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The West Australian Fibre & Textile Association is an arts collective for creatives who have a passion for innovation, craftsmanship, knowledge and networking.

PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE

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Guidelines and tips

 

Quality photography will ensure your work is seen at its best for inclusion in the on-line 30X30 exhibition. Whether you photograph your work yourself, or engage a professional photographer, the mantra is: allow ample time. Work backwards from the entry deadline and incorporate the photography component as part of your artwork completion process.

 

A great photograph for the 30X30 exhibition is:

  • In a square format
  • Cropped to the edge of the artwork – ie. Minimal background visible
  • An accurate representation of your work – ie. The colour of your work matches the colour in the image
  • One that shows your work to its best advantage, and enable us to showcase the talent of the WAFTA membership

Remember, as this in an online exhibition, the photograph will be the only way for viewers to appreciate your work.

The following guidelines and tips may assist in getting the most out of your camera when photographing your work.

Camera setup

  • Use a good digital camera/phone (minimum 3 Megapixels is helpful).
  • A tripod and self-timer are a good idea to keep photos sharp.
  • Turn off camera flash.
  • Set the camera for the highest quality available and the highest resolution that delivers JPG images, at around 3Mb in size. For the more technically minded: use manual setting for white balance (match current lighting conditions – sun, overcast etc) and switch off camera settings that increase contrast and enhance sharpness.

Setting up for the photo shoot

When photographing your artwork, use diffuse, bright light that is evenly spread (not in direct sunlight or at night). A simple option is to place your work near a window with a white sheet or white cardboard on the opposite side so that light is reflected and bounces from various directions. 

Avoid shadows unless they are a deliberate part of the artwork’s structure and display. Harsh shadows (the result of direct light, rather than diffuse light) are not good.

Use a white or light neutral coloured backdrop – a large piece of paper or fabric for example. Keep it clean, seamless, and not wrinkled.

When photographing 3D plinth-based works (or similar), use a seamless background by attaching a white sheet of paper to the wall and draping down onto a table to avoid a visible join line between table and wall.

Always position the camera/phone to be central and parallel to the artwork. If it is tricky to shoot your work 'face-on' or upright (on the wall), you can photograph it laying it on the floor (using a white piece of paper or card), but make sure to position your camera parallel to the edges of the work (i.e. shooting from right above and not at an angle).

For artworks behind glass, we strongly advise that the work is photographed prior to framing. 

Image quality & submitting images

Images must be submitted in square format, as JPEGs, at a minimum of 72dpi. Please check your image meets the requirements in its cropped form prior to submission.

The resolution and image quality can be reduced through making changes such as cropping, colour correction, resizing, or resampling/re-saving images.

Please submit an image of your entry, with the following guidelines:

  • A full image of the work in its entirety, with edges/borders included.
  • Images must be of completed work and not work in progress.
  • The work should appear as you wish it to be reproduced in the online exhibition and other media.
  • Images must be in JPG format. File size should be minimum of 1 MB and maximum of 6 MB per image.
  • Images must be in a square format.
  • Do not add your name, watermark, or any other text to the image itself.

For any questions, email the 30X30 committee, at exhibitions@wafta.com.au and we will respond as soon as we can. 

 

If you choose to use a professional photographer, a non-exhaustive selection of professional photography services (by region and in alphabetical order)is below:

Greater Perth region:

Mandurah & Peel region:

Great Southern region

Greater Geraldton region: