From Canvas to Camera: Transforming Your Artwork into Digital Masterpieces

Have you ever wondered how artist’s get such amazing shots of their artwork? Do you wonder if they have all the latest and greatest equipment or a maybe even a professional photographer up their sleeve?

While photographing your artwork doesn’t require the talents of a professional or amazing equipment, there is more to taking great pictures of your artwork than just snaping a shot on your phone.

Lighting

Lighting is probably one of the most frustrating issues when it comes to an at home shoot. Beautiful natural light is always my favorite way to photograph my art and an overcast day usually works best. The clouds act as a diffuser for the sun and make the shadows appear softer and not as prominent.

Another great way to use the sunlight is indirectly. On a bright sunny day, you can find a shady spot that doesn’t cast shadows like a porch, sunroom or open window and set up your shoot there.

If natural light isn’t an option, artificial lighting will work but you’ll probably have to do more editing later.

Shadows

When using indirect sunlight, you want to position yourself so you face the artwork directly but not in a position where you’ll cast a shadow.

Also, make sure the area around your work is as ‘white’ as possible, ensuring stray light bounces back from all sides and fills in harsher shadows.

For artificial light, there's a simple triangle-style setup you can use to reduce shadows. Place a light at a 45-degree angle on each side of you while you face your art directly.

Blurriness

Even with a great phone taking sharp photos of your artwork, especially in low light, can be difficult. The best ways to reduce this are to use a tripod/stand or at the very least stand with your body against a solid, non-moving object. As a final step you can always use the sharpen feature in your editing software if need be but try to eliminate as much blurriness as you can while shooting.

Texture

Artwork with texture needs a bit more consideration for photos. You don't want your work to look flat and lose all of those textures that make your work look amazing.

Raking light, a light source coming slightly from the side to illuminate one side of the texture, is the best way to achieve a more 3D photo. This is done by simply lighting the artwork unevenly, having a stronger light on one side.

When using natural light, you can angle the artwork slightly towards or away from the light. For artificial light, use the triangle method, but have one of the lamps slightly closer to the art.

Distortion

Every camera lens has a certain degree of distortion, most noticeable at the edges where flat surfaces look slightly bent.

The key here is knowing that all camera’s do this and being prepared for it. The easiest way to do this is to make sure that your phone or camera is perfectly parallel to your art. Even the slightest angle difference can cause more distortion.

Reproductions

It’s always good to remember that even with skill and experience there are limitations to what you can achieve with your camera. If your goal is to have the highest quality images of your art with no shadows for reproductions or prints, it’s best to forgo photos and buy a good scanner instead.

Style

While a high-quality scanner is likely your best bet for reproduction purposes style and storytelling are great reasons to keep taking photos.

You can always just take a straight-on, boring photo of your art, but why not tell the story of the artwork through composition, styling and 3D settings.

Here are a few great styling ideas to try:

• Take photos of your artwork with your art supplies on or near it.

• Take photos of you actually working on your art, your hands working on it or you holding it once it’s finished.

• Take photos of pieces/close ups of your art with parts of the artwork out of view.

• Take photos of multiple art pieces in one photograph with spots overlapping, off camera or covered by supplies.

• Take photos of your artwork framed and displayed on a wall or table.

• Take photos of your artwork with theme appropriate props, backdrops or locations.