Great Photos Can Make a Big Difference in Your Success
If taking your own pictures seems daunting, then budget to have a professional photographer take pictures for you. Even if you take your own pictures for your website, or for sites such as Flickr, Etsy or eBay, you may still want to have a professional photographer take pictures for the more high stakes opportunities.
It is possible to take your own pictures, and be successful in getting publicity, or generating sales. But it takes the right equipment, and lots of practice.
Start With a Little Help from the Experts
When and Why Do You Need Good Photos
- Entering shows.
- Submitting articles.
- Entering competitions.
- Creating marketing materials; business cards, postcards, catalogs.
- Publicizing your work on the web; website, Etsy, eBay, Flickr.
- Submissions for books about your media.
- Publicity photos for galleries or shots carrying your work.

Early Photo; Distracting Set-Up, Poor Camera, bad lighting, poor editing.
Camera Considerations
Having the right equipment is essential
I have used both a Fujifilm camera (4 Mp) and a Canon Powershot (8 Mp). I love the Canon, and can recommend it as a very versatile camera with excellent quality images.
- SLR or Point and Shoot? If you have the funds, an SLR digital camera is the best option, but it is not always within the price range of many artists. Fortunately, for about 1/3 to 1/2 to the cost of an SLR, you can get a digital camera that will do the job.
- Macro function. If you work is small in scale, then it is important to have a good macro function on your camera. This will allow you to get in close enough to fill the frame with your item, and maintain sharp focus.
- White balance. In order to make sure your colors are true, a white balance function is important. Different light sources give off a different spectrum of light, affecting your photo. White balance control can correct for this in how it records the image.
- Pixels. Bare minimum, you need at least 4 Megapixels, ideally, you want 8 Megapixels or more. Higher megapixels will allow you to have a larger image at high print resolution.
- Zoom. Optical zoom is preferred over digital zoom. But in most csses, you will not be using the zoom function to photograph craft items.
Lights, Camera, Tripod!
The Rest of the Equipment Essentials
- Tripod Your item may be perfectly still, but you will probably have a very slow shutter speed to have the best quality image. In order to get a nice sharp focus, a tripod is essential.
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Lights Good quality light, ideally in the white spectrum of light, will help produce the best quality image. But you also need a way to soften the lights so that you don't have glare or hot spots on your image.
I have found the best solution from tabletopstudios.com. Their EZ cube set-up, with lights, and the cube to filter the light works like a dream for me. I tried many other alternatives, jerry-rigged various set-ups with plastic bins and clip on lights, but nothing,...nothing...,has worked as well, or as easily as the EZ Cube.
The cubes come in a variety of sizes, in some cases large enough for a chair. - Background The gradient gray background is the "gold standard" in fine craft photography, particularly for small to medium sized objects. It allows the work to be the center of attention. The gradient background made for photography is available through tabletopstudios.com. It is easily scratched, but it photographs beautifully. There is virtually no grain, and the camera will not focus in on the paper instead of your work. I noticed a big difference when I finally got the gradient backdrop. Tabletopstudios.com also offers other alternatives to the gray background.
- Software Photo editing software is essential to creating the best quality image. From cleaning up the dust particles in the image, to making slight adjustments in color balance, contrast, etc., will bring the picture to life.
- A Model?? If your craft item is a wearable, you may want to show it off on a model. Drama students are often a good source for a model.
Cameras on Amazon.com
Amazon can be a great resource for more than books.
Model Pitfalls
Don't have the model look directly at the camera. The model should look down or away. Otherwise the viewer is drawn to the model's eyes rather than the work.

Shibori Fringe Necklace (Canon Powershot, 8 MP)
Practice, Practice, Practice
Finally, it take lots of time and practice to master the photo editing software. But it is time well invested. A few minor tweaks can make a big difference. Below are two images. The first has only been re-sized for the web. It is somewhat flat looking. There are bits of dust and scratches on the background. The second is after a few minutes of editing with Photoshop.

