Photographing Quilts

I hold amateur status for both quilting and photographing, but, I love both activities immensely. I own an ordinary digital camera, just the shoot and click type. I do not own a fancy tripod or expensive lenses. I think the average quilter is like me, a novice just wanting to take a beautiful picture of the handiwork.

I am also a gardener, so I obviously photograph a lot of my quilts in the garden setting. This usually makes for a great background, if it is not raining, or the drought has not damaged all the supporting subjects.

Personally, I love quilts photographed in a “country” setting, as in hanging from a barn door or spread across an antique car. I have a worn, white picket fence that makes an excellent backdrop for my quilts. You can be as creative as you want, but you do not have to travel long distances to discover lovely places.

If shooting outdoors, pick an overcast day; too much sunlight will drown out the colors in the quilt. This is true too in regards to using a flash. Do not use one unless you absolutely have to.

Take several photographs in different locations. Pictures look very different once loaded onto a computer or printed. You need to have choices when editing the photograph.

Be creative! Place the quilt next to something that is in contrast to its colors. Think of unusual picture mates to the quilt such as a birdbath or feeder, a loaded apple tree, or a rusty old tractor. The supporting subjects can be as endless as the variations of quilts. Have fun, but by all means share your photos online to give others inspiration.

Catherine Dean is a freelance writer, gardener, quilter, and blogger. Her professional background includes nonprofit program development, grant writing, and volunteer management. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications from Georgia College & State University.

Her blog, Sowing A Simple Harvest, chronicles a modern couple trying to live a simplistic, sustainable life. To explore Catherine's professional credentials, visit her website. She can also be followed on Google+.