Have you ever taken a
photo of your artwork and found that the colors did not match the
painting? Was it sharp and crystal clear or slightly blurry? Do you see the
edges of your artwork where it is slightly distorted? Do you see a glare or
hotspots? Well I have when photographing my own artwork. I discovered years ago that photographing my own artwork was not the way to go for
me.
When I looked into what I
needed to photograph my own artwork, I found there was more to it
than just point and shoot. Now I have never stated that I was a
photographer, so understanding this process was a little overwhelming
for me. And to be honest, understanding the camera seemed “Greek”
to me. Now if I took the time and took a photography course or read
hundreds of pages in understanding the camera and settings, then
maybe I could get it.
But for those who do want
to photograph their own artwork, here are a few tips I have learned:
- Use the best camera equipment that you can afford
- Use a stable and solid tripod
- To minimize blurriness, use a self timer
- Avoid putting your artwork in direct sunlight- overcast sky or indirect natural light works the best
- Set the white balance on your camera correctly
- Do not use the flash on your camera
- Make sure your artwork is photographed directly and not under glass
These are just a few
things to consider and I advise you to research more about your camera settings, lighting, etc. before deciding to photograph your artwork.
Here are a few examples of my own work taking the photos myself vs. using a
professional photographer.
 |
| My Photo |
My photo seemed very dark in color, especially the blacks, which was not true to the painting. Even though my photo is focused, clear and was taken on a flat surface, the edges are still distorted.
 |
| Professionally Photographed |
Here is another example:
 |
| My Photo |
 |
| Professionally Photographed |
Again, my photo does not show the true colors of the painting as well as the professional photo does.
I spoke to my photographer and he gave me some really important tips as to why it is best to have your artwork professionally photographed that I wanted to share with you. I use Harrington PAF to photograph all of my artwork.
Why should you let a professional photograph your art?
"As a photographer who
has devoted a lot of time to photographing art over the past several
years I feel there are many reasons.
Here are some that top my list:
- Equipment and Experience
- Focus
It is very important to
know how to photograph a piece of art that's in focus from the bottom
to the top and corner-to-corner.
- Color
Accurately reproducing the
diverse colors in artwork can be one of the most challenging aspects
of art photography.
- Glare
Many times artwork has a
shine. It might be a clear cote, varnish or a certain medium. It is
important to know how to eliminate this to produce an accurate final
image.
- Aspect ratio
Getting the final size of
the image to match the ratio of the painting size is a must. Having
clean edges and accurate sizing requires a more in depth
understanding of the process. There is much more to it than just
pointing and shooting.
These are a few of the
things I have worked through over the years. If you want clear
accurate images of your art, it's best to let a photographer with
experience in the field of photographing art.” Dan Harrington
Because I offer Giclee prints of all my artwork, I personally find that using a professional is best for me. Also, since I enter many art shows, it is very important that I use the best photo of my artwork possible.
These are just my personal feelings and preferences and I commend those that can accomplish photographing your own art with high quality. Maybe someday I will take a course in photography and learn these skills, but for now I would rather paint and let my photographer do what he does best!
Do you photograph your own art? If so, please feel free to leave any comments or questions.
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