When I first started posting my quilts on Instagram several years ago, I didn't really know what I was doing. I hadn't used social media very much and therefore wasn't aware of what was involved in getting good photos that would entice people to follow me and appreciate my work. My photos weren't very good and didn't do justice to the beautiful quilts I was sharing. I knew that my photos were not at the level of professionalism as others that I was seeing, but I assumed it was because I was taking photos with my phone camera at my house and I didn't have any fancy rooms to display my work.
Over the years, my photography skills have improved and evolved, along with my quilting skills. It's taken a lot of practice and thousands of photos, but now I feel confident that the photos I share portray what I want.
I'm going to share with you what I wish I had known when I first started my Instagram; that you CAN take gorgeous photos in your house! You don't need expensive equipment (except your phone camera!). This blog post is focused on flat lay photos. These are great for featuring fabric pulls, quilt pieces, progress shots, and quilt blocks. A post about close-up quilt top photography is coming soon!
Here are my 4 best tips for taking good quilt flat lay photos:
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Explore: Spend a bit of time scrolling through Instagram and taking note of photos that you really think are great. What about these photos stands out to you? Do you like the angle, the props, the background? Keep these things in mind when you go to style your own photos.
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Background: I highly recommend getting a background board on which you can lay your items to be photographed. There are lots of options out there for posterboards or even sturdy photography boards which come in a variety of different designs and colors. It doesn't have to be anything fancy- I use a plain white posterboard. I like the white because it's neutral, bright, and helps portray my fabric colors accurately.
Another popular choice is a board that looks like a wooden floor, or maybe you have a floor or table that will work. You, of course, can decide what color/design best matches your aesthetic or brand.
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Lighting: Find a place in your house that gets good natural lighting during at least one time of day. For me, this is in my office. We have two large windows and I lay my posterboard on the floor in front of them.
It's important to use natural daylight, rather than artificial light. I know it can be tricky, but it's worth it- trust me! Take photos at a time of day when the sun is not shining directly in on your setup. You want indirect sunlight. Direct sunlight is too bright and it will be difficult to get a good photo. Make sure to turn off any artificial lights, so as not to cast weird shadows or colors on your flat lay.
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Props: Don't be afraid to use props! A photo with props is almost always more interesting than a photo without them. Of course, there are exceptions. If you are photographing close up details of your quilt top, props may not be needed. However, for most fabric pulls, quilt pieces, and quilt blocks, props can be super helpful!
The amount of props you use in a flat lay will depend on the main subject and the overall look you're going for. There can definitely be too much of a good thing here, so I recommend starting off with 2 items for a photo.
Some of my favorite props to use are:
- A tray on which to lay the main subject
- Needle minders
- Tailor's clapper
- String of wooden beads
- A small pile of casually stacked fabric/scraps leftover from the main subject
- Real or fake flowers/foliage
- Wooden spools
- Other small notions that coordinate to the colors being used
Feel free to find other props, too! I'm sure you can find many usable items around your house!
Gather your fabric, block, or quilt to be photographed, your posterboard, and a couple props and I'll meet you in Part 2 where we'll talk about how to style and photograph it all!
Photos from this post feature the following patterns:
Heart Shine by Christine Hebert
Cross Stitch Keepsakes by Maelynn Wood
Pickle Party by Sydney Nordgren
Butterflies in Bloom by Mary Swinton