How to Photograph Needlework
Document Stitching Projects in Pictures So They're Treasured Forever
Jan 16, 2008
Many people create beautiful embroideries, only to give them away, and rarely, if ever, see their works of art again. It seems a shame not to hold on to a part of that gift for oneself as well – to remember and celebrate the hours of stitching needed to complete that project.
Memories can be kept alive if the stitcher places a photograph in a stitching-themed scrapbook or photo album of every completed work. It is easy to build up a keepsake album that will give much pleasure to look at for years to come.
It is a great idea to take a photograph of every finished project, and place each image into an album. It’s simple. Or is it? Magazines sometimes display photos of proud stitchers holding up their creative work to the camera. Many of them do not do their work justice. Usually, it’s because camera-flash reflections on the glass of their framed work ruin any photograph. Also, people holding up their newly-finished work for the camera sometimes omit to iron their creation first – so their trophy has fold-marks in the fabric, or is crumpled. And some individualseven stand in front of their kitchen sink or cluttered table when they are displaying their work to the camera. Backgrounds can be very distracting.
Enough criticism! Here’s the checklist for taking a great photo of finished stitching:
- The project should be ironed carefully, between two layers of a towel so that there is no scorching.
- Many compact digital cameras have the facility to turn off the flash function. The flash facility can distort the colours by making some brighter than others too. Of course, the flash can reflect against any glass too, causing a white, or shiny mark across the photograph.
- The best place to take a photograph is outside on a bright, dry day. A plain background surface with no shadows should be found; a plain painted wall perhaps.
- If a person is going to stand holding the project to the camera, it is important that this person is not squinting into bright sunlight.
- The camera must be held still, in order to avoid blurring when the picture is taken. A tripod is helpful here. If the photographer does not own one, then improvisation is possible, using a ladder, a table or anything that the camera can be placed on securely that will prevent movement.
- The composition of the picture is important. Does the photographer need to capture the picture of a person with the stitched item, or just the stitchery itself? If a person is holding the picture, is there a large thumb obscuring an essential feature of the picture? Is the person holding the picture level, or is it tipped to one side?
- People can be very self-conscious when they are having their pictures taken – even if the picture is supposed to be all about the stitchery. So if the person holding the prized work has untidy hair or a collar turned up, it is wise to let the person know about this in the most tactful way possible so that remedial action can be taken.
- Using a digital camera, there’s no extra expense involved in taking lots of shots. So it is useful to experiment, and see what turns out best. Taking 30 shots slightly differently each time, and also using the "bracketing" technique will give the photographer a much better chance of getting a good picture, worthy of treasuring.
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