Brand Photography for Artists
I took a million photography classes, and it never clicked until I met Natalie. If you’ve ever needed brand photography, but wanted to do it yourself, she’s here to share some tips for you!
As a maker, having great photographs of your work is critical, but it’s a craft in itself, and it might not come natural to you. Best case scenario - work with a professional. When that can’t be done (budget, timing, global pandemic), use these tips to make sure the photos you take of your work are the best they can be.
Stop going for the “cool” photo.
Instead of looking for a really unique angle, people need to saying “wow look at that cool product”! Your photo shouldn’t distract from the product - your product is Queen! You need to know just enough about photography to make your product pop.
Keep your investment to a minimum (for now).
While there’s a lot of cool gear and equipment, you can start taking great photos with your phone, or a standard camera! If you’re passionate about photography - you can upgrade as you see fit. If you have a DSLR, you can use the lens that it comes with - it’s called a “kit lens”. Natalie has a few courses to learn more about photography too. If you have small work (maybe earrings) you could invest in a macro lens, OR you could buy a $30 filter instead (YES PLEASE!).
As far as lighting goes - you can purchase a lightbox (under $50!), place it near a window, and you’ll get a major upgrade in your photos.
Change Your Mindset
Photography doesn’t have to be hard, and you’re not as bad as you think you are! Start by believing that you CAN take better pictures.
Learn about Lighting
Lighting is everything. Shadows make a big difference in how something looks. The time of day will have a major impact in this as well, so consider that if you’re going for a consistent look and shooting on different days.
During our live, Natalie moved me around like a guinea pig and broke down how lighting works with some pretty clear examples for those of us who are visual learners.
Get Help
Get help. You’re not naturally good at everything. You’re good at the thing you do. If you want to own a business doing your craft, you’re going to have to spend a lot of time doing things to have a business doing that craft. You can’t be 1000% focused on perfecting your craft because it won’t ultimately make you a living. You should be good at your craft, and continue growing, but it’s not the only thing that moves the needle. So many things go into this equation. It’s completely do-able, you just have to learn how.
We hope this conversation encouraged you to feel a bit more comfortable with your camera! Catch the full video with Natalie here (part 2 here), and be sure to check out her photography studio and her coaching biz.