June 10, 2010

Photographing My Layout


When I just started scrapbooking I thought that the process of creating a page was the hardest part, but I found photographing my finished layout more difficult because I was having a hard time capturing the real look of my page. The color was off, the alignment was slanted, and the photograph looks so different from the actual layout.

As I have tried several cameras I found out that the main key to get a good photograph of your layout is LIGHTING. Here are some tips that i have read and discovered:
  • the best time to photograph your layout outdoors is 1hr after sunrise and 1hr before sunset. This is the ideal time of the day because the sunlight is not that strong and the brightness is just right.
  • when taking photos indoors, take a photo in the afternoon when the sun is so bright. Find a room that has enough light. Make sure that the wall painting is white because colored rooms bounce back the colors to the layout.
  • you can also use a white cardboard to bounce the sunlight.Simply locate the sunlight in your room. Position the cardboard directly to the sunlight to bounce the light towards your layout.
  • if you want to use an artificial layout, create your own mini lightbox. You can find the intructions here: HOMEMADE LIGHT BOX. If I have time I definitely will make me one of those.
  • never photograph your layout using your flash or putting your layout directly to the sunlight! This will create strong shadows or the light might bounce back on the photo of your layout if you have used a glossy photo paper.
POSITIONING of your layout is very essential too. This will make it easier for you to crop your image later on using a photo editor software. Here are some tips on positioning your layouts
  • you can adhere your layout on a wall at eye-level
  • you can also use a photo stand
  • or simply place your photo on the floor (this is mostly what I do)
  • before taking a photograph of your layout, imagine a grid on the view box of your camera. Make sure that the spaces on all sides is parallel to the layout.

CAMERA. I think the best results is with a digital camera, preferably an DSLR camera like the Canon Digital Rebel. But if you don't have one it is okay to use a regular digital camera keeping in mind that the quality is different when using a DSLR. With good lighting you can still get a very decent photo of your layout.
  • Set your camera to Auto Depth of Field setting and shoot. The auto depth of field keeps all elements equally important visually, which makes the text and photographs all stay focused.
  • Use a tripod if your speed is below 100 to make your photo sharp.
  • ISO must be set not higher than 400. The higher the ISO the greater chance of getting grains-look on your photograph
  • Instead of just taking one photo of your layout, take several. It's easy to delete anyway. This will allow you to capture the perfect photo.
PHOTO EDITING SOFTWARE. After photographing your layout, it is still important to add some minor adjustment to your photograph by using some photo editing software. I actually use 2 software, Adobe Photoshop Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop CS4.

Usually I use Lightroom to edit the colors because it has the capability to adjust the colors individually unlike Photoshop. If you edit a color on Photoshop it will adjust the entire photo and make it all green for example. In Lightroom it only adjust the green colors thus you can make it more vibrant or pale. I do them first on Lightroom then I just do the cropping or cleaning(removing spots) on Photoshop.

Whatever photo editor software you use, just adjust the levels, brightness, contrast or color balance to get your desired outcome. Crop it! I suggest you place your layout near you so that you can use it as guide as you do some adjustment. Make it look like as close to the actual layout.

You're done! You can now upload your layout online!

Hope I was able to help you get an idea on how I photograph my layouts.

51 comments:

Victoria said...

Thanks for the awesome tips!!
v.lau@comcast.net

Calie said...

I will be coming back here to read this often! I have such a hard time photographing my work and this is a life saver!! Your lo is absolutely adorable! GRvychic8@aol.com

Tara Orr said...

oh great tips - thanks LG!! It really does make a huge difference with brightness, etc - definately the most frustrating part of scrapping - relaying your work irl to the online world and hoping it translates the right way!

Jona Panesa said...

great techniques! youch17(at)yahoo(dot)com

Fleursbydesign said...

Gorgeous layout - thanks for the tips!

Cathy Bautista said...

Of course I'm hopping! Great great tips sis!!! It's really helpful! And of course that LO is just gorgeous!!!
Here's my email: catherinecng@yahoo.com

Marie said...

Thanks for sharing these tips, Will certainly try them!
mlyneh@hotmail.com

Yara said...

Stunning LO! Love your work! I am already a fans of yours!!! Email freytesy@gmail.com

Kim said...

thanks so much for those tips

Russellee said...

Thanks for the tip. Will try it. Dorothy Ckee
russeldr@bigpond.com

Russellee said...

Thanks for the tip. will try it. Dorothy Clee russeldr@bigpond.com

Vicki said...

Elegant layout. Thanks for all the tips.

vwilson577@yahoo.com

Scrapthat said...

I love the softness of your page...it's lovely!

Glenna said...

