Repeat Crafter Me

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How to Photograph Your Crochet

If you have your own business selling crocheted items this post is for you! Even if you don’t sell your crochet but you want to show off your work on social media or on your own blog, you will benefit from this information. You always want the photo of your product to reflect the hard work you put into it. I am by no means a professional photographer but over the past 3 years I have learned a thing or two about how to stage my crochet and I’ve discovered some important tricks to taking eye-catching, pinterest-worthy pictures. My photos are still far from perfect, but below are some tips that I think might help you in your business!

1. Choose a background. In order to showcase your product, you want to place it against a clean, clutter-free background. Get rid of personal items and avoid distracting, clashing colors and patterns. In most cases, a solid color piece of paper is best. Construction or card stock paper, scrapbook paper, or even plain white printer paper can be a great backdrop for appliqués and small projects. For larger projects like hats and afghans, you will need a larger backdrop. You can get a roll of brown mailing paper at the Dollar Store! I have used this many times in my projects (like HERE and HERE and HERE). Or how about the roll of drawing paper from Ikea? A lot of you may already have this in your kids playroom. Also, a piece of white or black poster board (also found at the Dollar Store) works perfectly. HERE is an example of a project against black poster board. But the best thing I ever did was invest $29 in a vinyl backdrop. You have probably seen my faux vintage white wood plank backdrop in a lot of my photos. It is clean and neutral but provides just a little bit of texture and interest to the photo. I also like that it rolls up without crinkling and it wipes clean. I purchased the 4ftx3ft size from Ink&Elm on Etsy. If you like the faux wood look you can also purchase rolls of faux wood paper for a lot less money! I personally have THIS ONE
and have used it many times like in this project right HERE.

One more idea is to use the inside cover of book (see picture below in list item #2). This gives you a consistent background and foreground and is easy to prop up. I’ve been taking quite a few of my pictures using different hardcover children’s books that we have around the house. THIS PROJECT was taken using the inside cover of a Curious George book 🙂

This is NOT a good way to show off your product:

2. You NEED natural light. Unless you have some sort of professional lighting studio I highly recommend refraining from taking pictures during non-daylight hours. I’ve found that the best place to position your crochet is near a window. You don’t want there to be direct sunlight (or else your photo will be washed out) but the natural light should be filling the room. Turn off any ceiling lights or lamps. You can photograph outside as well but only in a shady spot. I’ve found that overcast days are best for indoor and outdoor photos!

Below is a comparison of a photo taken with natural light vs artificial light. Both photos are completely unedited. The natural light will help bring out the true colors of the yarn. It is also brighter, cleaner, and doesn’t have harsh shadows. Also, I NEVER use the flash on my camera. Let the natural light do the work.
3. Stage your crochet item. I like to photograph my piece as soon as I finish it. The stitches will be tight and the piece will be at its best. If I am going to have my kids model for me, I do that AFTER I have taken all the photos of it lying flat. Try your best to make sure seams are in the back. If it is a hat with earflaps, make sure they look even and the braided tails are nicely positioned or even tied together. Buttons, eyes, and embellishments should all be positioned to perfection (or close to!). If you need to, tape down parts with double sided tape so they don’t move while you are photographing. Block your granny squares if needed. Try and smooth out all lumps. If I want to show more dimension to my hats (and I know my models won’t cooperate) sometimes I use a wine glass to prop it up (see photo below in list item #5).

