photographers Archives - The Artists Print Room (Giclée Printing)

Why you should keep records….

Are you a self-employed artist or photographer? If so, you should understand how vital to your business accurate record keeping is. Record keeping is one of those things that can be fairly time consuming and monotonous, however, by setting aside a little time each week, it can really help in the future and save you a lot of work all in one go!

What should you keep records of?

Ideally there are three main things that you should keep up to date and safe;

Your artwork
Financial Transactions including sales
Customer details and a client list

Artwork

We are all guilty of it… saving digital files under any old name. However, this can cause a nightmare when you know you have a file but you are shifting through hundreds or perhaps thousands to find one image you needed to send over to potential client 10-minutes ago! To save yourself this potential time consuming problem, you should name files accordingly. Set up your own system that you can stick to and use each and every time you save a new piece of artwork. It is always a good idea to include the date too, perhaps just the month and year and the title of the piece for example, something simple such as ‘January2020_ArtworkName‘ would suffice. By naming your files accordingly, this can also assist when discussing them with someone else, to ensure you are both discussing the same piece of work. It would then be useful to record these file names in an individual spreadsheet too so you can record your sales against this.

Financial Transactions

By recording all of your income and expenses, you will be saving yourself a lot of time and stress, particularly at this time of year when the dreaded self-assessment return date approaches! Of course, you should be doing this already, however, if you feel like you need help with this, perhaps contact a local bookkeeper or accountant.

Not only does recording financial transactions make it more convenient when it comes to submitting your tax return, it can also give an insight into your business which you may not have noticed. By recording all of your expenses you can check where you are spending your money. Perhaps you’ve purchased a lot of material recently, by checking records you can identify this and it may help you assess where you can save some costs. On the other hand you should also record your sales and other income. This can assist in identifying best sellers – and the worst sellers, which can then be a great tool when developing your work (although of course, trends and preferences change). Obviously, recording sales is also identifying any income you are making which is most likely the main outcome of your business!

By record keeping your financial transactions it can also help with your cashflow forecasting and setting prices of your artwork or photography.

Customers and clients

You should record all those that you come across. This includes customers and suppliers. Do you have a massive pile of business cards hanging around that you don’t know what to do with? Why not set up a simple spreadsheet and record those that may be interested stakeholders. By noting details next to each person, for example, where you met them, what you discussed or how they could benefit you and your business, you will be making your life much easier long term. By jotting this information down and storing it somewhere safe you can immediately remove this information from your head and focus on something else! This can be a daunting task if you have a large amount of information to record but by setting aside a little time each week, you’ll really notice how easy it can be!

Do you have anything else you think is important to keep a record of when it comes to your photography or art business? Let us know, we would love to hear from you!

Did you know that we are the only fine art printing company in the UK which has been accredited by Canson Infinity, Hahnemühle Fine Art, Epson Digigraphie, ILFORD and the Fine Art Trade Guild? Also, why not sign up to our mailing list to keep up to date with news, products and future competitions at The Artist’s Print Room – just complete the form below.

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12 Fine Art Papers of Christmas

Did you see our 12 days of fine art paper posts over Christmas on Instagram or Facebook? If you missed them, head on over and take a look! We’ve also listed our top 12 papers here for you to check out, featuring Hahnemühle, Canson Infinity and St Cuthberts Mill…

1. Hahnemühle PhotoRag Bright White 310sm

Hahnemühle Bright White Paper Texture - The Artist's Print Room

On the first day we have a customer favourite, the Hahnemühle PhotoRag Bright White. This paper is based on the well-known PhotoRag 308gsm, however, it has a stronger white tone which can really make your images pop! Also a great choice for black and white photography

2. Canson Infinity Platine Fibre Rag 310sgm

Canson Infinity Platine Fibre Rag Paper Texture - The Artist's Print Room

Onto day 2 and we have the Canson Infinity Platine Fibre Rag 310gsm. This fine art paper is 100% cotton with no optial brighteners added so your prints will truly last. The microporous coating of this paper gives a wonder satin finish to your artwork or photography

3. Hahnemühle Agave 290gsm

On day 3 we have the Hahnemühle Agave which forms part of their

Hahnemühle Agave Paper Texture - The Artist's Print Room

Natural Line of papers. This paper is made from 70% agave fibres and 30% cotton rag making it a sustainable choice for your fine art #photographic or #artreproductions. The fibres of this paper give a stunning natural white tone which adds great definition to your work.

