Dec 12
A 192 page softback book in full colour providing lots of information and advice on taking photographs of craft items. This book starts by guiding the reader through the camera basics including choosing a digital camera, light, aperture, focus, colour, exposure etc as well as DIY accessory tutorials, planning and composition. The author provides useful advice on the photography of a range of products including fashion and fabrics, jewellery and art. The book finishes with detailed information on the editing and backing up of images, troubleshooting and good business practice. The book contains many excellent samples of product photography and helpful illustrations which all helped to make this such an attractive publication. It is aimed at those selling their work online, but I feel that the book is of interest to anyone wanting to improve their photography of handmade items. I was delighted to receive a copy to review and really enjoyed the opportunity. At GBP12.99 I was impressed and feel that it has much to offer and will be adding this publication to my 'wish' list.
* The Lace Guild *
Sept/Oct Workbox
The best techniques for showcasing your handmade creations. Amidst the sea of handmade jewellery, apparel, housewares, art, and other crafts that populate blogs, websites and online marketplaces, how do you make your item stand out? The key is great photography. Beautiful handmade items can be undermined by poor or uninspired images that fail to represent their detail and craftsmanship. With this book you'll learn that you don't need expensive professional equipment to get quality results. Get simple, practical advice presented with the crafter in mind. Learn to make a lightbox, avoid camera shake without a tripod, how to use natural lighting, and how to capture the details in your work. Broken down into specific craft areas, you'll find tips on how best generate eye-catching images that will help sell your items.
* Workbox *
July 12
I bought this book because I wanted some advice on how to take better photos of my dressmaking commissions for my social media pages and my new website. It has some great reviews on Amazon and has that useful advice in spades. So many of us need to promote ourselves through our imagery and can't afford professional photographers. This book goes a long way in starting to demystify the digital camera. It's very accessible because it's not just talking about using the big, expensive digital SLR Cameras but refers constantly to the great images you can get from your little pocket sized digital. The key, as I discovered, is to turn off the auto function and be brave. The book explains all the jargon, what the numbers mean and the importance of the light. It takes you through creating your own sets and light boxes and holds you hand through the whole process. It finishes up with advice on what to do with the photos once you've got them onto the computer and how best to use them for your business. All this great information is of course backed up with some beautiful photographs of great craft items. I'd really recommend this book for practicing and building your confidence to produce some great photos to impress through your social media.
* Sewing Directory, The *
Oct 12
This book includes a lot of nuggets of really valuable information, like:
Ways to take better photos even on a budget (it's not all about fancy new cameras);
How best to utilise light (I thought I knew about making the most of big windows and daylight - but there's so much more to learn about using daylight than that);
Composition and what the type of accessories you include in a lifestyle shot might suggest about your product (really interesting!);
Making a light tent, light box or even a tripod for next to nothing (very clever!);
Interviews with crafters who use photography well (but might not always have done, so you see their learning curve) - there are some great tips in the interviews;
How to use Photoshop Elements (looks like a brilliant introduction so I'll definitely be looking at that part of the book much more closely);
Specific advice for specific craft genres.
What I like best about this book is that it doesn't tell you what to do - instead, it tells you which choices might be best for certain circumstances so you can very easily decide what might be best for you and your particular circumstances - this approach makes it an ideal book for anyone on a budget because it shows you how to get good photos with a simple point-and-shoot camera (or even a smartphone) as well as a more expensive camera - it explains quite clearly what your restrictions might be and how you can get around them. It doesn't expect you to go out and buy the latest equipment, but details when and why an investment in new equipment could be a good move for some people. I think it's one of those must-have books for anyone hoping to sell anything online - in fact, unless you're a professional photographer already, I'm pretty certain you'll learn something from this book. The other bonus is that - of course! - it is beautifully illustrated with gorgeous photos, many of them in themselves offering inspiration and ideas you might be able to adapt.
It's written in easy-to-access layman's language and the few necessary technical terms are explained very simply. Believe me, that matters a heck of a lot to some of us (yeah, my hand is up!) and is one of the (many) reasons I'd recommend that everyone who sells online should own a copy of this book.-handmadeharbour.blogspot.co.uk
* makeandcraft.com *
Mar/Apr 13
How do you make your work stand out amidst the sea of handmade crafts populating websites and magazines? The answer, says Heidi Adnum, is great photography. Luckily she reveals how to take fantastic pictures without expensive professional equipment, offering simple, practical advice presented with the maker in mind. This is one of the best and most friendly books we've found on the subject and will have you capturing the sumptuous detail in your work in no time.
* Embroidery *
Issue 6
And now for something completely different. Knitters have been talking about photography a lot over the past few months, so this little book couldn't have come along at a better time. Whether you're selling your work on Etsy or just want to show off your knitting on your blog or on Ravelry, help is at hand. With tips on everything from how your camera works to composition and digital editing, you're sure to learn something.
* Knit Now *
Apr/May 12
The digital age has spawned a lot of new photographers - but having a good camera doesn't guarantee that you will take good photos - so this book could easily become your 'bible'. Whether you are taking photos simply as a record of your work, for publication in a book or magazine or to sell your work online, you'll find easy-to-do techniques that will enable you to capture colour and texture - and really make your work sing. The good news is that the book aboids the type of jargon that could make your eyes glaze over. Yes, it does mention things like 'resolution' (or megapixels), but the explanation is quite straightforward. The chapters on composition are very helpful and encourage you to take the time to make your product or work look its best. Props, styling and scale can enhance or overwhelm a piece and it's all about looking at the effect you want to create, and there are plenty of examples that will make you look at the pieces you want to photograph with a fresh eye. The book doesn't aim to turn you into a professional photographer, but with the guidance it provides and tips from a range of professional contributors, you should be able to produce the sort of photographs that your work deserves.
* Stitch *
March 13
I am warning you ... Crafter's Guide to Taking Great Photos: Fool-Proof Techniques to Make Your Handmade Creations Shine Online is full of eye candy! It's a heavy book (192 pages), easy to flick through, beautiful images, wonderful styling, high quality, cool craft and design products, printed on light shiny paper. This book is full of inspirational images that will give you lots of ideas on how to present your own work. From composition to lighting and styling - it takes you step-by-step through each, based on what story you want to tell about your creative business and product collection. It will give you the confidence to create your own images, and show your work in the best possible light. It explains clearly and in a very friendly, jargon-free way how certain effects have been achieved. Each image (and there are loads!) shows the exact camera used with full technical details. This book is very up-to-date in showing you how to use and edit your images for online use, such as your website, online marketplace or Pinterest. It really shows you what you need to do with your presentation and images to stand out in very competitive online market places such as Etsy, Folksy and ASOS Marketplace. The main part of the book shows in separate chapters how to photograph specific products, such as fashion and fabrics, fashion accessories, jewellery, knitting & needlecraft, ceramics, art, books & stationery, and home accessories. For each of these areas Heidi explains what the challenges are with specific and practical tips on how to solve them. There is a common problems & FAQs section for each that are really the main real life questions you will have on how to make your images and work look better. But it is the last part that I think is one of the most useful parts of the book: finishing up and getting it out there. It shows clear screenshots on how to use basic editing software, and how to adjust exposure or how to correct colours. In my career I have worked with hundred's of design images as a fair coordinator, and from that experience I know how important it is to get images send by makers in the right format, correctly labelled and saved. These pages show really clearly what you need to do as a maker. I bet many craft fair organisers and press contacts will thank you for following these simple rules too! It might actually make the difference in you getting into a show or publication, or not ...
* www.thedesigntrust.co.uk *
Dec 12
Here's some essential reading for crafters who sell creations on retailer websites, or just show off their knitting. Photographer Heidi Adnum gives expert guidance on creating product images and talks through technical aspects in an easy to follow way. With tips on everything from how cameras work to digital editing and composition, you're sure to learn something.
* Machine Knitting Monthly *
Apr/May 12
This book is essential for the growing number of crafters who are now selling their creations on retailer websites such as Folksy and Etsy. Professional photographer Heidi Adnum provides expert guidance on creating the best possible product images, talking through technical aspects in an easy to understand way and illustrating examples of best practice. Every crafty entrepeneur should have this.
* Craft Focus *
