You don't need to be a photographer to send us photos that work on social media. You need good light, an interesting subject, and a phone. This article covers the basics.
Light Is Everything
The single most important factor in a good photo is light — not your camera, not your phone, not your editing skills. Here's how to find good light without any equipment:
- Natural light from a window — place your subject (artwork, product, yourself) near a window with indirect light. Direct sunlight creates harsh shadows; soft, diffused window light is almost always flattering.
- Overcast days — an overcast sky acts like a giant softbox. If you can photograph near a window on an overcast day, your photos will look professional with zero equipment.
- Avoid overhead fluorescent lighting — it creates unflattering color casts and harsh shadows. Turn off overhead lights and rely on window light instead whenever possible.
What to Photograph
For visual artists, the most engaging photo content tends to be:
- Finished work — clean, well-lit, against a neutral background or in its intended setting
- Work in progress — partial paintings, sketches, early-stage work with materials visible
- Your workspace — your studio, your tools, your palette, your desk setup. People love seeing where the work happens.
- You at work — candid or set-up shots of you painting, sculpting, designing, or photographing
- Detail shots — close-ups of texture, brushstrokes, materials, or technique
Composition Basics
You don't need to study photography to compose a decent photo. Two rules that work almost every time:
- Rule of thirds — imagine your frame divided into a 3×3 grid. Place your subject at one of the four intersection points rather than dead center. Most modern phones have a grid overlay option in the camera settings.
- Clean backgrounds — when in doubt, simplify the background. A cluttered background distracts from your work. Move things out of frame or shoot against a white wall.
Send Us What You Have
Don't overthink this. Send us your photos — even the imperfect ones — and let us determine what's usable. We work with real, authentic content. A slightly blurry behind-the-scenes shot often performs better on social media than a perfectly staged product photo. Authenticity matters more than perfection here.