4. Hahnemühle PhotoRag Satin 310gsm

Another Hahnemühle paper is featured on day 4! The PhotoRag Satin is

Hahnemühle PhotoRag Satin Paper Texture - The Artist's Print Room

another adaptation of the famous PhotoRag 308gsm. However, this paper has a subtle satin finish which can really add something extra special to your work. This paper provides a lovely smooth surface in addition to a natural white tone.

5. Canson Infinity Museum ProCanvas 385gsm

On day 5 we have a canvas! The Canson Infinity Museum ProCanvas is the

Canson Infinity Museum ProCanvas Texture - The Artist's Print Room

perfect choice if you are looking for canvas wraps to be produced. Just check out that incredible texture that this substrate can give you! Other benefits of this canvas include water resistance and it’s made from 100% cotton!

6. St Cuthberts Mill Somerset Enhanced White 330gsm

St Cuthberts Mill Somerset Enhanced Paper Texture - The Artist's Print Room

Day 6 features a St Cuthberts Mill paper. The Somerset Enhanced White 330gsm has an outstanding heritage. In addition to this, not only is it 100% cotton but it’s also acid free. The paper with its natural felt texture gives a fine art feel to any artwork reproduction or photography print.

7. Hahnemühle PhotoRag Metallic 340gsm

Hahnemühle PhotoRag Metallic Paper Texture - The Artist's Print Room

Onto day number 7 and we have some shimmer! The Hahnemühle PhotoRag Metallic 340gsm is one of their more recent papers. The specially formulated coating to this PhotoRag paper gives a shimmer to your fine art print, guaranteed to attract attention! This fine art paper is most suitable for prints that won’t be behind glass so you can benefit from it’s finish.

8. Canson Infinity Arches Aquarelle Rag 310gsm

Back to Canson Infinity on day 8. The Arches Aquarelle Rag 310gsm has an

Canson Infinity Arches Aquarelle Rag Paper Texture - The Artist's Print Room

outstanding texture. Perhaps most popular for watercolour reproductions due to the texture, this fine art paper is 100% cotton and has a matt finish.

9. Hahnemühle Bamboo 290gsm

Hahnemühle Bamboo Paper Texture - The Artist's Print Room

Day 9 features the Hahnemühle Bamboo which forms part of their new Natural Line of papers. An excellent choice for those that are keen on using more sustainable materials in their artwork and photography. This fine art paper has a warm natural tone and is produced with 90% bamboo fibres (which is fast growing when compared to other paper making materials) and 10% cotton.

10. Canson Infinity Rag Photographique 310sm

Fine art paper number 10! The Canson Infinity Rag Photographique

Canson Infinity Rag Photographique Paper Texture - The Artist's Print Room

310gsm is another firm favourite with our customers. This fine art paper has a smooth white matte tone which is created by natual minerals being added during the production process. Not only is it a brilliant choice for artwork reproductions but it can be used for traditional printmaking too!

11. Hahnemühle PhotoRag Baryta 315gsm

Hahnemühle PhotoRag Baryta Paper Texture - The Artist's Print Room

We are nearly at the end! But on day 11 we have the Hahnemühle PhotoRag Baryta. This paper has a high gloss coating which can really add contrast to your prints particularly if they are in black and white. A great alternative to traditional baryta paper used in photography.

12. Hahnemühle William Turner 310gsm

On day 12, last but no means least… the Hahnemühle William Turner

Hahnemühle William Turner Paper Texture - The Artist's Print Room

310gsm. The texture on this paper speaks for itself! If you’re looking for a heavily textured, matte paper, this is your perfect option!

You can always check out the other papers we offer too on our papers and canvas page. Which one is your favourite?

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How to sell your artwork or photography – Part 1

Following on from our last blog post; how to price your artwork, how do you actually go about selling artwork online?

Selling Artwork Online

As an artist or a photographer, there are many ways to sell art online. Many decide to sell through third parties, however, there are a number of steps you can take to sell directly and take back some control of your work. Here we will give you our tips and advice on how to get started and what you can do to increase awareness of your work by selling directly.

