Photographing Your Artwork

Monika Hilleary

Basic Equipment

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• High MP DSLR Camera is best. Normal to slightly telephoto lens. NO wide angle.
• STURDY Tripod
• Cable release or set 2 sec. timer delay.
• Indoors - 1 to 2 tungsten lights each on stands or with clamps. Reflectors
• Photo Editing Software

Technique - Settings

• Camera ISO 100 - 200
• F-stop should be in the middle. f8- f11. Set to Aperature Priority
• Set 2 sec timer delay or use shutter cord for best results
• Manually Focus Lens, no AF
• Turn OFF Flash
• Remove glass & frame from art

Never use wide angle lens. Instead 50mm-slightly telephoto.

Positioning and Lighting

Line up camera to the center of art and square to edges.

Example: Here Camera is at angle.  Edges appear sloped

Not quite square. Fill the frame of viewfinder

Turn OFF flash!!!!

Indoor Lighting

• Tungsten/Halogen lights same height as camera
• AWB - Auto White Balance often works. If image is still too yellow/orange, set camera WB in menu to Tungsten
• Lightbulb icon

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ADDITIONAL TIPS (DIY or by Pro)
Matte coat paintings before and add gloss after if desired.

Photograph before framing or....remove glass and frame

Paint close to largest size you intend to reproduce if printing

Outdoors: Shoot in shade for better detail and saturation

Light overcast conditions a good option

Check WB. Too Blue??

3D Art

The Home Photography Studio

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• Create diffusion panels
• Fasten long paper or fabric sweep to back.
• Make reflector with foamboard or crushed foil covered board
• Alternate light positions. Start at 45 degrees and move towards 90 for desired results
• BRACKET Exposures

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Add lesser power light to left or add reflector

Make reflector with foamboard or crushed foil covered board

Light Sources -WB

• Daylight, shade or sun, neutral to blue(shade or overcast)
• Tungsten/Halogen, yellow-orange
• Flourescent, greenish
• LED, can be very blue
• Flash, neutral

Use one light color temperature. Eliminate all others.

Keep post processing to a minimum. Get it right in the camera.

Better a little soft than over sharpened. Shoot in RAW if your camera allows and convert to TIFF and/or Jpeg after any minor adjustments

When to call a Pro

Proper equipment & expertise for the job

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• Large 2D art
• Art for reproduction requiring huge files
• Highly reflective
• Textural Art
• Glass art
• When you need/want the best possible representation of your masterpiece.
• Jurying into shows

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Thank you!