An image can say more than a 1,000 words, so it is essential that your photographs give out the right message.  These 9 top tips to photograph crafts and jewellery will show you step-by-step show what to focus on:

Tip 1: Work with a professional photographer

Yeshen Venema Photography
Jules Hogan scarf Photo by Yeshen Venema

Using a professional photographer might cost more initially but is a very worthwhile investment Good images will get you selected for crafts fairs, exhibitions and publications. Many magazines and bloggers will be far more likely to publish your work if your photographs are of professional standard, and can be used immediately.

A good photographer can make you and your work really come alive and help you create your brand.

A great new collection of images can even improve your confidence – in yourself and your work!

Ideally work with somebody who has got specialist experience in working with craftspeople or designers, especially if you have really fine work as a jeweller or have more complicated products such as mirrors or want to work with models.

You can ask friends and colleagues for recommendations or look through online crafts directories, publications or online photo libraries, such as the Crafts Council Directory. You can also find recommendations for photographers in our Resources Guide. As the copyright of the image is kept by the photographer, they are often credited and therefore easy to identify!

Before making your selection, have a look through a number of different portfolios with work that is similar to what you are after, and talk or meet different photographers to identify whom you want to work with.

Tip 2: Brief your photographer

After you have selected a photographer you need to brief them on exactly what it is you are looking for.

Clarify the purpose of your images e.g. to be used for a website or for a printed brochure.

Specify the format that you would prefer, your ideal time scale, and your total budget. Make sure that you agree your brief in writing, to avoid any miscommunication.

Our Business Club members can watch a 45min online training with photographer Yeshen Venema about how to work with a professional photographer.

Tip 3: Check out your competition

Lorna Syson Photo: Yeshen Venema
Lorna Syson Photo by Yeshen Venema

Start collecting images that you like so that you can clearly brief your photographer and show examples.

Have a look at how your role models are presenting themselves online and through their images.  Check out their websites, Pinterest boards, and Instagram accounts.

How do they visualise their brand values through their images?

Check out trade magazines, exhibition brochures, and lifestyle press to see what is being selected and how the photographs have been taken.

See if you can access an (online) image library such as Etsy, Pinterest or The Crafts Council Directory of Makers to check out your competition or role models, and find out what they do well and learn from their mistakes.

The key to creating your own unique brand and images is NOT to copy what others have done, but find your own, authentic style!

It will really help you to identify what you want, and what you don’t want, and having a selection of images will make it far easier to communicate with your photographer.

Tip 4: Decide what to include in your images

Obviously it’s important to show your work to its best. This sounds so obvious, but is often forgotten!

Especially now with so many people selling online, it really is very important to show what makes your work stand out and of high quality. 

Therefore, if the scale of your work is important then include something in your image that shows how big or small your work is. If your jewellery or stitch work is really fine then go up close to show the quality of your materials and jewellery making skills. If your colours are vibrant than make them sparkle!

One of my top tips to photograph crafts and jewellery is to focus on the kind of images you need:

  • Have general overview images as well as detailed images e.g. an image of a range of dresses in your shop as well as the button detail and quality of stitching and fabrics.
  • Have a combination of factual and more atmospheric images of your work i.e. show your table from the front with the total image, show a detail shot of your craft skills or quality of materials, but also show the table in situ at a client’s home. If you are selling online, on your own website or market places such as Etsy or Not On The Highstreet, then it’s recommended to have at least 6 images per product: showing your product from the front, side, bottom, top, in context and a detail shot. This will help your potential clients really understand your product.
  • Show your work in use or with props to provide a context, as this can be very effective. But don’t overload the picture! Remember: Your work needs to be the hero of the image
  • It is also really important to have some images with a plain white or black background as they are easier used by photo editors for so called ‘cut outs’.  Also, this will help you if you shoot images throughout the year, but you need a consistent collection of images to send to trade fairs or editors. Colourful artwork will become more vibrant against a black background.
  • A collection of products can also work really well – both to show the variety of what you do, but also to showcase the scale of your products.

Do a practical test: Would your clients be able to know what the size is of your craft object? Would they be able to know how well made it is or what price point? If not, then your images need to be improved.

Sue Pryke Wild & Wood Photo: Yeshen Venema
Sue Pryke Wild & Wood Photo by Yeshen Venema

 

Tip 5: Be careful with using models

Models can be used very effectively in images and can really bring fashion and home accessories to life.  However, if it is not done professionally they are one of the quickest ways to make your crafts or jewellery look very amateurish… 

Use professional models if possible, and use a stylist or make up artist to help you. The lighting will be essential too.

I regularly judge for craft fairs and often professional images with models really make a creative brand stand out. They also make products less static … for example a scarf worn on a person brings it much more alive than when hung up.

But if the model and photographer aren’t professional then it’s very hard to make this work successfully.

Be aware that you will need written permission of any people who can be identified if you want to use these images for publication, so be very aware of this if you are photographing in public spaces.  Also if you are using children as models you will need written consent of their parents.

Tip 6: Use relevant name, captions and tags

Notes Jewellery Photo: Yeshen Venema
Notes Jewellery Photo by Yeshen Venema

When you save your images make sure that you name them properly.  Don’t use “image 1”, but use something like “yourname2016bluevasefront”.  This will help you to identify your images easier, but especially will help photo editors or exhibition organisers to identify potential images for publication quicker.

Make sure you provide appropriate captions on a separate piece of paper with all images, and include the title of your work, year of production, name of the artist, and name of the photographer.  In addition you can include materials, dimensions, current owner of the piece (if relevant) or commissioner.

Especially when you sell online it is really important to use the right tag words so that people can find your work easier.

Most online retailers or shops provide some advice on this too to there suppliers.  A great online selling resource is the Etsy Seller handbook, which is available to anybody for free, and has loads of useful blogposts for makers.

Use it, as the easier it is to find you (on the selling site, but also in general through image searches) the more likely it is that your work will find a buyer!

Tip 7: Keep the memory

Make sure that you document your main work over the years and that you photograph your crafts and jewellery before you sell it. Especially if you are creating one off crafts and jewellery. Once it is gone, it is gone …

If you have an event or exhibition don’t forget to take some photographs then too. It’s for your own collection, but also to share on your website or social media to build your profile. Include some pictures of you in the exhibition photographs too as these are great for your profile.

It will provide you with documentation and development of your work, which might be really useful for creative and promotional purposes.  Or even for that major retrospective in the future!

Tip 8: Use your images creatively

One of my top tips for photographing crafts and jewellery is actually about making the most of the images you have already got!

  • You can use your images much more creatively by sending them to potential and current clients via an email newsletter to keep them informed of your activities and events.
  • An image of fabric in different colours can really liven up your price list and make it much easier for your clients to remember you.
  • On your CV or artist statement include one or two images of recent work. Postcards are also a good alternative to business cards for those starting a creative business.

Tip 9: Know your copyright rights!

If you have created the product you will own the copyright. However, the photographer owns the copyright of the images of your products so try to get the copyright of these images from the photographer (for which you might have to pay more), and agree when and how the images can be used.

Make sure that you always get their name published as well as your own name, if you do not own the image’s copyright.

Thank you to lovely photographer Yeshen Venema for giving permission to use his images to accompany this blog post on photographing crafts and jewellery.

Did you find these top tips on photography useful? Then share them with other creatives who might find this useful too on your social media. Have you got any additional tips or questions? We love to hear from you – just post them in the comments box below.

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