Website

One of the most important things you should have is your own website. A website is your little unique space on the internet and provides the best place to showcase your work in a way you want to. Creating a website can be a daunting thought, however, there are many online platforms and packages (such as Wix, or Weebly) which provide an easy step-by-step website builder which makes the process straight forward for even the biggest technophobe! Furthermore, websites are relatively inexpensive to build and run. If you’re still feeling slightly worried about undertaking this work yourself, you can always outsource and have a professional create a website on your behalf. It is well worth the investment and you can then run and maintain from there or have your web expert do this on your behalf.

Having a website provides an opportunity for potential customers to see your work easily from their own home whilst giving you full control about the message and image you want to portray. It can also the best opportunity for your personality to shine and for potential customers to learn more about you and your work. It is also a very good idea to give information on your style and how you work (include photographs of ‘behind the scenes’ too!) People like to learn more about who has created the piece and the stories behind the work but keep it simple at the same time to not overwhelm them!

Things To Consider

There are a few very important factors to consider with your website to create the best experience and get the best engagement from your prospective purchasers:

Images

Ensure your images are of a high quality and show the full piece of work you’re selling. If someone is considering a purchase, they like to be able to see in full detail what they are looking at and hopefully buying. If you feel necessary and are concerned about people stealing your images, include a watermark.

Your images also need to load quickly, a slow running website puts people off there are various ways of ensuring this – speak to your website developer and highlight this point. Furthermore, websites are seen more favourable by search engines, such as Google, if they run quickly.

written content

Ensure your spelling and grammar is correct throughout! This helps build trust and again, doesn’t put people off. Ask a friend or family member to read through your work before publishing online, bribe them with a cup of tea and a piece of cake if necessary! It’s very easy to miss spelling mistakes when you’ve been working on a written piece.

Research

Check out your competition! Take a look at other artist and photographer websites, what are they doing well or not so well? Pick out the things you see they aren’t doing so well and implement them yourself but better! It’s well worth spending a fair bit of time doing some market research to understand what you are up against to really improve your chances of selling your art online.

regular updates

Update your site regularly -perhaps through blogging online. Let people know what you are working on or how you work. It helps build a great connection and relationship between yourself and potential customers.

payment options

If you want to sell directly through your website, ensure you have a web package which offers an online shop and can take payments. PayPal is a great and simple to use platform for processing payments when selling art online. Paypal also offers some protection for sellers and buyers online. Find out more about PayPal and their business services on their website.

social media

Set up social media accounts for your work. Ensure you link your website to these social media accounts. Again, it’s a great and simple tool for ensuring search engines pick up your website and helps you reach a bigger audience of potential customers.

So there are our top tips when it comes to selling your artwork online. Do you have any top tips to share with us that we may have missed? What do you find works best for you? Share your thoughts and ideas with us on Facebook and Instagram!

Did you know that we are the only fine art printing company in the UK which has been accredited by Canson Infinity, Hahnemühle Fine Art, Epson Digigraphie, ILFORD and a member of the Fine Art Trade Guild? Also, why not sign up to our mailing list to keep up to date with news, products and future competitions at The Artist’s Print Room – just complete the form below.

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram too!

How to price your artwork

Following on from our previous post where we highlight that signing your print can generally increase the sales price by two times. When starting out in the art industry, how should you go about setting a sales price for your artwork?

There are several important factors that you must consider here. You must consider all your costs when setting a reasonable sales price. It’s important that your pricing makes sense and that you haven’t just plucked numbers out of thin air! It’s probably a good idea to take a quiet moment to sit down and go through your pricing structure, step by step.

Direct costs

These include such things as your raw materials; such as your paper, paints and other equipment if you’re an artist or your photography equipment if you are a photographer. To price your artwork you need to calculate how much of an expense this has been and spread these costs across all your products that you can produce.

You need to account here for your reproduction printing costs. Ensure you have covered this, so this can be passed on to your customer. This would include any framing costs you may have, if you are selling prints in frames of course. You also should consider your postal costs and packaging costs if you are shipping to your customer yourself. We can help with this, by direct shipping your prints to your customer – please contact us for more information.

