How to TakePictures of Artwork

for Your ArtPortfolio: 32 TipsRead this article to learn lighting, positioning, andcamera set-up, as well as what to do during aftertaking pictures, to get good shots for yourartwork.

Karen Kesteloot

When making your art portfolio to be sent to art and design schools forreview, you will have to take pictures of your artworks and turn into a35mm slide or a digital file (for art portfolios in CD format). Doing this isfairly simple, but there are factors that you need to consider to capturethe best image of your artwork into an image.

Below are tips on how to take pictures of artwork that will be included in

your art portfolio.

Lighting

1.

2. If the sun is too bright, find shade to dial down the intensity of the

artwork as it appears on your camera.

3. If you wish to shoot your artwork indoors, use powerful lights to

avoid certain parts of your artworks from being darker. The higher

the wattage of the light, the more evenly the light will be distributed

to your artwork.

4. Set up your lights so that it is approximately four meters away from

the artwork and 45 degrees from where you will be taking the

picture.

5. For paintings, set up your lights on one corner (still 45 degrees

from the artwork and you) to cast shadows on the strokes and

reveal texture.

6. Having two lights, setting them up on both sides of the artworks

minimizes texture and can remove wrinkles on the artwork’s

surface.

7. Turn off the room lights when shooting indoors.

Positioning your artwork

1.

2. Place your artwork on a wall so that it stands upright.

3. Make sure that the wall is white or plain so that the focus is on the

artwork.

Images created using Quozio and Pixlr.

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