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Here is some advice from a professional photographer on how to improve photography of textured and 3D items. Michael is a commercial digital photographer with over 25 years in the catalog industry specializing in product, still life, and rotation photography. He says there are just a few simple steps that members can take to significantly improve our photos. All you need is a basic digital camera and a willingness to play around with it. Step 1: Find a background that compliments your item.There's a phrase the marketing people are prone to telling the art directors when they want a product to really stand out on the page: "Make it pop," they say. You want your garment to "pop" too, both in the photo and on the Members’ Gallery page. That's why you need to find a background that contrasts with your garment. If your garment is dark, stand in front of a lighter background; don't wash a white blouse out by posing before white walls," advises Michael. "And try to keep your designated background as free from distractions as much as possible, so your garment can be the primary focus. If you have pictures hanging on your wall and you can easily take them down, do so; push light furniture, kids and pets out of the way too. Good backgrounds, according to Michael, are blank walls, solid doors, drawn curtains, solid greenery like hedges. Michael frequently uses a neutral gray backdrop. You can also create a backdrop much like the ones Michael and other pro photographers use with a bed sheet: It is easy to drape a sheet over curtain poles, external horizontal fencing, clothes airer etc. DIYPhotography.net has a simple way to make a backdrop for about £30 or less out of PVC Pipe and fabric. Step 2: It's all about lighting."If you're shooting indoors, try to stand close to a window that lets a good amount of daylight in," advises Michael. Barring that, you can use the light from a table or floor lamp. What you want to do is position the light so it hits the side of you (or your dress form) and falls across your garment or your item. A side light is softer, creates interesting shadows, and enables us to really see the texture of your garment/item. Generally bad lighting: overhead, which creates harsh shadows on your face (do you really want to look 10 years older?), and lighting directly from the front, like from a flash. This direct lighting will "wash out and flatten all the details of your garment," according to Michael. So now you have soft, natural light hitting one side of you. Here's a simple trick from Michael to fill in the shadows that will appear on the side of the garment that's away from the light. Pick up a piece of white foam core, or stiff white card from an art store. Photographers call this a "fill card". Positioning this on your opposite side allows the light to bounce off it and then subtly fill in any shadows or dark spots. It can be difficult to position it by leaning or clamping but is definitely worth the effort for the texture it adds. The same lighting rules apply to outdoor photography. The sun provides the best light between 8 and 10 a.m., and between 2 and 3 p.m. Pose so the sun hits the side of your body and try the fill card trick to light your opposite side. |
