Tips for Photographing your Art

LIGHTING CONSIDERATIONS

1. If you don't have Studio Lighting3 then your best bet is daylight 8-10am or 4-6pm depending on when sunrise/sunset is in your location. a. Basically you don't want direct sunlight, rather morning or evening light which will help capture the colors true, without being over-shadowed or bleached out by too much light.

2. Flash isn't really recommended especially for metallics or glossy paint because it will cause a glare at the focal point of the flash.

3. Indoor Lighting can be tricky because older bulbs can give off an orange glow which will taint the entire image orange, for example, so be cautious of available indoor lighting that isn't pure/white light.

4. Be careful about standing in your light; shadows can change the look of the art!

CAMERA CONSIDERATIONS

1. If you don't have a Cannon/Nikon/etc your point-and-shoot should be a minimum of 5 megapixles. a. 5 magapixles = 2560 x1920 in resolution, allowing you a crop margin of 510 pixles on the longest side. (2560 - 2050 required for upload on VanGo)

2. Use a tripod/desk/table/steady surface whenever possible -- some cameras are more sensitive than others and wabbles, shakes, etc can cause part or all of the image to be blurred.

3. If you're not familar with the custom settings, or don't have the time/inclination to trial and error with your lighting, it's best to choose the pre-set option best for your situation. a. Smaller Art where you're up closer taking the image, (24 inches/2feet/61cm/.6m) then the "macro" feature may be best for both focus and lighting. b. Larger Art, taken from further away may be best taken with the landscape/scenery/outdoor setting.

4. ALWAYS review your images at FULL resolution (100%) before uploading to check for blur, glare and color consistency. a.If any of those things stand out, try again. b. If you're not having success with your device, try asking a friend to help! c. eBay is a great place to buy 2nd hand cameras for a good price through recommended/reviewed sellers who work very hard for their ratings.

p.s. Looking forward to an "alternate angles" option, even if it only allows close-ups (to avoid having outside backgrounds or upload complications.)

This is both an example of the difference lighting can make on metallics, as well as to show the difference between white-light/natural light and indoor/tinted light.

*feel free to use this example during Vango Team discussions for options/solutions.