Today we have a guest blog post from the incredibly talented Nisan, who you may know from Instagram @the.social.fabric
Nisan’s photos have such a recognisable and distinctive style that we love! As part of Snip, Sew, Snap, we invited her to share her wisdom:
1) Lighting is one of the most (if not the most) important things to consider when taking pictures. I always try and take pictures by our windows so that I get to show off all the work I put into the garment. Try taking pictures close to different windows in your home and see which one gives you the best results!
2) If you’re using your phone to take pictures, I would highly recommend placing the phone closer to the ground and holding it upside down so that the lens(es) end up at the bottom when taking full body shots. This way your head will look less distorted and as a bonus you will look a little taller!
3) I took my pictures by myself using my phone for quite a while, and it took me an embarrassingly long time to discover the magic of the Bluetooth clicker! It’s an inexpensive little remote control for your phone, and it helps you take pictures when you’re alone. Trust me, it’s much easier than setting up a three second timer and then running back into position – and worst of all, repeating this a hundred times! A bonus tip: get creative with where you place your phone. I didn’t own a tripod for my phone for the longest time, and it prompted me to find dozens of spots in our home to place my phone. Some favourites include: on the window frames, on radiators, in bookshelves, against plant pots and balanced inside drawers!
4) If your phone camera is struggling to get the colours right, take a white object (it can be a piece of paper or white fabric) and tap on that first so that your phone adjusts its white balance correctly. Now your colours will appear more true to life and vibrant! This is especially important when you’re trying to take close up pictures of fabric, because your phone’s camera can easily lose its point of reference when all it sees is a flood of one single colour.
5) I’m sure a lot of us experience discomfort with being in front of the camera, I myself hated posing for pictures all my life. What I found really helpful is settling into the poses and stances that feel most comfortable to you: For me it’s hiding my hands in my pockets, looking off to the side, and just ignoring the camera overall. Think about how your body would sit when you’re waiting at a queue, or chatting with a friend on the street, and try to simulate that natural state of your body. I have a much more comfortable time posing when I let my body do whatever it wants!
Bonus 6th tip: It’s always a good idea to take photos of the garments you made from different angles (check out #IAmNot2D by Rachael from @minimalistmachinist) and sitting down (check out #SewnShownSeated by Gina from @sewdisabled) when you can!