How to photograph your artwork - a quick guide

The main photograph

 

• It’s essential that your main photograph is as as near to perfect as you can make it! It’s the one that’s going to appear in customer searches and in the galleries on skyspirit.co.uk. Make sure that your capture the entire piece, including the frame if you’re selling framed work, with no background showing.

 

The two additional photographs

 

• The Detail Photo: Zoom in on a specific section of your artwork, showcasing intricate brush strokes and the canvas grain to give customers a closer look.

• The Side View: Offer a perspective from the side, allowing customers to gauge the physical depth of the piece, making it easier for them to visualize how it will appear when hung or mounted.

 

Ideal location

 

• Opt for a location with soft, diffused lighting. Harsh or direct light can cast shadows, create reflections, and distort colors. A spacious window on an overcast day is perfect.

 

Framing

 

• For framed pieces, ensure one image clearly displays the artwork with its frame, and make it’s evident that the price includes framing.

• If you showcase framed work for illustration purposes, clarify that the piece will arrive unframed.

• In the case of canvas on a stretcher, include a three-quarter view to demonstrate how easily the customer can hang the piece directly from the package.

 

The right tools

 

• A relatively affordable camera or good camera phone can produce excellent results. Keep your lens clean and free of dirt by using a microfiber cloth.

• Opt for ISO 100 or 200, or the lowest light sensitivity setting available on your camera.

• If possible, use a tripod or a stable surface for your camera to ensure steady shots. Position the camera directly at the artwork's centre, compensating for any ‘skewing’, which can be caused by the canvas leaning (as happens on a wall or easel).

 

The background

 

• Keep the background clean and free from blemishes. Avoid busy or distracting backgrounds, especially when photographing sculptures, to keep the focus on the artwork.

• Position your camera to capture a minimal amount of background space around the painting to maximize the art's presence in the photo.

 

Lighting

 

• Turn off the flash to avoid unnatural lighting.

• Adjust the white balance, if necessary, to preserve accurate colors.

• Use natural light and switch off artificial room lighting to prevent discrepancies in colour representation.

 

In focus and the right way up!

 

• Ensure your camera is in focus and oriented correctly to prevent orientation issues when uploading photos.

• Take multiple shots of your artwork so that you can choose the best.

 

Preparing for upload

 

• Avoid excessive editing, but minor adjustments in brightness and contrast to compensate for lighting issues are acceptable.

 

Cropping

 

• Use image editing software to crop the main photo if necessary. This enables you to showcase the artwork, including the frame if applicable.

• Ensure the photo is correctly oriented; use editing software to rotate it if needed.

 

Image specifications

 

• Save images as high-quality JPEG files.

• Keep the file size under 15MB, reducing dimensions or JPEG quality if necessary.

 

Quality issues

 

We are committed to promoting your art, but we may occasionally reject photographs due to quality issues. Possible problems include:

 

• Extra background in gallery photos

• Parts of artwork missing on photograph

• Skewed images

• Watermarks or other markings

• Combining photos of different artworks

• Low image quality

• Incorrect image orientation

• Insufficient light