Today, we’re going to talk about photographing your knits in a vertical space, including photographs where we are using a human as a model. There are some special considerations when there is a person involved in the pictures.
To be honest, I still feel a bit awkward taking picture of myself. I know I’ve got a long way to go before I’m comfortable working as my own model. On top of that, I have a lot more experience photographing my knits on a flat surface. But I got a couple specific requests from people hoping I would talk about how to take photos in a cramped space and how to find good poses. I figured even a little advice is better than none at all!
Set Up with a Simple Background
The most important thing is to make sure that you are taking your photographs in a space that is free of visual distractions. If that’s not possible, take some time to minimize the sources for things that could distract from the main focus of your picture. If you are using a DSLR, it will automatically adjust depth of field. If you are photographing with your phone, though, you’ll need to put your phone in portrait mode, which will help blur the background.
If you are taking upright photographs indoors, it’s really important to pay attention to where your light is. Do not, do not, do not take pictures with windows in the background. Having your pictures backlit by a window will make it extremely hard to take a good photograph. Depending on the time of day and your yarn, you may not be able to see the stitches at all. You might end up with color distortion. The window in the background will create weird flares and make it hard to see the actual focus of your photograph.
If you’re using a human for a model, especially if your knit item is a garment, consider whether you want to take your photos while sitting or standing. Sitting photos are important because they’re helpful visual aids for knitters who use wheelchairs or otherwise spend a lot of time in a seated position. As a result, I take photographs both sitting and standing. It’s important, though, to understand how those different positions affect the body and the way that knitwear hangs on it.
A helpful trick for sitting photos: a lot of furniture causes the body to fold in on itself a little bit, which makes your shoulders round forward and slouch, and your torso slump downward. Many people find this position less comfortable, and it shows in their facial expressions. That’s certainly the case for me. To counteract the effects of my furniture, I sometimes sit on a small pile of books. Take a look at the difference above. The second picture, the one where my posture is much straighter, is the one where I brought in some old casebooks from law school to counterbalance the fact that my sofa slopes inward.
One issue several people mentioned that they struggled with is coming up with poses for their pictures. I’ll be honest: I’m not exactly great at this, myself. Like most of us, I feel incredibly awkward in front of a camera, and it’s particularly difficult taking pictures of yourself with your camera set on self timer mode. Look at other Instagrammers, portraiture, and classic statuary for inspiration.
The camera is a tricky tool. Lenses distort shapes, and this is especially true when photographing a person. If you find that your camera is making parts of your body look different from how they usually appear, try fiddling with where your camera is positioned. I use a small tripod now to hold my phone, but I've also used stacks of books and boxes, bookshelves, kitchen counters, a mantel. See what works best for you and which angle you prefer, and then make note of it so you can recreate it.