How to Photograph Your Artwork Like a Pro

Why Great Photos of Your Art Matter More Than You Think

Your artwork might be incredible in person, but if your photos don’t do it justice, you risk getting passed over in juried calls, online features, and social media feeds. A blurry or dimly lit image doesn’t just hide your brushwork or colors, it gives the impression that you’re not fully invested in how your work is perceived. Think of your artwork photos as your first handshake with the outside world

Whether you’re applying to open calls, building your website, or updating your shop, high-quality images speak volumes. They tell curators, buyers, and audiences that you care about your craft from creation to presentation. Plus, clear images help people truly engage with your work. That close-up of a texture or a full shot without distortion can make someone pause,  and that pause is where connection begins.

Great photos also give your work a chance to shine when you’re not in the room to explain it. Think about that for a moment. A compelling image might land you a feature, a sale, or a show without any words exchanged. 

So many artists think they need expensive cameras or professional photographers. While those can be useful, you can absolutely take strong, portfolio-worthy photos with a phone, good lighting, and attention to detail. It’s less about gear and more about how you use what you’ve got.

And here’s the kicker, once you learn how to photograph your artwork well, it becomes a repeatable habit. You won’t have to scramble before a deadline or feel nervous about your visuals. You’ll know exactly what to do, and that confidence will shine through.

In a world where your next opportunity could come from an email, an Instagram tag, or an online gallery, investing time in great artwork photography is non-negotiable.

2. Choose the Right Space Before You Snap

The first step in getting a great shot of your artwork isn’t picking up your camera. It’s scouting your space. Where you photograph your work matters just as much as how you photograph it. Natural, even lighting and a clean backdrop can completely transform your final image.

Start by choosing a room with ample daylight,  preferably one with indirect light. A north-facing window is ideal because it gives you soft, consistent lighting throughout the day. If that’s not an option, look for any space where the light isn’t too harsh or uneven.

Avoid mixing natural and artificial light, as it can create weird color casts that distort your work. You want your whites to be white, not yellow or blue. Turning off any overhead lights and relying only on the daylight coming through your window is often your best bet.

The wall or surface behind your artwork should be clean and distraction-free. A blank wall, a neutral background, or even a white sheet can work wonders. If your artwork is framed with glass, be mindful of reflections, try angling it slightly or adjusting your position to avoid glares.

Make sure your artwork is hung straight and at eye level, or place it upright on an easel. The goal is to capture your work in its natural, displayed state. Avoid slanting it unless you’re intentionally going for a styled or editorial feel.

3. Lighting is Everything( Yes Everything)

If there’s one thing that makes or breaks an artwork photo, it’s lighting. Good lighting enhances your colors, flattens shadows, and helps textures shine without overpowering your piece. And the best part? You don’t need expensive lights to make it work.

Natural light is your best friend. Aim to shoot during golden hours,  early morning or late afternoon, when the sunlight is soft and diffused. Harsh midday light can create unwanted glare or sharp shadows, which often distract from the details of your piece.

Place your artwork perpendicular to the light source to evenly distribute light across the surface. If one side appears darker, you can bounce light back using a white foam board or even a piece of white cardboard. This trick helps balance everything out and gives your photo a clean, even tone.

Avoid using flash at all costs. It tends to wash out your image and reflect off any shiny surfaces like varnish or glass. Instead, be patient with your natural light or invest in two daylight-balanced bulbs with softboxes if you often shoot at night.

For 3D works or heavily textured pieces, play with side lighting to emphasize form and depth. Just keep it subtle, you want to enhance, not overwhelm.

When in doubt, take a few test shots and adjust as you go. Lighting is all about experimentation, and with practice, you’ll start to see what works best for your medium and style.

4. Get to Know Your Camera, Even If It’s a Phone

You don’t need a fancy DSLR to take professional-looking photos of your artwork. Today’s smartphones have powerful cameras, and with the right settings and techniques, you can get results that rival traditional cameras. The trick is to understand your tools.

First, clean your lens. It sounds obvious, but a smudged lens can blur or fog your image. Then, tap on your artwork in the camera app to focus and adjust exposure. Many phones will allow you to slightly darken or brighten your image manually. This gives you control instead of letting the phone guess what’s important.

Always shoot in the highest resolution possible. Avoid using digital zoom, instead, move physically closer to your piece. Zooming digitally can reduce image quality and leave you with pixelated or soft results.

Use a tripod or stabilize your phone to avoid shaky shots. Even a stack of books or a sturdy shelf can help you hold the phone still while you shoot. Consistency matters, and clear, sharp images are the goal.

Explore manual settings if your phone offers them. Apps like Halide (for iPhone) or ProShot (for Android) let you control ISO, white balance, and shutter speed, which can really elevate your final image.

Lastly, try both horizontal and vertical compositions. Depending on your artwork’s size and orientation, one might serve better than the other, especially for social media or portfolio layout purposes.

5. Avoid Common Composition Mistakes

Once your lighting and camera are set, composition is the next major player. How you frame and present your artwork in the photo directly impacts how it’s perceived. Crooked angles, distracting backgrounds, or uneven spacing can take attention away from your actual piece.

Always photograph your work straight-on, especially for 2D pieces. That means the edges of your artwork should run parallel to the edges of your photo frame. Avoid shooting at a slant unless you’re intentionally going for a styled or dimensional look.

