We know that quilt photography can be difficult, so here are a few hints for when you submit your project photos for your Make Modern pattern submission.
By the Make Modern team
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Along with your project submission, we require a minimum of four photographs of your finished project. For quilts, we require one main photo of the finished quilt looking absolutely fabulous , and one of your quilt flat so the quilt layout is clear. These photos must be portrait style. You may also like to submit photos of the finished block/s and step by step photos. If your pattern requires templates or diagrams, these should be drawn on the computer.
A few photography tips to help you get the best shots:
We require a portrait orientation photo to use as the main cover photo for your project. Keep this in mind, so we don’t have to crop your lovely work to make it fit.
Take your photos in natural light – beside a window so the light is coming in the side. Use a piece of white cardboard or foam board on the other side to bounce the light back. Avoid using flash.
Photograph outside, out of direct sunlight. Consider a variety of backgrounds – parklands, beach, riverside, playgrounds… even your garden! Frame your photo to make the most of the background but make sure you keep the focus on the quilt.
Keep your background clear – make sure nothing distracts from the object you’re photographing (we’re talking accidental distractions and photo bombs, you can add props).
Stage a photo of the object in use – e.g. a bag with keys and phone, a table topper with a candlestick, a quilt wrapped around a child.
Use a white background for photos showing steps or pattern directions. When taking close ups, get in close, focus on the subject and fill the frame with the object. Try getting on eye level with the quilt to give the best perspective.
Take lots of photos. Feel free to include a ‘hero shot’ of your project for us to consider for the front cover.
Do not resize your photos before uploading them to Dropbox (preferred) or Google Drive.
Example: Cover Shot
There is a special bonus payment if you are selected as our cover quilt designer! Here is an example of a great cover shot – portrait style, featuring the full quilt with room around the outside for us to add magazine cover text. There are some more examples of past covers below. I can’t emphasize enough the importance of sending photos that are not cropped, with LOTS of space around the quilt. So often in the past we have been sent the most incredible photos that would make STUNNING covers … but they didn’t have enough room for the masthead and cover lines.
You may also like to submit block progress shots. Here are some examples of how we have used block progress shots, a full flat quilt photo and a closeup showing the quilting for this particular pattern.
Sometimes digital mock-ups or diagrams can also be useful. Here are some great examples of block photos, digital computer-drawn diagrams and a full finished cushion photo.
Don’t forget to have fun when taking your quilt photos, sometimes we have even been known to include those funny out-takes – quilt holders in funny positions, quilts flapping in the breeze, and the occasional photo-bombing pet!
If you would like some more tips & tricks for modern quilt photography, check out these pages:
A video on Flatlay Photography Tips by The Tattooed Quilter, Christopher Thompson for the Fat Quarter Shop
