Blog photos. Love ’em or hate ’em, they are a big part of how we share our sewing creations. And whether you use an iPhone or a fancy DSLR, there are always ways to up your photo game!
Over the next 6 months, I’m going to try to improve my blog pictures by focusing on a different theme each month, inspired by other sewing bloggers. I’m calling it the Better Pictures Project because the goal is not perfection, just improvement through experimentation. I’ll gather the best advice on the web, and try to put it into practice, and I’m hoping you’ll join me too!
Each month I’ll talk to a sewing blogger about a techniques or strategy they use to get good pictures, then I’ll try it out myself. Thank you to these awesome ladies for agreeing to be my muses!
- September: Taking pics out and about with Handmade by Heather B
- October: More is more with Cashmerette
- November: Editing for a modern look with Closet Case Files
- December: Taking a variety of pics with Lucky Lucille
- January: Taking pictures indoors with What Katie Sews
- February: Having fun with Seamstress Erin
I’ll also research some technical aspect of photography each month, like camera settings, online editing tools, or how to get good lighting indoors. I’ll do a post linking to useful resources online and summarizing what I learn.
Would you like to work on improving your pictures too? I’ll be setting myself monthly assignments connect to each blogger’s advice, like “Try new camera settings” or “Take a series of pics to catch movement”. If you want try it out too, just link to your blog post in the comments of my post or hashtag your IG pics with #betterpicturesproject.
A couple things to keep in mind:
I’m no expert and I don’t have amazing photos myself. That’s the whole point! And of course, not everyone needs to aim for professional-quality blog photos. But if you want to learn how to get more out of your DSLR, point-and-shoot, or iPhone, then I’m hoping you’ll join in!
My current “family” of cameras!
The series will kick off in September, when Heather from Handmade by Heather B gives us advice on leaving the house and taking pictures out in public. I’ll also be looking into camera preset options to see how they can help improve photos.
Truth be told, I’m always nervous when I propose a new Sewcialist theme or blog series – what if everyone laughs me out of the room or thinks I’m full of myself? I’m really excited about this series though, and I really hope you enjoy it too! Are you game for the #betterpicturesproject?
Crafting A Rainbow 
I’m game, sounds like an excellent project!
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Thanks Barbara! I hope it’s fun!
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Sounds like an excellent series. I could definitely do with improving my blog photos.
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Thanks – I’ve been having fun chatting with bloggers about their pics!
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I’m game! 🙂
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Yippee!!
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great idea. I’ve been working on my photo-taking skills for some time and this will definitely help.
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Photography is a never-ending subject, isn’t it? Everything I learn makes me want to learn more.
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I’m following this once-again excellent idea of yours!
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Thanks for being my behind-the-scenes technical guru! (And for lending me your camera, of course!)
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This is exactly what I need. I recently upgraded my phone and it’s a better camera than my point and shoot, but it’s a far cry from a DSLR. Add to that the fact that many of my photos end up taken indoors where I get decent natural light in only one room for about one hour every day (during work hours, of course), and the result is some cringe-inducing photos. I made a promise to myself that I’d never apologize for them on the blog, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to make them better! I’m super excited to learn along with you. Count me in!
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“I made a promise to myself that I’d never apologize for them on the blog” <– What a great statement. Goodness knows we all have better things to do than feel obliged to blog/sew a certain way. I hope we can find some good tips and tricks that make good photos easier!
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great idea!!
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Thanks Meg!
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Looking forward to this series. Great idea!
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Thanks Donna! Now I just hope it lives up to people’s expectations… 😛
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I think it’s a brilliant idea. Some years back I was an active concert photographer, but blogpics are a completely different matter. Half the reason I have long blog breaks is my reluctance to pull out the tripod. I’m in!
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Oh cool! What kind of concerts? Classic or rock? Sounds neat!
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In like Flynn here.
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I think you are already on a roll with your pictures, but hopefully hopefully you can get some extra inspiration here too! : )
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Thanks Gillian. It’s always a work in progress. And I will confess to being a perfectionist. 😀
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I’m in. I upgraded my old iPhone to an iPhone 6 a few months ago and also picked up a cheap tripod/remote combo. DH doesn’t have a lot of patience for taking a ton of pictures of me when I want to photograph my garments, so I decided to take matters into my own hands. I’d love some tips on improving my photos with the setup that i have.
