Photo Tips for Artists

Painting from life is a wonderful experience, but not always a convenient one. The colors of fall are waiting to be captured!
Artist need to know how to take GREAT reference photos!
Why Use Photos?
1. An in focus, sharp photo is a great reminder of the scene/experience that you wanted to paint. When you are in the studio, a photo can take you back so you can re-experience the moment.
2. Artists can take more time and examine the value patterns ( the lights and darks) and the correct shapes of the subject.
3. They are a reminder of the color patterns and tones in the subject.
4. People and animals run away and fruit tends to spoil!

Disadvantages of a photograph!
1.Highlights tend to be colorless. Make mental notes of the highlight colors or the lightest two values.
2. Shadow areas are shown as black or dark blobs with no value change and little information. Again, focus on the shadow areas to be able to portray what is in them.
3. Distortion of lines. Watch out for horse legs, buildings or anything with long relatively straight lines. Because a camera has a curved lens, the long horizontal lines tend to curve. They are easily straightened out if you are aware of them. Take a photo with a telephoto lens- less distortion.
4.Color may change with printing. The truest colors are from slides which are now hard to find. Try your computer monitor. I know of artists who use the computer screen photo as a reference and have it beside them when they paint.


Take photos with different atmospheric conditions-misty, cloudy, raining, snowing, hailing. The story for your painting is tied into the weather...it is an important part of your composition and concept.

Take digital shots with the idea that you can enhance the light or density of your shot if there is not enough information. Get familiar with photoshop or other more user friendly software.

Ever notice that the photo looks better on the computer screen that on a print? To help capture that look away from the laptop, place a clip on a metal student desk lamp and view you photo with the light coming from behind. Inexpensive light tables are also available at art supply or craft stores. The Cheapest One is an old picture frame with only the glass firmly attached to the inside. Place the frame on your knee and have a bright light on the floor shine through the glass and your picture on it. Cost-one garage sale frame, glass and cheap lamp.