It goes without saying though, if you are selling a reproduction of your original artwork, the pricing will be lower than compared to the original as you can sell many more of the same image.

Overheads

Secondly, when pricing your artwork, you need to consider your overheads. This includes utilities such as lighting, heating, rent, insurance and other administration costs. All of these day to day things need to be taken into consideration. Even cover your time for social media and advertising too. A proportion of your bills and utilities should be spread across your work.

hourly rate

Finally, you need to assess how long it takes to create you work. By setting yourself an hourly rate and multiplying this by the time spent on your work, it helps keeps things clear and understandable. You should also consider here, any travelling costs you may have. If you tend to work on location, you should cover the cost of your fuel and other expenses you may have here.

do your research!

If in doubt when pricing your artwork, one top tip we would recommend; do your research! Why not take a look at work similar to yours and see what prices others are setting? With the art industry there is always an element of subjectiveness so doing this should be done with some caution. However, there is no harm in understanding on what is going on in the industry as a whole and where you fit within this spectrum of work.

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Signing fine art prints

When it comes to signing fine art prints, there are some unwritten rules to be aware of. It’s important to consider these factors if you are hoping to make money and sell your work. Here we have put some tips together for you to help explain the most common practices in the industry.

The Importance

Firstly, the most important thing to remember is, it’s really down to you! You’re the artist, it’s your work that you have spent time creating. Signing your print can generally increase the sales price, this Huffington Post article from 2011 suggests the value can be increased by at least two times. Additionally, your work is something to be proud of and you should therefore put your name to the piece and claim your rights as the artist.

Signing should be an automatic part of the production process and should be one of the first things you do once receiving your prints (after unwrapping the packaging, of course!) Also, by signing your prints, you are giving your approval of the work.

Signing The Print

Traditionally, prints are signed at the bottom, in the margin, as follows;

The left hand corner details the edition number and edition size (if applicable). For example, edition number 4 of 50 would read as 4/50.
In the middle, you would add the title. Again, this is only if applicable. Not all artists title their artwork so don’t feel this is necessary.
The right hand side is where the most important thing comes; the signature. Your signature is your brand, be creative and distinctive. We would highly suggest not using your day to day signature that you use for things such as banking. Make this signature different! For creative inspiration, take a look at this list of artist signatures.

It is also incredibly important to not sign within the width of your print area. Make sure you stay away from your borders as if you’re subsequently having your print frame, you may find this is covered over or even worse, cut off! If in doubt, seek advice from your framer before signing your fine art prints.

Tools For The Job

When is comes to signing fine art prints, you need the right tool! We would suggest using a pencil on matt papers such as the Hahnemühle Museum Etching. Here at The Artist’s Print Room, we always recommend a mechanical pencil such as a Pentel P209 with a 2B lead. However, for other papers with a gloss coating such as the Canson Infinity Platine Fibre Rag, do not sign with a regular ball point pen or maker pen! It’s vital to use a pen which is archival and acid free in order to prevent any spoiling of your work. One excellent choice would be the Sakura Pigma Pens. Using such pens will ensure the ink doesn’t fade or discolour subsequently affecting your print.

As an alternative or even as an addition to hand signing, you could emboss your print to add a really special extra touch.

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Ordering your fine art giclée prints

When it comes to ordering your fine art giclée prints, it can be a confusing process, with so many options to be aware of. Here at The Artist’s Print Room, we have tried our best to ensure our online ordering system is straight forward and easy to use.

Firstly, head over to our online shop. You’ll find this option at the top of our website. The blue box saying ‘Order Here!’ will take you directly through to our online ordering system.

By heading through to our online shop, you will see the following four options:

From here, to order giclée prints, head over to the printing option. Here you will see a number of different options, including deckled edge prints, poster printing, greetings cards and print proofs. If you’re not sure how your final print will look or your just starting out in the world of producing your artwork or photography as giclée prints, it might be worth considering print proofs in the first instance.

Print Proofs

Our print proofs are 280x120mm as standard (other size options are available though). You can order print proofs on any of the fine art substrates that we offer and prices start at just £7.50. Print proofs give you the best opportunity to take a closer look at the colours, substrates and quality of our products before committing to a full sized print.

