THE LAST WORD
If you struggle to get good shots of your quilts for social media, Amanda Carye has five top tips to achieve that perfect close-up!
If you struggle to get good shots of your quilts, Amanda Carye has five top tips to achieve that perfect close-up!
I really love sharing my quilts on social media. But what I don’t love? Taking photos of quilts. And I’m sure I’m not alone in feeling anxious when it comes time to drag out my camera! So, to help reduce the stress, here are my five favourite rules of thumb for great quilt photography…
KEEP IT SIMPLE
You (probably) don’t need any fancy equipment (unless you’re publishing your pictures). And, I’d bet, the camera on your phone is pretty top notch, as most of them are these days. I actually take 95% of all my pictures on my phone – I always have it on hand and it couldn’t be easier to quickly snap a pic as I go!
MAKE IT NATURAL
Natural light is your best friend. I don’t have the patience for Photoshop and I’ve never had any luck with external lighting, so I take all my photos either near a window or outside in natural light. Giving myself permission to not waste my energy on tweaking photos or playing with lights is a huge relief!
THE MORE THE MERRIER
You can never take too many pictures. I once asked a passer-by – who turned out to be a fashion influencer – to take a group picture. Instead of standing in front of us, she slowly moved around, taking dozens of photos from different angles, which felt absurd at the time. But, turns out, one of them was a good one of all of us! Channel your inner influencer and try out different angles, making micro-adjustments as you go. Then pick the best, delete the rest and move on!
BE PHOTO-OPP READY
Always pack a quilt. I’ve got a lightweight tote bag that is reserved for quilts (it is clean inside!). Whenever we go anywhere, I always toss a quilt in there and take it along. You never know when you’ll find yourself somewhere that would be the perfect quilt backdrop! There is nothing like the texture of quilts. So why not take a moment and zoom in? Maybe focus on the quilting itself or a pile of trimmings. It feels like a whole new world at a completely different angle.
CELEBRATE THE PROCESS
While I do love finished quilts, I also love seeing how other people make quilts. Next time you’re taking a breather from binding, cutting or picking fabrics, why not snap a ‘work in progress’ shot? Instead of always focusing on capturing the end result, celebrate the artistry that goes into every step along the way!