4. Take pictures from different angles. I take about 60-100 pictures of each project before I choose the best 2-3 “beauty shot” photos to showcase on my blog. Get a photo from the front, back, and sides of the crochet item. Show off the details and embellishments that are especially important or a fun part of the piece. If it’s a larger piece like an afghan try rolling it or folding it. Draping it over a chair and standing on a ladder to take a picture from above. Stack granny squares for more depth. Experiment!
5. Invest in a DSLR Camera and use photo editing software. Smart phones can take OK pictures, but if you want to take it to the next level you will want a better camera. I love my Canon EOS Rebel T2i with the Macro Lens. I use it daily! The macro lens allows me to get a crisp foreground and a blurry background. I know there are other ways to achieve this but I am not a professional photographer and I really don’t understand camera settings very well. The macro lens does it for me! You can also buy a MACRO LENS
that clips onto your smart phone! I haven’t used one but I like the idea 🙂 I’ve been able to create some great bokeh in my photos with this lens. HERE is a helpful article on Bokeh and some additional information about cameras and other lenses you can use to create this affect. 
I use Photoshop to edit all of my photos. Editing consist of adjusting the lighting levels and brightness/contrast to get the photo to really pop! I also use it to resize and crop my photos and collage them if needed. In addition I place my logo on all my photos and at times use decorative fonts to create titles (you can download free fronts from DaFont.com). But Photoshop can be expensive (even the Elements version) and can also be difficult to learn if you don’t have experience with it already. Don’t worry, www.PicMonkey.com is a free photo editing site and it allows you to do all the things I mentioned above!

Try not to get discourage and keep practicing your photography! The goal is to attract people to your item. You want them to be interested and intrigued enough to click on it to see more. Make it stand out from the others and allow your handmade work to shine!

If any of you have other photography tips and tricks I would love for you to comment below!

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    • For those people (like me) who cannot devote the space to a full time lightbox or who aren’t confident in their build-your-own-lightbox skills, I was really happy to back the Foldio lightbox when it was on Kickstarter (and under $40). The version I got came with an infinite white backdrop and there is supposedly a smartphone app that will automatically handle white balance.

      I, also, am limited to using my phone.

      You can see completely unedited Foldio (and un-apped shots) at http://averagehooker.com/private/131524677151/tumblr_nwhv3wQfpo1ui3fye so you can see the size of the lightbox … and it folds up and can be filed right onto a bookshelf!

      So, for those like me who aren’t makers-of-lightboxes, I think you can still find Foldios around on eBay. The people who created it are now pushing the Folido 2, which is larger and larger doesn’t fit my needs.

      Anyway, this was a really long post to say:
      I agree that a lightbox is the way to go and oh-hey-look I’m so happy with mine that I thought I’d drop a product recommendation.

      Cheers!

      Reply

    • Lay your afghan out on your bed, and put pillows that coordinate with it. Make sure the room is tidy! You want people to look at the afghan, not the laundry over in the corner. Stand a good ways back so you can get the whole bed in frame, or take 2 shots and use the “panorama” feature now included on most phones. Get a tripod, it really helps steady the camera, i got a cheap one at the dollar store it is only about a foot high but I place it on a tv tray and sometimes stack books under it.

      Reply

  14. Oh – I agree natural light is the absolute best! I photograph cowls/scarves wrapped around a plain white or black velvet hanger, hanging on a plain white door in my house in a room that gets good natural light. I'll wrap the scarf/cowl several different ways to show the different ways they can be worn. I also like to take close-ups of the work that really show the stitches and details. I love photographing outside too. Sometimes a wooden fence will be my backdrop, sometimes even the trunk of a tree.

    Reply

  15. Thank you, thank you, thank you…. that is one of my biggest problem with my blog. I am so proud of my projects, and they just DON'T look nice when I post them. I have a couple of projects that I want to post… I am going to use your tips… thank you

    Reply

  26. idk if anyone mentioned this already or not, but if you absolutely have to use your flash, if you tape a piece of white paper over the flash bulb, it will give a softer light than if it was uncovered

    Reply

  27. Excellent tips, thank you. I didn't even know that you can buy vinyl photo backdrops – I just assumed that everyone else lived in houses with amazing old woodwork! Right, I'm off to buy some. The photos on my blog are about to get better, thanks to you. 🙂

    Reply

  28. Thank you SOOO much!!! I never knew how you guys make such beautiful photographs with wood background. I always thought that those people with those photos all live in fancy houses with nice wooden floors on the porch . I didn't even think that you can simply buy a vinyl backdrop. I ordered one wood backdrop too. Thatnk you so much for your post! 🙂

