Cowley Manor Arts Award (2016)
ACS Studio Prize Winner 2017 Marco Miehling
© Marco Miehling

6 Top Tips for Photographing your Artwork
April 2, 2020
Although photographing your work can seem like a basic requirement for any artist, we have joined our sister company Bridgeman Images to put together Top Tips on how artists can create professional, high quality photographs from home.

Why not take this opportunity to update your artwork images?

 

1. What size should it be?

 

10MB minimum. By ensuring that each image is 10MB minimum will likely guarantee that you will be able to use the image throughout your career.

 

2. Which angle should I use to take the photography?

 

Always try to photograph your work when it is hanging on a wall, or positioned in front of a plain, blank wall. If you are struggling for space, you could try hanging a plain sheet as a backdrop. In an ideal situation, your work will be positioned parallel to your camera, so that it is in line with the middle of your work.

 

3. Should I use a tripod?

 

YES! If you have a tripod, you should definitely use it. If you do not have one, try placing your camera on a table, or a stable pile of books.

 

4. How should I frame my work?

 

It is a good idea to try and fill the camera’s frame with the artwork. It is okay if a little of the background shows in the final image, you can trim that off in an editing suite later.

 

5. How should I catalogue each file?

 

It is good practice to develop a system in which you have the: title, year of creation, medium, size and your name as the name of each file. We recommend using commas to separate each field. Ensuring that your images are catalogued in this way will help you when it comes to sending the files out to publishers, galleries and journalists etc.

 

6. How should I light my work?

 

If you have studio lights, great. If not, try to photograph your work in a room with many windows and lots of natural light. The aim is to create crisp, clear images of your work. If you work in particularly high gloss medium and find that your images end up with a lot of glare, why not try drape a sheet over a lamp? It can help to diffuse the light.