I was searching for a topic for this month when my good friend Colleen asked for my help with her cross stitch samples: she’s a designer and told me she can never seem to capture the true colors of her work when photographing the finished product. I decided to tackle the challenge...and indeed, it was a challenge!
Here are four of my images:
Rule #1: Never, ever use a flash when photographing textiles. It will change the color of your fabric, thread, etc. and will also wash out the details in your image.
Rule #2: Unless you have a light box (see my previous month’s tutorial re: building your own), always use diffused natural light from a window (photographing outside on an overcast day will work as well, but avoid bright sunlight: it will create too many shadows when dealing with intricate, raised stitches as in the designs above).
Rule #3: Use the macro setting on your camera (or borrow a camera with that function). The intricate stitches deserve a detailed look, so don’t be afraid to get in close to highlight unique stitches, beading, etc.
Rule #4: If you have more than one photo spot, shoot one image straight-on, and one from an angle: this will help customers see both the overall design, as well as the details.
I will say the major challenge with natural light photography is shooting on a day with fast-moving clouds in the sky: they constantly change the light source. You'll possibly need to put down your camera until the next day, but don't be discouraged: using natural light is one of the best ways to ensure that your colors stay true!
Written by Michelle of MKC Photography
Great advice. I've got to go back and replace some bad photos in my studio.
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