Giclée Printing

If you’re ready to go ahead and order your giclée prints, then head straight to our online order form. Here you will be taken step-by-step through the options available to you. Firstly, you will need to select your print size. You can order generic paper sizes or alternatively bespoke print sizes. Prices here start at £9.00 for an A5 print.

Secondly, you can add a plain border to your print. If you’ve added a border to your print file already, please make sure to select the relevant option. Alternatively, you can ask us to add one on for you and let us know what size you would like this.

Then comes the exciting bit! Select from our wide range of substrates available. Take your pick from our gloss, matt or textured fine art papers. We have 15 papers to select from plus two canvas substrates.

Following on from your substrate selection you can add on the option of having a certificate of authenticity. These are a great addition, particularly if your print is part of a limited edition. Once you’ve completed all these stages you will receive a bespoke price according to your selections. Please note, we also offer discounts on multiple orders starting at six prints. If you have a print run of over 100, please do contact us for further information and pricing.

There you go! Ordering your giclée prints is as simple as that! Once you’ve added your products to basket, follow our simple instructions to upload your files, then sit back and relax! Your order will be on the way to you shortly. We will be in touch if there are any issues or questions, additional, please feel free to contact us if you have any questions too!

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How to select a fine art printing service…

When taking that first leap into the world of producing your work as either artwork reproduction prints or fine art photography prints, it can be daunting. It’s also difficult to decide on who to trust with this specialist work. Here are our top tips in selecting a fine art printing service and some of the important factors you should consider.

Experience

Possibly the most important factor when selecting a fine art printing service. Ensure you are selecting a business with a good number of years behind them. This vast amount of experience speaks volumes in itself. A fine art printing company that has been around for several years, is more than likely to know their stuff, this includes overcoming hurdles such as technical issues. They are also more likely to understand your requirements and be able to advise honestly and truthfully when you need some assistance. If in doubt, it is always worth asking to see some examples of work they have previously printed for other artists and photographers.

Accreditations

There are many accreditations within the industry, in particular ones from paper manufacturers themselves. These large, global firms are not going to recommend fine art printing services of sub-quality. Therefore, shop around, ask the fine art printing companies which accreditations they have. These accreditations proves that they are up to standard and have close working relationships with some of the biggest manufacturers in the industry. Did you know that we are the only UK based fine art printer to be certified by Epson Digigraphie, Canson Infinity, Hahnemühle FineArt and ILFORD Imaging? We are also members of the Fine Art Trade Guild. Having these certifications really allows us to keep up with trends and news from these companies. Additionally, it also proves that we have been rigorously tested and checked in our print standards.

Options

It’s good to use a fine art printing service which provides you with different options. Although, not too many options! You want to use a business that can give you a range of different fine art papers so you have a few choices for which works best for your artwork reproductions or photography. A select number of industry leading papers should be offered alongside a few alternatives; giving you the artist, some variation. Having a select range of substrates ensures the printer knows how to handle each of the papers and understands the colour workflow processes to ensure you have the most perfect print. However, some fine art printing services decide to offer all the fine art papers known to man! This can be troublesome in that it can be confusing with so many options available. Furthermore, it could be likely that some of these lesser used or liked fine art papers could be sitting on a shelf exposed to the elements for a long time which is not ideal!

Convenience

An easy to use and simplistic ordering process is always a good start for time pressed artists and photographers. Being able to upload your images and know they are being cared for can create a great peace of mind for you. As an artist or photographer is important to free up your time so you can focus on creating your artwork. Therefore, always find a fine art printing service that you trust to take this hassle away from you. Also, it’s worth considering if your fine art printing service are easy to get hold of? If you have a pressing question, will they come back to you in a reasonable time period with answers, advice and suggestions? The art and photography industry can be incredibly subjective so it’s always great to have someone to validate your processes and work with. An excellent fine art printing service will do this for you and assist every step of the way.

It’s also worth remembering, cheap is not always best. You are looking for a fine art printing service rather than a photocopy shop! With a slightly higher price, you’re much more likely to receive a more personal service with great communication and advice in addition to the best fine art printing materials available.

Please feel free to contact us for a quick introductory chat, we would love to find out more about you and how we can help you as an artist or photographer. We pride ourselves on excellent customer service so you can also contact us on 07809 381 978 either over the phone or by WhatsApp. You can also get in touch through Facebook Messenger at anytime.

