These tips are so easy to follow - you don't have to really be a pro or have an expensive camera to take "pro" shots - just change your methods a bit. Even with just your camera phone.

#1 rule - NEVER use the built in flash. Next time you peruse through any of FWW Design Books try to find any shot which they use a flash. I can virtually guarantee none.

Just following this tip alone will improve your shots. You want your piece to look great right? The only way to get across the 3D effect is to not wash the entire pc with the even light of a flash, not to mention how the hot spots and reflections ruin it.

So you need the flash because handholding will make it blurry without the flash? Bad excuse. Use a tripod if you have one, but before I had $ for a tripod, I simply set the camera on a table or something solid to get the sharpness in low light. Then I realized that my halogen shop light made a great photo light - plenty bright enough. I still just use a door frame or my forklift cuz im too lazy to drag out the tripod.


#2 - Utilize natural sunlight. You can get amazing color. Is it too contrasty / shadowy? Then drag out a sheet of birch plywood as a fill in reflector. Better yet - white melamine.


#3 - Never shoot under fluorescent shop lights unless you camera has automatic white balance.


The rest are not as important, but are really handy if you have a semi-decent camera.


The camera shakes when you press the shutter button, so when on a tripod or steady rest table, use the timer setting to delay the shutter release. You think its only for self portraits so you have time to get in the shot? NOT.

Always shoot with the F stopped pretty far down like F 8, or 16. If your camera has "Aperture Priority" - dial it to a big number.

Use creative backdrops if you don't have time to use a pro backdrop, which is a PITA. Go to a freshly blacktopped parking lot and pour several buckets full of water out on the asphalt. Then set your pc in the middle and shoot under direct sunlight.

I use a sheet of white melamine for my mirrors. Black Velvet is nice. Dark hunter green fabric is a great color contrast to red and brown wood tones - makes the color really pop.


First shot below is just in sunlight. The other shot is from a couple halogen shop lights.

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