66 Artists&Illustrators
With subtle features easily lost, a poor photograph of your art can hinder your chances
of success. RACHAEL FUNNELL explains how to avoid falling at the first hurdleABOVE Angling
lights at 45
degrees is key to
avoiding glare, says
art photographer
Eva HerzogW
hile there is no right or
wrong answer to the
eternal question of when
an artwork is “finished”, it is short-
sighted to think that an artist’s work
is done once the last mark has been
made. If you are keen to enter open
competitions, publish your artwork
online and ultimately get it into the
hands of gallerists and buyers, thenperhaps the most fundamental next
step is photographing your art
Giving critics, judges, curators and
even members of the public an
accurate representation of your work
through photographs is a challenging
task, however, but with the right
equipment there are some tried and
tested tricks you can employ to get
the best results.LIGHTS!
In the right studio, finding the right
light for photographing your work can
be as simple as waiting for daytime.
A bright but overcast day will provide
you with good visibility and soft
shadows, allowing you to take clear
shots of your work which capture the
textures of the paint or vibrancy of the
pigments. Planning a shoot for middayPHOTOGRAPHING
STUDIO PRACTICE