I needed those tips. Thanks!.
Iwearpurpl@aol.com

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous layout!!! Your daughter is beautiful.
I love the tips for photograghing my layouts. TFS!

jocelynechartrand@gmail.com

Eryn said...

Thanks for those awesome tips...can't wait to try them out!!

Janelle said...

Thank you for the great tips, I needed these! Already a follower :)

curious_wonder21@hotmail.com

Nitasha said...

Huge fan of your work, LG! Love this layout! And thank your for the tip.

An Zeelmaekers said...

thanks fot the tip! she is so cute and your LO is beautiful!!! love the colors

Vicky Alberto said...

great post LG, fantastic advice!

Vicky Alberto said...

great post LG, fantastic advice!

Nicole Brenna said...

Thanks for the tips... I am in search of a new camera so I wrote down the one you suggested.

Sheri Twing said...

Thank you so much for your wonderful tutorial! That's info we all can use!
auntierere@bellsouth.net

María Castillo said...

Great tips! I have to use them! BTW love your blog!! mariacastillov@hotmail.com

Jessica said...

Great info! Thanks!
Alwaysfriendli@hotmail.com

D said...

Thank you so much for the photography tips. I always take mine outside on the ground, but I didn't know when the best time to take them was. Love your layout. Everything about screams gorgeous, especially your girl :)

D said...

Forgot to leave my email. lala 3237 at verizon dot net. Thanks, Denise

Sandy said...

Great tips on uploading photos. The layout is stunning:)

Sandy said...

OOPS, just re-read the rules and it says to leave emails on all blogs too, so here's mine...s_calder@shaw.ca. Thanks:)

becca said...

this is a beautiful page and great tips on taking pics of those tricky layouts.

beccahenrie@yahoo.com

Miss Mary said...

Hey girlie...love the loopy flowers..totally awesome. Beautiful LO as always! Love the post here great tips!!

mmisland@sbcglobal.net

Melissa Wright said...

Great tips!!! Love that LO too!! And I am a follower!! My e-mail is: melissacurler@hotmail.com

A Sarasota said...

Great tips, thank you! Hannah is a cutie patootie too.
Happy Blog Hopping!
I am following scrap that and your blog, the blinkie is already on my blog, and my email is
alecia DOT harper ATSIGN yahoo DOT com
freakalecias.blogspot.com

Susie aka Scrap Smart said...

Thanks for the fabulous tips! No wonder my pictures are "not so fabulous--lol!"

Renee said...

Thanks for the helpful hints!! I'm always having trouble photographing my ages! Will definitely be following your tips!

renee90@live.com.au

susanm said...

Great tips for photography. Thanks

susanm@mountaincable.net

Purplegirl2009 said...

Thank you so much for the great tips for taking picture of layouts, this is the area I have the most problem with, I think my layout looks great until I take picture. Will give this a try next time. I also want to let you know I love our style
annette.alexander@cox.net

Shana Dilldine said...

gorgeous blog, Hoppin' off now!
s_dilldine@msn.com

Helga Payawal-Vergara said...

Thanks for the tip. Love the layout LG! helga_vergara@yahoo.com.ph

Bonnie aka Cinnabon said...

beautiful layout! Thanks for all the tips on photographing a layout! certainly helpful! Hoppin' along!

gdfblf@mts.net

Molly said...

Great tips...
I'm a follower.
I have the blinkie...
Thanks for the chance to win.
mjwildone@yahoo.com

Christine said...

Beautiful layout, LG! And also-thanks so much for the tips! I struggle with that, and have learned some new things to try. Awesome!

christinemotter@gmail.com

Sara said...

Great photo tips and site! Thanks for sharing!

sjs1803@hotmail.com

Zolyshka said...

This is going into my favorite links. Thanks so much for posting this. I have always had trouble getting jsut the "right" picture. Thank you so much!
yuzefag@yahoo.com

Katerina said...

oh my God, this is stunning!
Thanks for all the great tips!
handmadebykaterina@gmail.com

Dorothy said...

i've been a silent follower for years. hehehe! stunning LOs! thanks for the tips! :)

Natalie Elphinstone said...

Great tips LG. Sometimes I still struggle with this!
Beautiful layout as always.
Oh, and I'm already a follower!

nat@elphie.com

xx

Lynette C said...

Love this hop. Love the layout and tutorial. Thanks.

Tina Mayo said...

wow that is an awesome Lo..love the colors you used too.. hop hop
Bishopsmommie@yahoo.com

Susan said...

awesome tips, now a follower, so I can come back and read this again any time!!

Susan

Tanya said...

Thanks for the tips :)

phenis2031(at)yahoo(dot)com