How we photograph our artwork

As an artist, I want to share our work with the world and showcase its beauty and uniqueness. But how do I capture our paintings, drawings, or sculptures in a way that does them justice? In this blog post, I will share with you some of the tips and tricks I have learnt over the last 36 years, that I use to photograph our artwork professionally and creatively.

Photographing artwork professionally requires careful attention to lighting, composition, and color accuracy. Here are the steps I follow when photographing our artwork:

• I use a high-quality camera: A camera with a high resolution (The Nikon D850 45.7 Megapixel Back-side Illuminated CMOS Sensor
  
  is a back-side illuminated (BSI) FX-format full-frame CMOS image sensor no optical low-pass filter) with excellent color accuracy to capture the details of the artwork. Specifically the Nikon D850 with the Sigma art lenses, or Nikon lenses, depending on the artwork.
• I set up the artwork in a well-lit area and use daylight balanced lighting that is evenly spaced at 45 degrees, on either side of the artwork, which provides even lighting that will allows me to capture the details of the artwork without casting shadows or creating reflections.
• I use a professional heavy duty Manfrotto tripod with a geared head, which keeps the camera steady and ensure that the image is sharp and in focus. I also use a remote trigger to capture the image.
• I position the artwork correctly, so that it is centered in the frame at the correct height to match the centre of the artwork, which helps to avoid any distortion caused by the camera’s lens.
• I use a color calibration tool, called the X-rite color checker passport, to ensure that the colors in the photograph are accurate and match the colors of the original artwork.
• I use a Sekonic light meter to double check my settings.
• I shoot on Manual mode enabling me to adjust the aperture, shutter speed, and ISO settings to get the best possible exposure.
• I use Adobe Photoshop to do the finishing touches, enabling the artwork to be represented in the most accurate way.
• If you have any questions please feel free to contact me, via the contact page.