Leave a small, even margin around the edges of your artwork if the full piece is shown. This prevents any parts from being cropped awkwardly and gives your photo a balanced feel. If you want detail shots, take separate close-ups instead of zooming in digitally.

Double-check that your image isn’t tilted or distorted. Use a photo editing app to straighten and crop your photo if needed. Most smartphones and editing programs make this process super simple.

If you’re shooting a series or collection, try to keep your compositions consistent. Same angle, similar background, and equal lighting will make the collection feel cohesive when displayed together.

6. Capture the Details and the Full Story

Your main photo should always showcase the full piece, but don’t forget the details. Close-ups can reveal the brushwork, layering, or surface texture that gets lost in wider shots. They add depth and emotion, helping viewers connect with your creative process.

Take 2–3 close-up shots of each piece, focusing on areas that show contrast, complexity, or texture. If you use mixed media, gold leaf, fabric, or carving, details help viewers appreciate the nuance.

These shots are also perfect for social media. A zoomed-in stroke or textured area can create intrigue and offer behind-the-scenes insight into your technique. Detail shots often invite questions and conversations, exactly what you want as an artist.

If your work includes handwritten text, signatures, or subtle overlays, a detail photo ensures they’re seen and appreciated. Just be sure they’re well-lit and sharply focused.

Use the same lighting and camera settings for detail shots to keep everything looking consistent. You can slightly increase contrast or saturation during editing, but don’t go overboard. The goal is to enhance, not mislead.

7. Do a Simple Edit Without Overdoing It

After capturing your artwork, a little editing helps polish the image and ensure it accurately represents the real piece. But subtlety is key. Over-editing can distort the colors, flatten textures, and mislead your audience.

Start with cropping and straightening. Make sure your piece is centered, upright, and neatly framed. Then adjust brightness, contrast, and white balance. These small tweaks can dramatically improve clarity without altering your work’s character.

Use tools like Snapseed, Adobe Lightroom Mobile, or your phone’s native editor. These allow you to make precise adjustments and compare before-and-after views to avoid going too far.

Avoid using filters. While they’re fun for selfies, they can throw off the tone and feel of your artwork. Stick to neutral, clean edits that bring your piece closer to what it looks like in real life.

Save a high-resolution version and a smaller, web-friendly version. That way, you’re ready whether you’re uploading to Instagram or submitting to a professional open call.

Editing should feel like framing a painting,  it brings attention to your work, not to itself.

Once you’ve mastered the art of photographing your work, the next step is pulling it all together into a portfolio that represents you. If you’re looking for a beautifully designed, easy-to-use tool to organize and showcase your images, The Artist Portfolio Builder by Arts to Hearts Project is a great next step. It helps you compile your best shots, artist statements, and project details in one polished, printable format.

8. Photographing 3D Work Without Losing Its Impact

If you work in sculpture, ceramics, or installation, photographing your 3D pieces can feel more complex, but totally doable. The goal is to capture dimension, material, and presence without overwhelming the viewer.

Use soft side lighting to bring out textures and shadows that define form. Position the light to highlight curves or edges, and try moving around the piece to find the most flattering angle.

Shoot from multiple viewpoints, front, side, and an angled perspective. This gives viewers a better understanding of the work’s scale and shape. You can even add a short video or rotating GIF if the platform allows.

Use a neutral backdrop so the work remains the focus. For smaller pieces, a piece of white fabric or a tabletop studio setup can help isolate the object. Larger works might require photographing in situ, so tidy the space around them.

Play with depth of field. If you’re using a manual camera or editing app, blur the background slightly to draw attention to your piece. But make sure the focal point stays sharp.

9. Keep an Organized Photo Archive

Once you start photographing your work consistently, your image files will grow fast. Creating an organized system saves time, energy, and stress, especially when deadlines come knocking.

Name files with the artwork title, medium, dimensions, and year (e.g., “BlueWhispers_Oil_16x20_2025.jpg”). This makes it easier to locate specific works later, especially if you’re updating a website, applying for an open call, or sending press images.

Store high-resolution and web-ready versions separately. High-res files are great for printing and submissions, while web versions (smaller size, optimized for loading) are ideal for online sharing.

Back up your archive regularly. Use cloud storage like Google Drive, Dropbox, or an external hard drive. Losing a decade of work to a corrupted computer is an artist’s nightmare.

Create folders by year or project. If you work across multiple styles, consider organizing by series or medium too. When your archive is intuitive, everything from newsletters to social posts becomes easier.

Your Art Deserves the Spotlight

A strong photo lets others feel the care and energy behind it. You spent hours, maybe weeks, creating that piece. 

You don’t need a studio or pro gear to take beautiful, accurate photos. You just need patience, practice, and a simple process that works for your space and style. Over time, it becomes second nature.

The right image can catch a juror’s eye, inspire a collector, or get your work featured in a publication. But more than that, it becomes a lasting record of your creativity.

So the next time you finish a piece, don’t rush to post or submit. Set the scene, find the light, and photograph it like you mean it. 

And if you’re preparing for submissions, check out Arts to Hearts Project’s current open calls. High-quality images make your entry stand out from the moment it lands in the inbox.