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My dad is a keen iphone photographer, so he’s going to do 2 posts I think – one on taking good pics with an iphone, and one on editing apps! Probably in October or November?
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Oooh, this sounds great! I can’t wait!
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Thanks Teri! I’m so pleased people seem interested in the idea! 🙂
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Fabulous. Count me in. I am not bad of taking pics of things in front of me but since that doesn’t ever include me then I am pretty stuffed with the blog photos. I am also normally getting hurried up and moaned at to get home so the foot is going down and I am definitely going to up my game. Only problem being round here if you set up a camera and stood away from it with a remote some Ned would be on off on their toes with it. The joys of big city living. 🙂 Xx
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Yeah, no street photography for you then! I worry about that too, which is why I only take pics in really quiet areas…
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I love this! So interesting and useful – and I love how you’re marketing!
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Hehehe – you know me! My teacher-brain kicks in and suddenly I can’t just learn something by myself, I have to be getting others involved and giving everyone homework! 😛
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This look brilliant, I look forward to joining in! I really don’t like taking pictures of myself – definitely guilty of ‘oh, that will be fine’ so I can stop.
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I HATED having my picture taken before blogging… now i kinda like the control I have over the pictures, so that I’m more likely to like the result! 🙂
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Sounds like a great idea, I can’t wait to learn some things.
One thing I am wondering though; what did you use to take the photo if your current family of cameras??? :O
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HAHAHA – You got me! I tok that pic with my iPad, which I actually use for filming videos!
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Yes! I like the sound of this very much 🙂 Good thinking Gillian!
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Thanks Jenny! I”m glad you’re in!
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I’m in! I’ve got an iPhone 5 that takes pretty good photos but I’ve been thinking of buying a tripod so I can take photos when I want. This sounds great and I’m looking forward to the next 6 months.
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Awesome! I *just* got a tripod attachment for my iphone, and I’m getting a remote – I’m curious how much the humble phone can do! My dad is really into iphone photography, so he’s going to be teaching me a few things and writing a couple of posts as well. I hope it’s useful!
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Great idea and I’ll be following with interest. It must be the great teacher soul in you as you always come up something that is just so “on point” for either discussion or involvement. Thanks Gillian!
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I’m in! BTW, a really great resource for photography tips, particularly on an iPhone is http://fatmumslim.com.au/ — she of the Photo a Day prompts I use during Me Made May. She is obviously more interested in taking interesting photos than in taking photos of outfits, specifically, but they are still helpful. In fact, she’s just posted an article about playing with light.
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I’m catching up on blogs so I’m just now seeing this…but this project sounds awesome! I have been wanting to get into photography more lately, so I can’t wait to see the tips. I take all my current pictures with my phone, but I’m really hoping to get a DSLR for my birthday in November!
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I think this is a great idea and I look forward to learning along with you. I think your photos are pretty awesome though!
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Thank you for doing this! It’s a great idea! I got a DSLR for my birthday 3 years ago and still haven’t figured out what I should be doing with it. This is definitely going to give me a push to spend some time and learn some new stuff.
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I”m the same! I’ve had my dad’s old DSLR for a couple of years, and I’m still not sure how to get the best out of it! 🙂
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What a great idea thank you. I keep trying to work on my blog photos so need all the info I can get.
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I love this idea. Even if I only have a cheap point&shoot and an old phone…well, better than nothing 😉 I’ll follow along and hope to learn something to improve my own photos too
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Ooh, I can’t wait! I’m really looking forward to learning lots 🙂
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Yes!!! I chose a camera for my 40th birthday last Dec, and I promised myself I would learn to use it properly. It’s not a DSLR, more of a bridge, but I have only really used the auto settings to date. This sounds like a great initiative. I’m looking forward to joining in.
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I hope it lives up to expectations!!! I’ve learned from it already, so I hope other can too!
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So excited for this.
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What a great idea, I’m in although I’m still not holding out too much hope that my photos get loads better!
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Just joined the fun!
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I’m in, I’m in ….only 6 months late! 😉 I am just starting to read this and it sounds very interesting. 🙂
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