Mastering Product Photography: Essential Tips for Showcasing Your Needle Felting Creations

Have you ever wondered how to photograph your needle felting projects like a pro? In today’s age of camera phones, capturing moments has never been easier. However, when it comes to presenting your needle felting projects in the best light, relying solely on smartphone cameras might not do justice to your creations. As someone who considers themselves an amateur in photography, I use both but I have discovered the value of using a dedicated camera, like my trusty Canon 400D, for product photography. Unlike the quick point-and-shoot convenience of phone cameras, utilizing a DSLR allows me to pay attention to finer details through the viewfinder—a feature that younger generations might need to research on Wikipedia!

Drawing from my extensive decade-long experience photographing my beloved needle felted companions, I’m excited to unveil my top-notch tips, easy wins, and favourite equipment that have proven invaluable along the way.

Practice Makes Perfect

So, before we chat about my top tips for fantastic photography always remember: the key ingredient to great photos is practice, practice, practice! It doesn’t matter if you’re sporting the latest gear or something more basic, nothing beats putting in the time to really get the hang of things. Photography is all about finding your rhythm and developing your own style. Once you’ve got that down, snapping pics of your adorable needle felted creations becomes a breeze. Trust me, it’ll save you tons of time both behind the camera and at the editing desk. So, keep on clicking, keep experimenting, and watch your skills grow!

Why Are Needle Felted Pieces So Difficult To Photograph?

Needle felted pieces present unique challenges when it comes to achieving a crisp finish in photography due to several factors:

1. Texture: The textured nature of needle felting, created by repeatedly poking wool fibres with a felting needle, can make it challenging to capture fine details without losing clarity. The uneven surface of needle felted objects can cause shadows and highlights to appear differently in photographs, leading to a loss of definition.
2. Depth of Field: Needle felting often involves creating three-dimensional sculptures or intricate designs, which can vary in depth and complexity. Achieving a balanced depth of field in photography, where both the foreground and background are in focus, can be difficult, particularly when capturing close-up shots of intricate details.
3. Scale: Needle felted creations can range in size from small figurines to larger sculptures, each requiring different photography techniques to capture effectively. Miniature needle felted objects may require macro photography to capture fine details, while larger pieces may necessitate wider angles or specialized lighting setups to avoid distortion and maintain clarity.
4. Material Properties: Wool fibres, the primary material used in needle felting, have unique reflective properties that can affect how light interacts with the surface of the object. Controlling reflections and glare on the surface of needle felted creations can be challenging, particularly when photographing under bright or uneven lighting conditions.

5 Colour Accuracy: Achieving accurate colour reproduction in photographs of needle felted creations can be challenging due to the natural variability of wool fibers and the way they absorb and reflect light. Maintaining colour fidelity and ensuring consistent white balance in photographs is essential for accurately representing the original colours of the needle felted artwork, especially if you intend to sell your work.

Comparison: Smartphone versus DSLR Camera

Overall, photographing needle felted creations with a crisp finish requires careful attention to lighting, composition, and camera settings to overcome the unique challenges posed by the texture, depth, scale, material properties, and colour accuracy of the work. Additionally, post-processing techniques such as sharpening and colour correction may be necessary to enhance the final image and showcase the intricate beauty of the needle felted creations. When it comes to photographing needle felting projects, both smartphone cameras, and DSLR cameras – no longer just the domain of professional photographers – offer distinct advantages and disadvantages. Let’s explore the pros and cons of each:

Smartphone Camera

Pros:

1. Convenience: One of the biggest advantages of smartphone cameras is their convenience. Most people carry their smartphones with them everywhere, making it easy to capture spontaneous moments and projects without the need for additional equipment.
2. User-Friendly Interface: Smartphone cameras typically have user-friendly interfaces with intuitive controls, making them accessible even to beginners without prior photography experience.
3. Instant Sharing: With built-in editing tools and instant access to social media platforms, smartphone cameras allow for quick editing and sharing of needle felting photos with a wide audience. Especially important if you like to point, shoot, and upload straight to social media on a regular basis
4. Portability: Smartphone cameras are lightweight and portable, making them ideal for capturing needle felting projects on the go or in various locations.
5. Quality: Phone cameras are constantly evolving and improving. Who knows how advanced they will become over the next few years.
6. Video: Most smart phones allow you to record video.

Cons:

1. Limited Control: While smartphone cameras offer basic settings and editing options, they lack the advanced manual controls and customisation options found in DSLR cameras. This limitation can restrict the ability to adjust settings for optimal lighting, focus, and composition.
2. Image Quality: Despite advancements in smartphone camera technology, they still generally produce lower-quality images compared to DSLR cameras, especially in terms of detail, dynamic range, and low-light performance.
3. Limited Lens Options: Smartphone cameras have fixed lenses with limited zoom capabilities, which can be restrictive when trying to capture close-up shots or experiment with different focal lengths for creative effects.

