We all want to take great photos of our work, whether it is to share our pottery on social media, to sell it online, to enter it in an exhibition or just for fun. As a former professional photographer I am going to share with you the photo tips and techniques I have learned over the past 26 years. That’s right before I was a potter I was a professional commercial and advertising photographer! A skill that has served me well and I use to take great images of my own work and now you can too!
Lets start off simply… with taking great photos for social media. Most of us want to share what we make with the world via Facebook, Instagram or another social media site but don’t feel our images are good enough. It is easier than you think to take engaging and interesting photos of your work without any fancy or expensive equipment and I am going to tell you how.
Get Out!
Photographing your pottery outside in a natural environment is the easiest way to show off your amazing work. The images above and to the right are perfect examples of good social media photos and all I did was hold up the pieces with the woods as my background and take the photo with my iPhone. Quick and simple! The images show the work clearly and by including a bit of my hand it also gives it a point of reference for scale. If you don’t want hands in the image try sitting the pot on a stump, log, rock or even the ground. Lighting is important so try to take your image out of direct sunlight since that can wash out your image or make it to contrasty. I like shooting in the shade, under the canopy of trees or on a slightly overcast day.
Equipment
You don’t need any special lights or camera gear just your smart phone and natural lighting will work wonderfully. Of course if you have a nice digital camera you want to use go right ahead. I have a pro camera that I film classes for ClayShare with but for all of my social media images I just use my iPhone. It is easy to use,I almost always have it with me I can edit the image on my phone and immediately upload the image to my social media accounts and go on with my day.
The image below is one I use for my business cards and and was taken on a stump in my yard. I love the contrast between the wood grain of the stump, the plants and grass the background and my highly detailed carved mugs.
Format Is Important
I almost always only shoot in the square format. This works best for all social media sites especially for Instagram. Sometimes if an image is truly engaging I will take one as a square then another in the traditional rectangle format. That way I can use it for promotional materials such as business cards or postcards.
Add A Friend!
I have quite a few furry and feathered friends in my life and I jump at any chance to include them in my images. This gives the viewer another glimpse into your life besides your pottery making but isn’t as personal as sharing images of your children or grandchildren. It also allows you to tell a more interesting story and engages the viewer. Here is my sweet little Bantam rooster, Rocky with one of my mugs. Yes, that is the same stump from the lotus mug image above . This stump is fairly close to my chicken coop so I usually can sit a pot down on it and due to their natural curiosity I often have a chicken or two wander over and be included in the image!
Get Up Close and Show Off That Glaze Or Texture!
You’ve made a great pot and covered it with fabulous texture or a gorgeous glaze so why not show it off. Close up images are a great way to highlight your pottery’s awesome surface. Another reason to take close up images is to cut out anything distracting or messy that could potentially take away form your work. Or if you don’t feel like you have an ideal background available you will love taking close up images Here I have chosen to photograph a pair of cups. One small bisque fired cup with stain on it and another larger cup beside it that is glazed and finished. Not only does this show the texture but it also gives a glimpse into the ceramic process.
Works In Progress Or Studio Images
Some of my favorite images are of pots in the making or potential pots. Slabs of clay, tools in use, half made pots, un-glazed work, a potter working on a piece, kilns loaded with pots, shelves of ware and clay trimmings are just a few things that make great images. The image on the bottom left shows two pieces after they were just made and the fondant cutters I used to make the floral embellishments. The center image shows a freshly rolled slab with texture from my favorite embossed roller. The bottom left image shows a highly textured flower frog with the holes being made and the clay trimmings. All of these images tell a story and make the viewer want to know more.
Pots In Use
Everyone loves to see pottery being used, especially when it is from someone they know! I love to see images of my pots being used by their new owners. Nothing makes me happier than knowing my pottery is being used and loved daily! If you sell your pottery it also gives potential buyers ideas about how to use your pottery. Showing pots being used is another great way to tell a story and to interest people in your ceramics.
Doesn’t this cake stand with homemade cookies and lavender mug make you want to take a tea and cookie break! Wait, I’ll be right back….. I’m gonna go grab another cookie and refill my mug…..mmmm
You Making Pots!
What better way to show off your pottery than to take a “selfie” with your pots! Again we are telling a story, the crafts-person (or artist, potter, maker etc.) in their studio lovingly making wonderful, unique pottery one at a time. If you are not comfortable showing yourself with your work you can always just show your hands while making a pot. I like to share images of my work during all stage of the process and every once in a while I’ll jump in the image as well!
One theme that runs throughout this entire post is storytelling. That is the most important factor and key to creating intriguing, engaging images that people can’t wait to see, like and follow. Tell a story about how you make your pots, where you make them, what you make them with, and what they look like being used and you will quickly grow your following on social media.
Here I have given you just a few ideas about taking great images for social media and I’m sure just reading this you’ve come up with a few of your own! Next week will be part two where I will share how to take great photos for selling or showing your work. Until then I hope you all make happy little pots and take lots of photos of them!
Jessica