Photo by Reinhart Julian on Unsplash

If you want to rank high in a juror’s eyes and leverage all your hard work making that art, you must have decent photographs of your work.

DO have the art in focus. What looks OK on your cell phone may not look so good when enlarged onto a monitor or projection screen.

DO remove background clutter and crop to the artwork edges.

DO use good lighting. Bright but diffuse natural light is one option. A colored room will throw off the colors of your work, as will a deep blue sky or dim lighting.

DO use neutral uncluttered backdrop for 3D pieces.

DO size the digital file and title the file according to the application instructions.

DON’T include the frame or mat unless it is a critical part of your creative work. In most cases, the frame is interchangeable and not critical to the art.  Also, a frame can add undesirable shadows on your photo image.  Furthermore, if someone loves your work, but does not care for the frame, you are not doing your art any service.  It is best to get a good photograph BEFORE you add the frame.

DON’T shoot through glass, which almost always results in distracting glare. Get in the habit of photographing your work before it gets sealed behind glass.

DON’T use a photo that has unintentional specular highlights (ie. glare). How to avoid this is more than can be explained here, but experiment until you get it right.  Diffuse lighting helps.

DON’T shoot a 2D image crooked, skewed or other than direct and square from the front.

DON’T include yourself in a photo with your piece for formal submissions.

DON’T be afraid to hire a professional for your best pieces, or ask a skilled friend for help, if you can’t master this yourself.  For local professionals, go to THIS TVAA PAGE on “Resources for Artists” and scroll down to Services for Artists.

REMEMBER, a good photo image, just like a good frame and presentation in a physical display, says “This art has value” and can influence a potential collector or show juror.

WHAT IS A BAD PHOTO?

     
BAD: The above photos have glare on the glass, are not the best focus, are not square to the camera and include a frame in the photo.  (Frame is not integral to the work of art.)