Practical Tips For Taking Reference Photos For Your Art
While there are plenty of stock photo websites online with great photos, nothing beats taking your own reference photos. It gives you more flexibility in how you stage, position, and capture particular subject matter which can help make your art look amazing and more original!
I learned lots about taking photos when I began making custom pet portraits and thread paintings, but these tips apply to any art medium. Here’s how to photograph high quality reference photos even if all you have is your phone. No experience is necessary and it’s not as hard as you think!
Avoid Flash
Flash can wash out a photo and add unnecessary glare to the subject. It’s best to turn this setting off on your phone or camera and make sure you have adequate lighting.
Photograph In Indirect Natural Light
This leads into the next tip, which is taking photos in indirect, natural light. Find a shady area in your backyard or photograph directly in front of a sunny window. This will allow you to avoid harsh shadows and highlights and it will help you capture the most accurate colors.
Pay Attention To Camera Angles
Try to capture the photograph at the angle you plan to design or draw the subject matter.
For example, it’s best to take a photo of a dog or cat at eye-level as opposed to photographing top-down. This will ensure that their proportions appear accurate.
You’ll also want to think about positioning – does the photo need to be head-on, side profile, 3/4 profile, etc.? When in doubt, take photos from a few different angles.
The iPhone camera has settings that will help you straighten out and properly orient the camera lens, so it’s now easier than ever now to get a nice photo.
Capture As Much Detail As Possible
Unless you’re trying to photograph a landscape, it’s best to be within 6 feet of the subject matter. The fur on an animal, the texture of a piece of fruit, and any other small details will show up better if you’re closer to it. Remember; the better the detail in the reference photo, the more you’ll be able to include in your art!
I hope you found these tips helpful. For even more information about taking and working with reference photos, check out my Patreon.
Amanda is a hand embroidery teacher and artist. With over 15 years of experience in the craft industry and embroidery, she owns and runs Crewel Ghoul, sharing accessible tutorials and patterns to help inspire fellow crafters to get creative. In addition to running this website, she teaches on Skillshare and Youtube.
