Today will be a busy day photographing needlework and either sending the photos off, or sending the needlework off. All the projects are for upcoming classes, some soon and some more than a year away! Some of the photos will need to be styled shots, some not. Some will be closeups of detail, to go in student class notes.
Before I start photographing though, I have to first finish off two of the projects. One is a Mountmellick cushion, and the other is a Hardanger bookmark. Fortunately the embroidery is done for both, so I really only have to construct them. The cushion will need a zip inserted, the cushion made, and then the fringe attached. The bookmark will be hand sewn but relatively quick. I’m looking forward to crossing off a number of projects from my mental list!
Its going to be stinking hot today – and worse tomorrow – so I’ll be holed up here in as much coolness and darkness as possible.
White Threads is the blog of Yvette Stanton, the author, designer, publisher behind Vetty Creations' quality needlework books and embroidery products.
Have you any tips for photographing embroidery? My photography is a bit hit-and-miss!
Umm… I use natural light wherever possible, and if that’s not possible I use a light with a daylight coloured globe (6500K). I use a tripod and put the camera on timer, so that there are no wobbles.
If you want only a short focal length, use a wide open lens and a shorter exposure time. If you want EVERYTHING to be in focus, you use a long exposure time and a heavily stopped down lens. It depends in the effect you’re after.
The embroidery that is the point of interest. It shouldn’t be the props around it. Sure, you can “tell a story” with the props around the embroidery, but it shouldn’t be overpowering. It should be about the embroidery. You don’t actually need props, though they can help sometimes.
Look at magazines and books where there is good photography and see what they do. I often find myself looking at Australian food magazines, because I love their use of light and of propping. They are light and airy, and look very relaxed. If this is the effect I want, I try to emulate it.
One of the main things though, is to practice and experiment.
Nice to have a ‘cleaner’ mental list.
In finished you could get your daughter to do the cushion, after her success of the other day! Then again, you might want to wait a couple of years. But she’s on her way! 🙂
Thanks. That’s pretty much what I thought. I just need to keep experimenting!