My best tips for photographing quilts
Getting a good picture of your quilt can be hard. It doesn’t have to be. Here’s what I do:
Natural light is a marvel. I’ve never taken a picture indoors that I liked better than natural light
Wait for a bright overcast day. Clouds are natural diffusers of light so they soften all the shadows of a quilt and allow the true colors of your quilt to shine
Stretch your quilt out on the ground. I like to lay my quilts out facing the sky to minimize any shadows or sags that result from hanging vertically
Use a background if you think you might want to remove the background later. A solid white bedsheet or canvas tarp can work well for this if your background is anything more complicated than a concrete patio
Canva makes removing the background super easy. Trust me
Zoom out (or get a selfie stick). iPhones have a zoom-out feature (I’m not an expert on other phones, sorry) that makes it look like you’re standing high above your quilt while still on the ground. A selfie stick or a ladder can also help you get that height, but then it might be hard see the photo you’re taking
Always use the back-facing camera. It’s often a higher-quality camera than the front camera
Develop a series of shots you know you like. I always take the same shots: 1) flat, 2) folded up, 3) the “squeeze” (flat with some soft waves throughout), and 4) the “drop” (throw the quilt in the air and then see how it lands). Having a variety of shots gives you plenty of ways to show off this quilt you’ve spent so much time making
Get detail shots. Don’t forget the details! I always like to get a shot of: 1) my best corner, 2) my signature, and 3) three moments in the quilt that feel special
Organize your photos right away. I don’t have to tell you that camera rolls can get out of control quickly. Organizing your photos right away is the easiest time to do it. If your camera roll is already wild and wooly, I recommend a new app called Slidebox to quickly sort your photos using a quick and easy Tinder-like swipe.