How to Take a Good Photo of Your Artwork

Place your artwork on a flat surface. Whether it is a floor or table top, use an area where you can lay your work down. Attach your camera to a tripod, and position the camera so it is directly above your artwork.

Position two lights. They don't have to be photo studio lights, but they should be using the same type of bulb, either fluorescent or incandescent. If the lights are directional, such as a desk lamp, aim the head toward the ceiling. If they are traditional household lamps, remove the shades from the lights. Shades add unwanted color to the light emitting from the lamps.

Turn your camera on and set the white balance to match the type of lights you are using. Set the image quality to "RAW" and set the "ISO" to the lowest setting possible. Depending on your camera, these settings are adjusted through buttons mounted on the top or back of the camera or in menu windows.

Turn the exposure mode dial to "Aperture priority," and select an aperture from f8.0 to f11.0. Using this exposure mode, you select the aperture and the camera will select the correct shutter speed for the lighting conditions.

Direct the camera toward the artwork and adjust the position of the tripod until the artwork fills the viewfinder. Press the shutter release to take the picture. Review the picture and continue to photograph your other work.