    Reply

  29. Also, about natural light- it's absolutely true. I tried playing with camera taking picture inside with different light including artificial natural light and all that, still outside natural light wins by all means…

    Reply

  32. Came across your site while hunting for free crochet patterns! Thank you for all the beautiful patterns! I need your help. No matter how much I try I can't get to crochet in neat stitches! The stitches end up wonky and wobbly! Could you please tell me where I might be going wrong? Hoping you would reply

    Reply

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  36. Hi Sarah, I often stop by your site, I think it would have to be one of my favorite go to sites where I can pretty much find what I am looking for. I have recently taken to borrowing my brothers DSLR so that I can take some professional shots of my crochet, I thought seeing as I have some previous experience in photography. I love your tips on photographing crochet pieces, I will keep them in mind, keep up the great work 🙂

    Reply

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  38. Thanks, Sarah! I love your blog! And I definitely need to read and apply this post often!! I am guilty of nightime and indoor shots (and having to over-correct the color disasters!) Thank you for your no-nonsense approach! I can do this!

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  42. Enjoyed this excellent article about photography! I’m always looking for new ideas. I especially like the tip of using rolls of paper and faux paper for backgrounds. Thanks!

    Blessings to you,

    Bonnie Barker

    Reply

  43. Hi,is it possible to ralndmoy display catalog gallery (photo and title) in the posts, each time when visitor refresh page? What I mean is, it will be changed the order of the items each time when page is refreshed.Thanks

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  44. Thanks Sarah!
    I love your work and your page! It is really helpful. I found you when I want to crochet an owl hat for my first daughter (Zoé :)). So you inspire me to learn crochet 🙂
    Thanks everything!
    Love
    Eszti

    Reply

  45. I am a newborn photographer located in Wesley Chapel, Florida. It just so happens that I have also been crocheting for 40 years so I make all my own props. I love having access to such awesome patterns so thank you VERY much for your hard work and for sharing the most adorable patterns I’ve found on the web.

    Your tips are great for photographing completed crocheted items. It just so happens that I have a home studio so I do not have to depend on natural lighting. Your side-by-side comparisons were perfect and the best way to show how a great photo can sell vs. a bad photo that typically gets passed over for the next item. I too use a wine glass when I do not have a current newborn session photo to use as reference. Your detailed tips on tying the braids is another gem you offered above as well as capturing the different angles…again, and because not only the craftsmanship help sell the item but the photo does as well and is just as important as the time put into each project.

    Purchasing a small 3’x4′ backdrop from Backdrop Outlet or Backdrop Express is a great investment as well, inexpensive and when stored properly, will last for many years. For the bonnets I make, I really enjoy using a nice, bulky, muted toned ball of yarn, slide the bonnets over it, then tie the braids as you’ve mentioned. I like to lie on my stomach and get an image of the item as well as it adds to the dimension of the image and captures a nice depth of field behind your featured items.

    Thanks again for the great post!

    Kelly Dykes
    http://www.kellydykesphotography.com

    Reply

  47. As a professional photographer, I would say you are absolutely correct in all counts EXCEPT for #5. Having a better camera isn’t going to give you better pictures. Following step 1-4 and using a smart phone or a cheap digital point-n-shoot would yield the results one is looking for.

    Reply

  49. My problem is I can never find a nice spot for pictures! We move a lot (military family) so currently our walls aren’t painted yet so I can’t use those. I LOVE the inside of the book idea! I will have to give that a try on my smaller projects!

    Reply

  50. Thank you for these ideas on some inexpensive ways to create background for crochet photography. I’m ready to re-work my entire etsy shop now, like right now, today! I appreciate the help!

    Reply

  52. Thank you for sharing your tips!! I have been wanting to improve my photography of my crochet projects. Definitely going to get a backdrop, and hopefully one day get a DSLR camera 🙂 luv your stuff and your creativity! Keep doing what you do!

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