Row by Row Experience season is just around the corner for nearly 3,000 quilt shops across the United States as well as Canada and now Europe. Rows are being finished and the time has come to take those photos that can either make or break people coming to those stores to collect those rows. With that in mind I am going to offer up a few tips that will make a world of difference in how those rows look when posted online. ( This advice all works for photos of any quilts so read along if you wish or pop back later in the week when I will be talking about something much juicier!)
Before the photo.
It is hip to be square – Quilting can distort even the best row. After quilting and before binding take the time to block that row! Get it wet, pin it square and let it dry flat as a pancake, trim if needed. This is also the time to trim those threads, and make everything perfect. The camera does not lie and in fact it is perfectly happy to tattle on any laziness when it comes to your finish work.
Location, Location, Location.
Pick a well lit but non-glare location to take your photo. You will want this to be on a plain wall. Unless you are 7 feet tall or want to stand on a chair there is no way to get a dead level photo while leaning over a quilt. You will get what is called “keystoning” and it will make your row look very distorted and not professional.
To quickly mount your row to the wall for photography consider using Command adhesive strips (you know, the kind that go on the back of the hooks?). 3-4 across the back of the quilt will hold it to the wall with ease. Mount the quilt at eye height to insure a dead straight shot that will sit squarely in your viewfinder.
If one time is good 10 times gets you a better shot
Don’t just take one photo. Try multiple shots and then send them to your computer to look at them. Pick from there not from your phone. And yes, if you have a newish smart phone and use it in HR mode you will get a very nice photo and don’t need to drag out your DSL camera. If you have an older smart phone or not so hot camera find someone to help you.. do not settle for blurry, wonky or low resolution for this photo!
If your hand is not steady find someone who has a steady hand our prop your phone/camera on a solid surface to take the photo.
The Afterglow
After finding the photo that is a totally level, non wavy, non shadowed and well lit that shows your row off to it’s very best self now it is time to crop your photo. If you do not have software on your computer to do this pop over to Picmonkey free photo editor online and use their free, ( did I say it was free, yes free) service to get a tight crop on your photo so that your row is the star of the show!
More Bank in your Bank
Even the best Row with crappy photography will not bring people to the door of even the best quilt shop, so taking care with your photography means your row is shareable ( this is HUGE when it comes to Facebook!), saveable and people will make a beeline to your shop come June 21st.