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram too!

Mounted Giclée Prints – Print Finishes

Did you know that we offer a variety of different mounting services? Our mounted giclée prints really give you a special finished product either to keep or to sell.

Canvas Wraps

Canvas wraps are an incredibly popular, elegant and versatile option for displaying your images as an alternative to traditional framing techniques. Fine art canvas wraps from The Artist’s Print Room involve printing your image directly onto either the Hahnemühle Daguerre or Canson Infinity Museum Pro Canvas both are premium quality and ensure archival qualities. Both of these canvas options have a stunning matte finish and provide an incredible image sharpness, really highlighting the colours in your print.

The canvas print is then stretched and hand wrapped precisely around wooden bars to give a taught finish. Due to the drying process of the prints, dispatch time for canvas wraps is between 7 and 10 days. All our fine art canvas wraps are ready to hang with fixings attached to the back bar. This allows your print to hang flush to the wall as soon as it’s delivered and unpacked!

As your image is wrapped around the bars, you have various options for the sides, you can go for one solid colour, black, white or any other colour you select! Alternatively, there is the option of having your image covering the sides you can also select from landscape, portrait or square prints, giving you so many options to may your canvas wrap truly unique.

Acrylic Sandwich Style Mounted Prints

Acrylic sandwich style mounted prints are an elegant, modern and minimalist way of displaying your fine art images as alternative to traditional framing techniques. In addition to this, acrylic sandwich style mounts give a sophisticated dramatic and stunning impact.

Acrylic sandwich style mounted prints are ideal for commercial environments – many businesses use this technique to create signage. Additionally, this form of mounting is ideal for displaying wall art in your home or exhibition images.

Your fine art print is printed as it would be when producing a traditional fine art giclée print. However, it is then sandwiched between two pieces of acrylic (select from either a 5mm white or a 10mm clear backing) this backing prevents any warping of your image occurring. The process of acrylic face mounting is complex and intricate which entails careful handling and a lot of precision. Here at The Artist’s Print Room you can trust us to get this right, each and every time. We take great care in all the products we produce which makes us unique when compared to mass production photographic labs.

The acrylic sandwich style mounting gives your image a beautiful high gloss finish which is shatter proof in addition to being dust and damp proof. The final product is a pure statement piece being bold, beautiful rigid and durable. For wall hanging fixings, choose either polished 25mm high aluminium stand-offs or a 9mm MDF French cleat sub-frame attached to the back. With these wall hanging your print will be ready to hang straight away!

MDF & Foam Board Mounting

If you have decided not to frame your fine art giclée print, you could utilise our MDF or foam board mounting options instead. This process makes your final print more robust and durable. By not having your image behind glass you are also able to directly hang your image without any distractions to the stunning paper texture and finish.

Furthermore, foam board and MDF mounting provide great options for exhibition prints, however, foam board is a much lighter weight option and can. be ideal for ease of transportation. Both are available in bespoke sizes or in common paper sizes.

Due to the complex processes involved in MDF and foam board mounting, please allow 14-21 days for your prints to be delivered.

Photo Blocks

Photo blocks are an alternative mounted giclée print option. These popular products provide a wonderful gift for friends and family and are a great alternative to traditional framing options. These are ideal for both artists and photographers to display their works in a stylish way and create a great talking point.

Your fine are giclée print will be sandwiched between two thick acrylic blocks providing a durable finish, leaving your giclée print protected from dust and damage. We offer three different photo block sizes; 7″ x 5″, 10″ x 8″ and 11″ x 14″ and please allow 14 working days for your photo block to be delivered.

You can order your mounted giclée prints through our easy to use step-by-step online ordering system in which you can select the substrate you would like your image printed on and also sizing options are included.

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Smartphone Photography Tips

Most of us have one; a smartphone. These modern phones tend to have pretty good cameras so there isn’t much stopping you from excellent photography. With your phone on you most of the time, why not get snap happy when you’re out and about?! Here we will take you through a few smartphone photography tips to help you take better photographs:

Clean your lens!

Firstly, you’ve quite possibly got your phone in your hand, pocket or bag for a fair bit of time throughout the day. First things first, clean your lens! It’s likely to have dirt and dust on so it’s worth giving this a quick wipe over – ideally with a microfibre cloth to ensure you’re not leaving any scratches behind.

