deep frames may throw shadows on the edges of the artwork. Decide on individual shots of each piece, a grouping of pieces, or both. • Decide what final photo products you require. Do you need digital files for the web? Images for magazine or print ads? Portfolio prints? If you are entering a juried show, get image requirements for your submission. They should indicate if you need prints or digital files, and the type and size of files required. • Finally, I encourage you to be present while your images are created. The considerations above do not have to be firmly decided before starting. The photo shoot is a creative process and you can always change your mind, try different angles and lighting, or have things adjusted in the computer after the photos are taken. You should end up with dynamic images that sell your work for you!