Taking photos of your artworks to showcase them effectively can be challenging, especially if you’re not a photographer or lack the necessary equipment. While nothing can replace the direct experience of viewing the artworks, in the digital age, they are often shared online and through social media.

To make this transition, it is essential to present high-quality photos. This task can be particularly difficult with prints, as the paper medium does not forgive any mistakes in lighting or color.

It’s important to strike a balance in presenting photographs that do not distort the artworks. While a professional camera will always be more effective for achieving the best quality, smartphones can also be quite helpful in this regard.

Here are 12 tips for photographing your artworks and presenting them in the best possible way:

1. Preparation of the Space and Lighting

Use diffuse and balanced lighting. If you are indoors, position two light sources (continuous light or LED lamps) at 45° on each side of the print to minimize shadows and reflections. Avoid direct sunlight and strong light sources that create harsh shadows, particularly on the white margins.

Alternative: Natural light on a cloudy day. If possible, take photos in natural light on a cloudy day, as clouds diffuse light, eliminating harsh shadows and reducing reflections. Place the print near a window but not directly in the sunlight.

    2. Arrangement of the Print (if it is not framed or hung)

    Lay the print flat on a flat surface (table or floor).

      3. Using a Tripod

      Whether using a DSLR or a smartphone, a tripod is recommended to avoid motion blur, especially in low light conditions that require longer exposures. If you don’t have a tripod, place your camera on a stable surface.

        4. Positioning the Camera

        Place the camera directly in front of the print to avoid distortion. The sensor should be perfectly parallel to the artwork. Use a level or a grid to ensure that the photo is straight.

          5. Choosing the Image Format

          DSLR Camera: If possible, shoot in RAW to maximize flexibility during adjustments (exposure, white balance, etc.).

          Smartphone: If your smartphone allows, enable RAW mode or select a resolution and format without compression (such as HEIF or TIFF).

            6. Adjusting the White Balance

            The white margins can disrupt the automatic white balance. You can adjust it manually during shooting or later in software for fine-tuning.

            DSLR Camera: Choose a custom white balance based on the lighting used (daylight or LED).

            Smartphone: Use a manual shooting app (like ProCam or Adobe Lightroom Mobile) to manually adjust the white balance around 5200K (equivalent to daylight).

              7. Adjusting the Exposure

              DSLR Camera: In manual mode (M), set the ISO to a low level (100-200) to avoid noise. Use an aperture between f/5.6 and f/8 to maximize sharpness, and adjust the shutter speed based on the available light.

              Smartphone: Use an app with manual control (like Halide or Moment Pro Camera) to lower the ISO and control exposure to avoid overexposing the white margins.

                8. Avoiding Reflections and Shadows on the Margins

                If shadows appear on the white margins, adjust the position of the lights or bring them closer to even out the lighting.

                  9. Checking the Sharpness of Details

                  After each shot, zoom in on the image to check for sharpness, especially on fine details of the print. This ensures that neither the print nor the margins are blurry.

                  10. Post-Production and Software Adjustments

                  • White Balance: If the photo is taken in RAW, adjust the white balance in software.
                  • Exposure: Correct highlights on the white margins and adjust shadows for a uniform appearance.
                  • Perspective Correction: Use editing tools to rectify distortions, especially if the shooting angle was not perfectly parallel.

                  11. Final Check

                  Before sharing, compare the digital image with the original artwork to ensure that the colors and details are accurate.

                    12. Uploading to the Website

                    The uploaded file must meet certain dimensions. The file should not be too large to load properly on the page, but it should be large enough to allow zooming on the details (We recommend a file size of 500 KB without exceeding 1 MB). We recommend not uploading PDF files and ensuring that the longest side of the image does not exceed 3000 pixels.


                      This guide aims to provide a set of practical tips for photographing prints, but it is not intended to be universal. Each situation may vary depending on lighting conditions, available equipment, or the specific characteristics of the artwork being photographed. The solutions suggested here are therefore recommendations that may not apply to all scenarios. Feel free to adjust the techniques based on your context and needs.