DSLR Camera

Pros:

1. Image Quality: DSLR cameras typically produce higher-quality images with greater detail, clarity, and colour accuracy compared to smartphone cameras. This superior image quality is especially beneficial for showcasing the intricate details and textures of needle felting projects.
2. Manual Controls: DSLR cameras offer a wide range of manual controls, including aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and focus settings, allowing for greater creative control over the final image. This versatility is invaluable for adjusting settings to suit different lighting conditions and artistic preferences.
3. Interchangeable Lenses: DSLR cameras support interchangeable lenses, enabling you to choose the most suitable lens for capturing needle felting projects, whether it’s a macro lens for extreme close-ups or a wide-angle lens for capturing the entire scene.
4. Post-Processing Flexibility: For the more experienced photographer, RAW* image capture and advanced editing software provide DSLR photographers with extensive post-processing flexibility, allowing for precise adjustments to exposure, colour, and sharpness to enhance the final image quality.
5. Great Video Quality: Most DSLR cameras can produce excellent quality video.

*I haven’t used RAW image capture for any of the photos in this post, and it’s not essential for producing high-quality images.

Cons:

1. Cost and Complexity: DSLR cameras and their accompanying lenses can be expensive investments, especially for beginners or hobbyists just starting out in photography. Additionally, mastering the manual controls and advanced features of DSLR cameras requires time, practice, and technical knowledge. However, DSLR cameras are much more affordable than 10 years ago, and there are ranges to suit lots of budgets.
2. Portability: Compared to smartphones, DSLR cameras are bulkier and less portable, requiring dedicated camera bags or carrying cases for transportation. This can be inconvenient for photographers who prefer to travel light or capture spontaneous moments on the fly. However, DSLR cameras are becoming much more portable so there are more options for a more portable product.

In summary, while smartphone cameras offer convenience and accessibility, and DSLR cameras provide superior image quality, creative control, and versatility for capturing and showcasing the intricate beauty of needle felting projects. Ultimately, the choice between the two depends on individual preferences, budget, and the level of commitment to photography as a craft.

Enhancing Photography with Staging and Props:

In my photography journey, I’ve discovered that some of my most remarkable shots emerge through thoughtful staging and the strategic use of props, and is really useful for giving a truer idea of scale; much better than using a coin or a ruler. This approach has the remarkable ability to elevate your photographs from ordinary to extraordinary, adding that undeniable ‘wow’ factor.

Adding subtle elements like a single flower stem with vibrant color contrast can be just as impactful as a meticulously staged background. Remember, when photographing your creations, sometimes less is definitely more.

Moreover, using staging and props provides an avenue to showcase your artistry or products in a setting that feels authentic and organic, cultivating a deeper connection with your audience or customer. Personally, I’ve experienced swifter success employing this method compared to using a plain background; The trick is not to overdo it and make sure your creations take centre stage. Utilising features like portrait mode on your smartphone or DSLR enables you to achieve this captivating effect effortlessly. Don’t shy away from getting up close and personal to capture those tiny product details that can’t be seen from a distance; it’s often in those subtle details that the true beauty lies. So, embrace the power of staging and props, and watch as your photography flourishes with newfound depth and appeal.

Remove All Clutter

It’s surprising how often I’ve seen product photos where you can spot things like the edge of a mouse mat or laptop, or even worse, laundry hanging in the background, a stray coffee mug, or kids’ toys scattered around. These kinds of distractions don’t exactly scream professionalism and can make it seem like the shoot was rushed or not given enough attention. So, look around your space and spend five minutes tidying and clearing your area to avoid these photography blunders.

Natural Light

Utilising natural light is a simple yet effective way to capture needle felting projects with clarity and vibrancy. Position your setup near a large window (switch off any artificial lighting), or outdoors in a shaded area to benefit from soft, diffused light.

Capturing the mouse and sheep amidst the soft, diffused light of an overcast day outdoors not only eliminated the need for post-processing but also resulted in a stunningly sharp outcome, full of beautiful macro details. This achievement was effortlessly attained through the use of portrait mode.

Natural light helps to showcase the true colors and textures of your creations while minimizing harsh shadows and highlights. Every home/room is different so experiment with different times of day and angles to find the optimal lighting conditions for your photography.

