CVAT photography workshop tips and ideas.
Photos of your work
Having a good image of your work allows you to promote your own work with confidence. You need different types of photograph files for different situations eg. if you want to make greeting cards, apply for an open art exhibition, adding work to your website or sharing with your mailing list, whereas showing art insitu helps show it in a setting a buyer can relate to. Photographing art with lots of natural light against blank neutral coloured walls will make it stand out and will also appeal to the majority of people’s tastes.
For insitu images you can personalise the setting by placing the artwork with furniture and props eg plants, throws/cushions, ornaments paying attention to colour so that it works with the colours of the painting.
If you have smaller 3D items eg jewellery you may like to photograph it being worn or held to give it scale.
Taking the photos
The lighting and camera settings you use will make a huge difference to how the artwork appears; you want to ensure your audience sees it in its best light. Please note that light boxes are good for smaller items in terms of lighting and providing a plain backdrop.
Step 1 – photograph the painting: For optimal lighting, place the art on a wall or shelf in indirect sunlight. If it looks too dark, you could use a studio light with a softbox to brighten it up. A softbox will diffuse the light, meaning that you can avoid glare, reflections and shadows on the artwork.
Use a tripod to stabilize the camera. Consider using the timer to avoid camera shake.
Take photos at different angles.
If you are using a phone make sure the gridlines are on so you can make sure that the image taken is square to the painting.
Step 2 – edit and perfect your photos: If the photos you took didn’t turn out perfectly, don’t worry! You can crop images and even alter the brightness and colours using your phone or for more accurate alterations use something like Photoshop, Affinity (or a free editing software like GIMP though I've never tried this)
Create in situ mock-ups to sell your art
Not every artist has the space to do photo shoots. If that’s the case for you, you have another option. Create your own digital mock-up of your painting using an app or create it on eg Photoshop - see below.
Create a mock-up of your painting in a room using an app
Some have free options and others have a fee. Top Apps for Previewing Your Art on a Wall - How to Sell Art Online | Online Marketing for Artists - (theabundantartist.com)
Examples include:
WallApp
iArtView
ArtRooms
ArtPlcaser
Canvy
Basically with all of them you import your painting image and you place it in a room image (either one of their stock images or one you have taken). You can adjust wall and furnishing colours and change frame and mount options.
Create an in situ mockup with Photoshop - this is for the more technical amongst you. Personally I find the room apps really easy to use so don't bother with this!
Using Photoshop to create a mock up
Step 1: Upload a room image (one you have taken or a free stock one off eg Unsplash)
Step 2: insert your painting photo in another layer and resize it to suit the room setting.
Step 3: Add a drop shadow to create the appearance of depth under the painting. Play around until you’re happy with the look,
Step 4: save it and ensure the file is in RGB colour mode for the web and at a resolution of at least 72ppi.
You've got your photos so where do you use them to promote your work?
1) Post them on your social media platform Instagram, Facebook etc
2) Add them to your website - or send them in to go on the CVAT website.
3) Share them with your mailing list - definitely worth starting one if you are trying to sell your work.
4) Good photos can be used for greeting cards, calendars etc
5) Use them on promotional material - eg posters for events, business cards, postcards
Photos of your work
Having a good image of your work allows you to promote your own work with confidence. You need different types of photograph files for different situations eg. if you want to make greeting cards, apply for an open art exhibition, adding work to your website or sharing with your mailing list, whereas showing art insitu helps show it in a setting a buyer can relate to. Photographing art with lots of natural light against blank neutral coloured walls will make it stand out and will also appeal to the majority of people’s tastes.
For insitu images you can personalise the setting by placing the artwork with furniture and props eg plants, throws/cushions, ornaments paying attention to colour so that it works with the colours of the painting.
If you have smaller 3D items eg jewellery you may like to photograph it being worn or held to give it scale.
Taking the photos
The lighting and camera settings you use will make a huge difference to how the artwork appears; you want to ensure your audience sees it in its best light. Please note that light boxes are good for smaller items in terms of lighting and providing a plain backdrop.
Step 1 – photograph the painting: For optimal lighting, place the art on a wall or shelf in indirect sunlight. If it looks too dark, you could use a studio light with a softbox to brighten it up. A softbox will diffuse the light, meaning that you can avoid glare, reflections and shadows on the artwork.
Use a tripod to stabilize the camera. Consider using the timer to avoid camera shake.
Take photos at different angles.
If you are using a phone make sure the gridlines are on so you can make sure that the image taken is square to the painting.
Step 2 – edit and perfect your photos: If the photos you took didn’t turn out perfectly, don’t worry! You can crop images and even alter the brightness and colours using your phone or for more accurate alterations use something like Photoshop, Affinity (or a free editing software like GIMP though I've never tried this)
Create in situ mock-ups to sell your art
Not every artist has the space to do photo shoots. If that’s the case for you, you have another option. Create your own digital mock-up of your painting using an app or create it on eg Photoshop - see below.
Create a mock-up of your painting in a room using an app
Some have free options and others have a fee. Top Apps for Previewing Your Art on a Wall - How to Sell Art Online | Online Marketing for Artists - (theabundantartist.com)
Examples include:
WallApp
iArtView
ArtRooms
ArtPlcaser
Canvy
Basically with all of them you import your painting image and you place it in a room image (either one of their stock images or one you have taken). You can adjust wall and furnishing colours and change frame and mount options.
Create an in situ mockup with Photoshop - this is for the more technical amongst you. Personally I find the room apps really easy to use so don't bother with this!
Using Photoshop to create a mock up
Step 1: Upload a room image (one you have taken or a free stock one off eg Unsplash)
Step 2: insert your painting photo in another layer and resize it to suit the room setting.
Step 3: Add a drop shadow to create the appearance of depth under the painting. Play around until you’re happy with the look,
Step 4: save it and ensure the file is in RGB colour mode for the web and at a resolution of at least 72ppi.
You've got your photos so where do you use them to promote your work?
1) Post them on your social media platform Instagram, Facebook etc
2) Add them to your website - or send them in to go on the CVAT website.
3) Share them with your mailing list - definitely worth starting one if you are trying to sell your work.
4) Good photos can be used for greeting cards, calendars etc
5) Use them on promotional material - eg posters for events, business cards, postcards