In this video I explain how to take great photos of your paintings using just a cell phone camera. Get my how to paint in oil book in digital form for free at drawmixpaint.com For more about the paint that I use visit: genevafineart.com
Man .... I've been struggling with this. I been trying all kinds of different stuff, indoors, and out lately. I come back in from the garage (where I'm set up to paint), and here you loaded this vid ! LOL .....I'm going to go try this out, when it's not cloudy, and drizzling outside. LOL .... Thanks !
krom-one I suggest setting up a light box the way product photography is done. You can do this 24/7/365 if you have any question I'll be glad to answer them.
Thank you very much for this video. It was realy hard to get good photographs without a professional camera. I will use your advice for my next photographs. :)
Good vid for most people who need to take a good quick and very decent photo of their work. I have two "pro-sumer" quality cameras...and to be honest....I've sold more paintings from my iPhone shots than from the other ones have done. So...you get a big thumbs up from this artist bro! ;)
Many thanks for taking the time to produce such great, honest videos. I really appreciate all the time and effort you put in; paying forward is the greatest gift anybody can give to humanity.
Great practical tips, easy to apply! I never considered having the subject in the sun and standing with the camera in the shade. No lights to set up in a studio!
Thanks so much for the video and tips. I usually turn off the flash in my iPhone. I look for a light area and take several shots and then select the best one.
Oh my gosh Mark I did realize that little trick with taping the lightest or whitest spot to dim it down, but yeah wow does that make a difference too. I also noticed my phone has a lock to lock it down so when ur taking another picture it'll keep that dimness. Crap man thanks for these tips, because even though I bought a digit camera I use my phone more for sending and reviewing paintings in pictures. ✌️
I am so happy I found you. The videos are wonderful and I have learned so much. I have also learned I wasn't so far off base with some of the things I have self taught from art books that tell about the artist. I always thought it was the important to know the person to understand the way they paint. That didn't help so much but I found many drawing and painting to work from.
Thank you for sharing this important info -- I've struggled with photographing my work and will use these methods for my next shoot. Well explained, well done!
I might add that I've found another super quick version of this technique. I've taken 10 second HD video in slo-mo and have tapped the different areas as I film. Then pause and save frames if one wants. You end up with several dozen excellent shots in just 5 or 10 seconds of HD videoing. ;)
Never really thought about having a large shadow behind camera. Good point. Your graphic, though - should it not read "...either in EARLY morning or late afternoon"? After all, LATE morning is pretty much midday, where you don't want the sun.
Great advice but I think there's an error in your diagram late morning should read early morning. Late morning is just before noon when the sun is approaching it's zenith, so it will be overhead! Thanks for the videos.
I’m assuming this isn’t to do a photo to reproduce prints but more for advertisement purposes? My understanding is that a photo needs to be at least 3,000x3,000 pixels for reproduction. I think most phone cameras are about 300x300? I was hoping there was now a way to increase pixel size in a phone photo.
My samsung galaxy s7 is 2 years old and can take 12m pictures at 4032 x 3024 pixels as well as Raw files too, so i think your info is somewhat dated now. They are more than adequate for uploading to websites but perhaps not for reproductions in my opinion.
How about using this technique of taking a picture outside using your iPhone/Android then use the picture taken and go back inside and take another picture again; in your studio, to compare the temperature of the overhead bulbs you are using? It has been a while since you made your video about the 5000-5000K florescent bulbs (CRI included). Are newer bulbs available that do a better job (from Amazon?).
You can adjust the white balance on an iPhone? And, I am trying to get the lighting correct so that the colors come out correct in my studio. Using the same device to photograph the same painting in both locations will help me to determine if the lighting is correct in the studio versus the sun.
there are several, also may i suggest trying to search for product photography, I know how to do all this will seem way more complicated than it really is at first. You're just setting up a light box the way you would for a still life, even diffused lighting from both sides and a gray infinity paper to reduce reflections and help with color balance.
correct, it gets scanned several times then composited and edited together by heavy software and big-time professionals, I wouldn't recommend doing this yourself. You may find this a tough hill to climb.
Hi Mark, in your diagram it says that the sun should not be straight overhead and that you should take your pictures either in the late afternoon or in the late morning. I was wondering why you advice that you shouldn't photograph your work in the afternoon. Thanks for uploading by the way!
the light is too harsh at this time of day. You can try shooting under an umbrella if you really need to get quality light here. just keep in mind the bright overhead light will greatly reflect the ground color back into your painting not good.
:( :( :(... This video is not translatable.... :( I'm a french painting woman, understanding most of what you say but.... you are speaking so fast... :( Could you make it translatable AND tell me when it is done, because 'i am not sure that I would get any notification about this, please. :)
As a photographer I do not recommend this, I don't know why you would be photographing your set with a cell phone? The sensor size is so small that in order to produce a proper rendering they have to degrade the quality of the pixels. This means that viewing an image even on a regular size computer screen will produce less than ideal results. If your trying to use this image to make a sale or introduce to a gallery you will only being damage to your brand unless you are an established artist already I just wouldn't do it.
Well, some people don't own an actual big sensor camera. This method is probably aimed at social media post etc. Plenty of artists take photos like this for quick and dirty use. It's obvious that a DSLR with a proper indoor setup creates better results, but doing it the proper way with a cellphone is still better than attempting it under bad circumstances.
You've got a business to run, believe me I know that's a lot of work. We appreciate your content, really we do. I just hope I can lend you some valuable information back. Yes, and social media sites degrade the images naturally within the algorithms from the original quality anyway. I would rather see folks setting up a light box, (the same one you used to light your still life) even difussed lighting from both sides, with a slight gray background (around 18% gray) this will produce consistent quality light 24/7/365. And the best part anyone can do it by themselves, no need for help! ...and you know I've been following you for awhile, you've really helped my art. I don't think I've ever left negative comments, so I feel bad about responding this way to your video.
I think for the majority of people you have to work with what you have. Back about 12 years ago I took a series of photos I shot with a small Canon pocket camera and made a calendar from it that I ended up selling thousands of over the years. My profit was $8 each or so? It helped me buy better equipment and heck, even helped with a down payment on my first home here in California.
