Why take photographs of your antiques?
It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words and that cannot be more true then when one tries to describe antiques. We, at InterART, would like to give you a few pointers on how to take the best possible pictures of your antiques; to highlight all the important details and also show it in the most advantageous way. This will not only aide in positive identification, but it will also convey the condition of the item to potential buyers. Most importantly, exceptional and revealing pictures will influence the price which buyers would be willing to pay for it and avoid possible difficulties after the completion of sale because the purchaser will know exactly what he or she is buying.
How to photograph your antiques.
In discussing how to photograph your antiques, we will illustrate our point by using a piece of furniture as our example, (since there are more angles to view). This will give you an idea about how to take pictures of other items.
Step 1: Setting up the shot.
Using the proper background for photography is very important. If you are taking a picture of a dark object, (like furniture), then place the item in front of a white or light coloured background. This will help accentuate the object and display it in its true colours. A white bed sheet pinned to the wall works exceptionally well. Likewise, light coloured objects (like silver or gold), should be taken against a dark background so that they stand out and don't blur into the background.
Remember to remove all the objects which are not part of the item you are photographing. There is nothing worse then cluttering up a shot with articles that are not apart of the item. Not only are they distracting but they hide important details about the item.
Step 2: Lighting.
Good lighting is fundamental for taking good pictures. Use a flash only if there is no alternative source of lighting. Using a flash to take pictures of items with reflective surfaces usually leads to the light reflecting back to the camera resulting in white-out sections.
When taking pictures with artificial lighting, remember to have these photos "colour corrected" since artificial lights tend to shift the colours of the objects being illuminated by it. For example, if you are taking photographs with florescent lighting, your pictures will tend to look greener than they actually are. To avoid these problems use a tungsten light (which can be rented) and use tungsten coded film to achieve accurate colour reproduction.
Step 3: Taking the pictures.
When you are ready to start taking pictures begin with the overall view picture. This is best accomplished by taking the picture on a slight angle from the front. Be bold and go in close to the item so that it fills the view finder, making sure that you are not clipping any part of the item. Next you should take pictures of the left and right sides, the back, the top and from the bottom.
If the item you are taking photographs of has drawers, then take pictures with the drawers open (or partially open), showing how they are constructed. Then take a few shots with the drawers completely removed.
Don’t forget to highlight the intricate details of the item. Often, it is these detail pictures which catch the eye of an antique buyer and assist them in deciding whether the item is desirable for their collection. It is important that these pictures are clear and emphasize exactly what you want to be noticed.
If there are areas of damage, which you don't wish to properly restore, then take pictures of it too. Some collectors do not mind buying a damaged piece as long as they know what is wrong with it.
This should assist you in photographing your antiques. If you have any questions, please e-mail us and we will assist you in any way we can. Inquiries should be e-mailed to: interart@mgl.ca
