How to Photograph your DIY Projects with your Smartphone

Hello World!  Welcome Friends!  Smartphone photography is becoming increasingly common as more of today’s smartphones come equipped with all the necessary technology to deliver professional-looking pieces. This is great news for bloggers on a budget who want to show off their DIY projects in an engaging way that will draw more readers and keep fans intrigued. Photography can make or break your blog, so make sure your photos are a success.

Find the Right Lighting

There’s plenty of trial and error involved in finding the right project lighting, but once you identify it, you can return to it again and again. The best lighting is usually beside a window, where you get good natural light indoors, or in a moderately shady spot outside.

Avoid artificial lighting at all costs, as this throws off the colors in your photo. While you may not need spot-on coloring for an artistic selfie, you will want accurate color representation for DIY projects where you want viewers to appreciate the colors in a particular fabric line or the jewel tones in a piece of jewelry that’s for sale.

Try a Different Angle

Image via Flickr by m01229

Avoid the obvious shot when you’re taking pictures of your DIY projects. Instead of showing your finished charm bracelet from above as it’s laid out in a perfect circle, get down beside it and show a close-up of the beads and charms that make up the piece. Highlight the most important details in your photo, such as the stitching on your plush doll or the etching on a wooden spoon. Remember that you don’t have to show the entire piece in every picture. Choose a particular aspect of the project to focus on, and show that clearly.

Incorporate Props

Many DIY project photos benefit greatly from mindful use of props. This is particularly true if your photography involves food. If you’re walking your readers through a baking project, using the right props as you show off your ripe berries, rich cocoa power, and finished cupcakes will make the difference between a lackluster blog post and one that will drive likes, shares, and reader engagement. Everything from the plates and bowls you use to the side dishes that grace the periphery of the shot will make a difference, so mindfully consider these details.

Know Your Product

Research the finer points of photography for your particular type of project, turning to expert bloggers and artisans in your field for inspiration. The techniques that work for cards and notebooks are different from those that will highlight a sewing project. Study successful photography and begin experimenting with your smartphone’s camera settings to see how you can mimic the lighting, angles, and staging in similar shots.

Choose a Standout Phone

When you’re taking DIY project photos with your smartphone, use a device that can handle your needs. Go for a powerful phone and plan combo that will ensure you have everything you need. The Samsung Galaxy S7 on T-Mobile’s reliable network gives you a bold 5.1-inch HD Super AMOLED screen so you can analyze and edit your photos with ease. With a fast 4G LTE network at your disposal, you can easily upload your finished pieces to your blog, social media, or cloud storage so a stellar photo is never lost.

Use a Good Photo Editing App

A great smartphone will get you partway to professional looking photography, but a professional photo editing app will help you close that gap between phone photos and those taken with a high-quality camera. You don’t have to invest a lot in this technology. Many of Adobe’s photo editor apps are free with a Creative Cloud subscription. The Fotor Photo Editor has tools that help you adjust saturation, exposure, temperature, tint, and more so you can take your project photos to a new level.

With a little time, dedication, and experimentation, you can find that sweet spot where your project photos leap from acceptable to outstanding. Dress up your blog and show off your efforts as they’re meant to be seen with the right techniques for these crucial pictures.

Thank you for dropping by for a visit!  Don’t forget the One Room Challenge reveal is scheduled for Thursday.  You can check out the current progress here.  Have a gorgeous day/night depending on where you are in the world!  Go with God and remember to be kind to one another!

Toodles,