Utilizing Portrait mode, your camera generates a depth-of-field effect, enabling you to capture photos with precise focus on the subject while artfully blurring the background, adding depth and dimension to your images.

Editing Your Photographs

Choosing simplicity is consistently the most effective strategy. Over the years, I’ve relied on Canva for nearly all my editing needs, finding it to be one of the most user-friendly editing suites out there. Whether you choose their free or premium options, Canva offers easy navigation and a wide range of editing tools to enhance your images.

I used three subtle changes on the images below which has really elevated the final shot:

1. Increase white balance
2. Increase brightness
3. Increase vibrance

Budget-Friendly Gear for Pro-Quality Photography

When aiming to enhance the quality of your needle felting photography, without breaking the bank, several accessible and budget-friendly options can significantly improve your results. Here are some of my favourite equipment choices and techniques:

1. Lightboxes: Lightboxes, also known as soft boxes or light boxes, are affordable and portable accessories that help diffuse and evenly distribute light around your needle felting projects. They come in various sizes and shapes, making them suitable for different project sizes. Place your needle felting creation inside the lightbox and position light sources on either side to achieve balanced illumination. Lightboxes are particularly useful for capturing consistent and well-lit photographs, especially in indoor settings with limited natural light.
2. Simple Vinyl Backdrop: A plain vinyl backdrop provides a clean and professional-looking background for your needle felting photography. Opt for a neutral or contrasting color such as white, black, or, as in the photo below, a bold popping purple which will complement your creations without distracting from them. Vinyl backdrops are lightweight, easy to clean, and affordable, making them a versatile option for creating a cohesive and polished aesthetic in your photographs. Simply hang the backdrop behind your setup or lay it flat on a surface to create a seamless background for your needle felting projects. Have to admit I am a bit of a backdrop addict.

3. Desk Lamps or Clamp Lights: Desk lamps or clamp lights fitted with daylight-balanced bulbs can serve as additional lighting sources for your needle felting photography setup. Position the lights strategically to fill in shadows and add highlights to your subjects. Adjustable arms and swivel heads allow for precise control over the direction and intensity of light, making it easy to tailor the lighting to suit your specific needs. Desk lamps and clamp lights are affordable alternatives to professional studio lighting equipment and can be easily adjusted to achieve desired results.

By combining these budget-friendly equipment options with simple photography techniques, such as adjusting camera settings and experimenting with composition, you can elevate the quality of your needle felting photography with minimal investment of time and resources. Remember to focus on capturing the intricate details and textures of your creations while maintaining accurate colors and balanced lighting to showcase their beauty effectively.

Portrait Mode – Your Best Friend

Smartphone

In today’s world of smartphones, getting that sharp focus on your main subject with a nice blurred background is a piece of cake thanks to portrait mode. If you’re snapping with your phone, just remember to give your product some space from the background. This simple trick makes your product pop while giving you that cool blurry background effect that’s so popular on social media.

DSLR

Now, if you’re using a DSLR camera and dabbling in manual mode, playing around with the F-stop settings can do wonders. Go for those lower numbers like 1.2 or 1.4, and keep your subject away from the background. That way, you’ll nail that sharp subject with the soft, dreamy background look. Don’t be afraid to try out different settings until you find the sweet spot!

What Settings Did I Use?

Using my trustee Canon 400D I have set it at manual mode to photograph this lovely spring mouse.

This indoor shot was problematic because of poor natural light. To alleviate this problem the needle felted mouse photo was captured in manual mode using a 50mm lens, set at f/2.8 with an ISO of 800; photographing close to your project allows for a higher ISO without compromising quality. Distance shots would require more light and a lower ISO to avoid a grainy outcome. With some minor editing, voila! While I typically relied on the quick and easy auto mode, which yielded good to great results, the shift to manual mode has been enlightening. The depth of field achieved with these settings allows for a beautiful focus on the needle felted mouse whilst keeping the background in soft focus. Previously, I had used a combined lens of 18mm-55mm, often sifting through numerous photos before finding one satisfactory shot. However, the transition to a dedicated 50mm lens on this occasion is akin to a transformative experience—truly a night-and-day difference.

A decent camera and lens is a real investment!

If you’re committed to your craft business, art, or blog, investing in a quality camera and lens can be a significant investment. Long term it’s not just a purchase; it’s a dedication to enhancing the quality and professionalism of your work.

Do You Want to Learn More About Needle Felting?

These super easy guides will quickly get you started with this amazingly addictive craft:

• What Is Needle Felting And Why It’s So Easy!
• How to start needle felting
• How to Needle Felt Animals
• Video Tutorials
• Join The Free Felt Club
• Pattern Downloads – Start Needle Felting Today