Take beautiful, well-lit photos yourself

Hi everyone!

I keep seeing gorgeous photos in patterns, or others that—despite being beautifully crafted—don’t look as good simply because the setting isn’t right.

How do you take your photos? With a cell phone or a camera? In a photo box or something similar, or just however it turns out?
Of course, not everyone wants to reveal their secrets. But maybe there’s a tip or two here that will help others.

I made my first patterns and photos with my cell phone and natural light. But somehow, it never really worked out. Too many shadows, no suitable background.
Then I tried fiddling around on a shelf with several lamps, but the effort just ended up annoying me.
So I built myself a photo box—there are plenty of tutorials online. It wasn’t bad, and the photos turned out better.
After that, I treated myself to a proper photo box—not even that expensive online—said goodbye to cell phone photos, and started using a camera. I’m now satisfied with the results. Today, I wouldn’t want to be without either of them.

I’m curious if anyone else has any tips to share?

Best regards
Angi

I usually take my photos with an older Nikon D90. I set that one aside when my husband gave me a D7500 for our 30th wedding anniversary—I use that one when we go out and take pictures. I have the right lenses for it, depending on what I’m photographing at the moment, because I also really love macro photography. Unfortunately, I don’t get out much because I have limited mobility and use a walker, so I can only go where it’s flat—and those places are usually packed with people. So, for me, that basically means staying home. It’s good that we have hobbies we can do at home—that way, it’s not so bad when you can’t pursue a hobby for a while.#
Taking good pictures is a constant challenge for me :-)

Best regards, Inge

For a while now, I’ve been taking only cell phone photos. It’s always with me wherever I go, quick to grab for snapshots, and it’s actually good enough for the crocheted or sewn items—I don’t have any “professional standards” there.
The lighting can be a problem sometimes—that’s true. Or when something I want to list for sale or trade has a really bad glare. Then I fiddle around and grumble until it looks right.
A photo box is really more for smaller items, so it doesn’t always cut it.

I take photos with my digital camera since I don’t have a smartphone. I’m happy with it—it takes good photos.
I like taking photos outdoors in nature with a bit of greenery in the background. That’s how I took some photos that I’ve posted in the gallery. Or in front of a beautiful piece of antique furniture.
Lighting is always a challenge, so I often spend a long time fiddling with it until it looks right.

I’m a self-confessed non-cellphone photographer. Yes, all cellphones have cameras these days, and most take good pictures. But for me, that just doesn’t work very well. To press the shutter button on a camera, you need one hand. The other is holding the phone.

I always need a small camera that I can operate with one hand. Nothing big or heavy. I also have an SLR camera for special shots. But it’s too big for me and has become too heavy for my wrist.

I’ve been using my old favorite Lumix digital camera for 8 years now. You can hold it in your right hand and take the picture with your index finger at the same time. That’s especially important to me because when I’m photographing craft projects for a pattern, my left hand holds the knitting project in the right position. And it can handle low-light conditions, too. However, if I’m sitting in the wrong spot, it does have trouble with backlighting. So I always sit so that the light falls on my hands from behind. That way, the camera takes pictures without shadows.

Tomorrow, the mail will bring me a newer model of my camera. I spent a long time thinking about and researching which one to get. Now I hope it meets my needs. The old one still takes good photos, but cameras have come a long way since then and now have new (tempting) features.

I used to have a lightbox, too. But they’re only good for small items. Too bulky for me.

As an alternative, I also have a seamless curved backdrop at my disposal. It’s basically a large, white, flexible, transparent plastic piece that you can bend into shape. The object you’re photographing then has a white background, and you don’t see any crease. They come in various sizes.

Best regards, Ina

I take most of my photos with my Lumix.
Every now and then, I take some with my smartphone.

Some of my projects are too big for a lightbox.
The challenge for me is often finding the right distance in small rooms.

I usually take photos in daylight. If that’s not possible, I use an editing program to adjust the brightness and contrast.

I usually take my photos with my phone.
My problem is always the poor lighting in the apartment. The rooms are large, and in the living room we only have one ceiling light, which doesn’t provide much light where I need it—especially on cloudy days like today.

I’ve been thinking about getting a photo box for a while now. I’ve read quite a bit online, including that it’s supposedly so easy to make one yourself. I’ve watched loads of videos, but I’m too clumsy to make one myself. 

Since I’m not an impulse buyer, I’m finding it quite difficult. What’s best for me?
I’m absolutely not satisfied with my pictures of hats and shoes. Often the colors don’t look right either. I’d love to take a course, or maybe watch others while they take photos. 

Which photo box / seamless backdrop do you use? Because I don’t think it’s due to my bad camera—no, it’s the lighting in our house. 

Is there something that works well for all projects (shawls, shoes, hats, cushions, etc.)? 

Dear Petra and Gabi,

if lighting is the problem, there are photo lights that you can aim at a subject much like spotlights. They provide diffuse light, so not a harsh beam.

If you point two of these lights at a subject (one on the right and one on the left), it will be beautifully lit. These lamps aren’t that expensive either.

Ceiling light alone isn’t enough.

Best regards, Ina

Petra, get yourself some of those photo lights—they’re easier to handle than a photo box. And if you do want one, you don’t have to spend any money, because you can easily make one at home. Take a chair, place it with the seat down on your table, hang a white bedsheet between the four legs, and arrange it so it fits—that’s your photo box. Light it from the outside with a few lamps you probably already have, and your box is ready. My photo lights have a battery compartment—you just pop in some rechargeable batteries and set them up however works best. It’s less effort and does the job.

Best regards, Inge

Thanks for the tips. Then I’ll take a look at some lamps. 

Photo lamps are new to me; I hadn’t heard of them before. 

I’ll also try the chair idea. I once tried it with a large box (as suggested in a video) and small lamps, but that wasn’t satisfactory. 

Thank you for your many comments,
I also use a Lumix; it was actually meant for trips and vacations. My husband suggested I use it for my crafts.
Of course, a photo box isn’t really suitable for scarves, stoles, etc., anymore.
My box is 60 x 60 and has a permanent spot; it’s plugged in, with a chair in front of it and the camera next to it. I swap out the background sheets as needed.
This way, I can also take detail photos for patterns on the fly without any hassle.
But from what I’ve read, there are lots of creative ideas for photography.

Best regards
Angi

That’s right, Angi. There are lots of creative approaches to photography. Ultimately, everyone has to figure it out for themselves based on their preferences, the cameras they have, and their individual lighting and space conditions. This thread has certainly provided a few ideas.

Best regards, Ina