Focus

A lot of smartphones will automatically focus, they will select an object which they believe you are trying to photograph. However, if there is something in your foreground or background that you would like a particular focus on, just tap on your screen. On an iPhone, you’ll see a little yellow box appear – this is now where your camera will focus. It will ensure that your selected object is sharp in the final photograph.

Crop your images

Editing your images can be very straightforward. Many smartphones will have easy to use functions to crop your image. Crop your photograph to take out any distractions that you may not want. It’s worth considering though, if you crop your image, you are quite possibly losing some quality so your image may not print so well (if that’s your desired outcome).

Exposure

Sometimes your phone may not pick up the lighting correctly to show off your subject to its best ability. In that case, you can edit the exposure. On an iPhone, when you have selected your focus (and the little yellow box has appeared) just slide up and down on the right hand side of this box to edit the exposure level. This is a great tool for editing the shadows or highlighting detail in your photography.

Composition

An excellent tool on your phone is the grid feature. This places a three-by-three grid across your screen making it much easier to implement the rule of thirds. Using the grid can also help ensure your image is straight and can also assist in creating leading lines throughout your image.

Zoom with your feet

Smartphones give you the option of zooming in digitally. This is all well and good, however, you will lose resolution by doing so. You’ll lose pixels and it will produce a much worse quality print, so therefore, zoom with your feet! Head over to get as close to your subject as possible. The image quality will thank you for it!

Smartphone Apps

If you want to take your smartphone photography even further, there are thousands of apps available to download, both free or paid for. These apps can offer extra features that your phone software doesn’t have as standard. Apps such as ProShot which is available on both iOS and Android gives you full manual control over options such as exposure, ISO and shutter speed. Furthermore to this, there are apps that are ideal for image editing including Lightroom and Photoshop but you’ll find these are express versions for use on mobile devices with limited capabilities.

If you would like your smartphone photography printed, this is something we can offer. Please bear in mind though that there is a limit to the print size we can offer due to the resolution of these images. We can generally enlarge images by 125-150%, however, the success of this is primarily down to the starting file size. Please feel free to contact us for further information.

Do you have any further smartphone photography tips? What particular tricks do you use to create incredible photography from your phone? We would love to hear them so please feel free to share on our Facebook and Instagram pages! Also, tag us in your smartphone photography images by using the hashtag #TAPR, we would love to see your work!

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram too!

Technical Support

Did you know that we also offer bespoke technical support services alongside our fine art giclée printing?

From the comfort of your own home we can provide a support service to help you ensure your image processing programmes are set up correctly and accurately. Alternatively, we can help run through some of the most common settings and tools you would need as either an artist or photographer. We can cover both Photoshop and Lightroom, whichever you require; or both!

Additionally, we can provide services to assist you in calibrating your monitor and installing or embedding ICC profiles. This is particularly useful when you are planning on printing your artwork as you will be able to see a more accurate representation of the final colours, tones and hues to be expected in your prints.

Talking and showing you through each step, we can answer any of your technical questions. We want to help make your life easier so you can have more time and freedom to create your art or photography without having to worry about the technical issues which can be all so time consuming.

Furthermore, we don’t even have to come to your home as we can offer this service remotely, through Skype or by telephone and remote access.

Lightroom

This programme offers you the full set of tools for you to edit your image files to exactly how you would like them to look. You can find more about Lightroom here. We can take you step-by-step through the set up process and show you how to save your preferences and ensure that everything is running smoothly so you can take control of the image editing process.

Photoshop

Photoshop is an extremely powerful tool used for image editing and image manipulation which is used by many professional photographers and artists. We can ensure that Photoshop is set up correctly for you and show you how profiling and colour management works through this programme. More information about Photoshop can be found here.

Technical Support

Our technical support services are available either in person (travel expenses apply) by travelling to you or as a remote service. All our technical support is bespoke to your individual requirements and questions.

We charge a standard hourly rate for these services and you can book using our simple to use online booking form. When you book, please feel free to give us a brief description on what you would like to discuss or require assistance with and we will then be in touch to discuss further and arrange a suitable time and date for the technical support to take place.

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