Image Prior to Editing in Photoshop

After Editing in Photoshop
How Did She Do That??
With lots and lots of practice!
The most valuable function on Photoshop is one I only recently uncovered....Curves. Curves is a powerful tool to quickly adjust the white balance, the contrast, and tone of your image. Curves is worthy of an entire lens. Here is a tutorial that is a great overview of what curves can do to help enhance your images.
After using Curves, I then will use the touch-up tool to eliminate dust particles and scratches on the background, or dust on my item. I will make the diameter of the tool about 15 to 20 pixels, and increase the image size to actual pixels. I then scan the entire image, cleaning up all the distracting debris. It is not meant to clean up defective workmanship. It is only meant to clean up the dust that seems unavoidable, but utterly distracting when the image is blown up.
Finally, a slight adjustment with the Unsharp mask tool helps give the image a bit of a pop. I usually set it to 55%. The change is barely perceptible, but it is real.
The final transformation can be seen in the difference between the two images above.
More Images

A Collection of Cranes (FujiFilm camera, 4Mp)
Sometimes It Pays to Hire Someone Else
When the need for a top notch picture is critical, and you are at the beginning of the learning curve, you are probably better off hiring someone to take your pictures.
Sometimes It Pays to Hire Someone to Take Your Photos
Even if you want to do it all yourself, it pays to visit the sites of some top notch photographers and see what you will be up against. And, if you ever decide you want to get some great photos, you will know who to contact.
- Hap Sakwa Photography
- Hap Sakwa is the gold standard of craft photographers in my book. He makes the work sing.
- Robert Diamante Photography
- Robert Diamante seems to have that intuitive understanding of light that all great photographers have. His art photography is stunning, in addition to top quality craft photography.
- Frank Ross Photography
- A ceramic artist I know swears by Frank Ross. Her work sells, and part of it is because of great photos.
- George Post Photography
- George Post is a well known and well respected craft photographer.
How Would You Rate Your Photography Skills
Photoshop Resources. What is Your Recommendation?
How to Cheat in Photoshop CS3: The art of creating photorealistic montages (How to Cheat in) by Steve Caplin
With his in-depth knowledge of the little-known se more...0 points
Organizing and Editing Your Photos with Picasa: Visual QuickProject Guide by Steve Schwartz
If you're looking for an easy way to find photos on more...0 points
The Photoshop Elements 6 Book for Digital Photographers (Voices That Matter) by Scott Kelby, Matt Kloskowski
Best-selling author Scott Kelby pairs up with Matt more...0 points
Adobe Photoshop CS3 for Photographers: A Professional Image Editor's Guide to the Creative use of Photoshop for the Macintosh and PC by Martin Evening
Master the power of Photoshop CS3 with an internationally more...0 points
Photoshop CS3 Restoration and Retouching Bible by Mark Fitzgerald
The Photoshop CS3 Restoration and Retouching Bible more...0 points
Adobe Photoshop Restoration & Retouching (3rd Edition) (Voices That Matter) by Katrin Eismann, Wayne Palmer
Whether you're a professional photographer or the more...0 points
Did you learn any new tips? Anything you plan to try out? Let me know.
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MSchindel Nov 23, 2010 @ 12:20 pm | delete
- This is a really helpful lens on a topic I'm interested in learning more about. Thanks, Judy!
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PastorKay
Sep 11, 2010 @ 9:24 am | delete
- You're right. It really makes a difference.
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JaguarJulie Aug 10, 2009 @ 8:27 am | delete
- I really like that picture you have in your intro module -- can you tell me more about that? I love using PhotoShop -- and sometimes have to just stop as I could do photo editing all day!
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chefkeem
Jan 8, 2009 @ 7:43 pm | delete
- Splendid tips on improving your pics. I'll have to give this fabulous resource lens my hearty SquidAngel Blessing. :)
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Kleppins_Kitchen Nov 15, 2008 @ 12:06 pm | delete
- Interesting lens. I really enjoyed the information and will be using the hints. Congratulations on your Graduation.
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seedplanter
Oct 28, 2008 @ 9:44 pm | delete
- Although I'm a nature photographer, I appreciate excellent lenses like this. You've included such good resources! (I agree...Photoshop's Curves tool is a keeper.)
I'm lensrolling this to my Backyard Photo Ops site, simply because you're a good photographer and this lens is such a great reference! Thanks!
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clouda9
Oct 22, 2008 @ 12:09 pm | delete
- Wow...a wealth of information can be found on this lens...super lensmastery! Your pictures are gorgeous.
Spread the positive love on Squidoo this week. More info at my SquidTop blog http://oncloud9.squidtop.com/ or on the SquidU forum.
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Zion
Oct 21, 2008 @ 12:11 pm | delete
- Wow! This is a great info for all of us.
I really like your lens! so I gave you 5*.. how about that?!...
Please try to stop by my lens. I would really much appreciate if you could rate mine too!
Thank you so much!
Zion
http://www.squidoo.com/effective-best-acne-treatment-info
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a_willow
Oct 8, 2008 @ 4:16 pm | delete
- This is really, really good lens Judy! You offer some great tips on photography and I love items you have put here as samples!
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OhMe Sep 30, 2008 @ 8:41 pm | delete
- A very nice lens with wonderful pictures and ideas. 5* fav
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