Presentation advice...

How to make a great first impression with your work...

  • A ruler must be used next to ALL paintings and sculpture to show scale (see image below)
It’s often tricky getting a perfect photograph of a large scale painting or sculpture, but a miniature work has a whole host of extra difficulties.
The tips below will help you with the basic errors that are often seen in photographing miniature pieces.
Always check and double check that the picture you have just taken is crystal clear.  To help with that ensure that the camera you are using stays perfectly still. Perhaps try mounting it on a tripod or resting it on a stationary object.
When the picture isn’t taken from a straight angle it can have a very strange effect on the work.  Ensure that the angle of the painting or sculpture is the same angle as the camera.  There are often ‘gridlines’ on cameras that can be added to the screen to help with this.
It’s very common that objects are used to help prop up works for photographing, however these objects then need to be ‘cropped out’ on the final submission. Phone and computer apps are readily available to help with cropping and tidying up the final image.
Artificial light can have a detrimental affect on the true colours and contrasts of a piece of artwork, certainly compared to natural light. If possible take photos outside on a cloudy day, or near an open door, showing the colours at their best.
When a flash is used on a camera there is very often a strong glare, distorting the image.  Turn your flash off and try to use as much natural light as possible.
There’s a tricky balance between an image being 
over exposed and too dark.  This again goes back 
to taking images in natural light wherever possible.
Don't forget to save your work with Title and full name, ready for submitting online ie. The Bouquet by Anita Styles