Craft Photography Tips

by Lana
(South Africa)

A picture is worth a thousand words. That saying is especially true when selling non-standard, handmade objects online. Here is what to do when taking pictures of an object with your digital camera:

• Forget about the flash. Take pictures in natural daylight, in a shade.

• Keep your camera still. Mount it on a tripod, or rest it on a firm surface.

• Block out everything else. Place the item on matt white background. Use coloured background only if your item is white.

• Take several shots from different angles.

• Download the images to your computer and choose two or three.

• Edit the images in your photo editing software. At the very least, crop the images and make them a little sharper.

• Always state in the description that the colours of the original may differ from the colours displayed. The image and the item may look the same to you, but you never know what monitor settings your potential buyers have.

Also, remember that presenting your handmade item in the best possible light and from the best possible angle does not mean that you should embellish the photograph in order to cover up any shortcomings. On the contrary. Both your image and your description must be scrupulously honest if you want to sell crafts online for the long term.