Advanced Craft Photography

Course details

The handmade nation is growing rapidly. Whether you are a blogger or a hobbyist, or thinking about taking the leap and becoming a professional crafter, you should know not only the basics of digital photography and product staging, but also the tips, tools, and tricks that professionals use to get the most compelling shots. In this workshop, Megan Andersen, aka Radmegan, shares advanced techniques for craft photography, diving deep into camera settings, composition, and staging. Learn how to use different lens options and effects, shoot outside or in low light, and work around common frustrations like greenish-yellow hues from fluorescent lighting and distracting reflections on shiny surfaces. The course doesn't just cover photography though—Megan also looks at image editing with Adobe Photoshop, discusses online portfolios and books, and shares lots of cool projects to help you have fun while you're learning.

Topics include:
Beyond the basic camera settings
Advanced composition and staging techniques
Image editing in Photoshop and Lightroom
Shooting for a client
Caring for your gear
Keeping it simple

Concepts

0. Introduction

01 - Welcome

1. Beyond the Basic Camera Settings

02 - Foundations of composition and staging
03 - Foundations of ISO, aperture, and shutter speed
04 - Camera Raw - What when why
05 - How bracketing can save your exposure
06 - Understanding key tones
07 - What is dynamic range
08 - Reading and understanding histograms
09 - Creating striking images with contrast
10 - Shooting crafts in black and white
11 - Metering light to get it right
12 - Minimizing and maximizing shadows
13 - Getting awesome shots in low-light settings
14 - Crafting moods with light

2. Advanced Composition and Staging Techniques

15 - Understanding the golden section - ratio, triangles, and spirals
16 - Using vanishing points in craft photography
17 - Establishing the temperature of an image
18 - Angling for the wow factor
19 - Handy tools for staging
20 - Hinting at motion in a static image
21 - Creating simple animations with still images
22 - Lenses - Choosing the right one for the job
23 - Project - Shooting a highly reflective handmade craft
24 - Project - Shooting an extremely fibrous handmade craft

3. Image Editing in Photoshop and Lightroom

25 - Removing skin imperfections
26 - Using layer masks to improve backgrounds
27 - Adding watermarks and copyright info

4. Next Steps

28 - Shooting for a client
29 - Caring for your gear
30 - Forecasting challenges
31 - Respecting spaces
32 - Keeping it simple