How to Photograph Your Pottery

Set up beside a window

Start with indirect window light, placing the piece to one side of the window rather than in strong direct sun. Turn off nearby lamps if they introduce a different colour. A piece of white card opposite the window can lift shadows without adding another light source.

For a repeatable setup, note the window, time of day and position of the piece. Mark the camera and object positions on your table with removable tape. Consistency is especially useful when comparing glaze tests photographed weeks apart.

Choose a quiet background

Use plain paper, card or a neutral wall. A large sheet curved gently from the table up against a support avoids a distracting horizon line. Give the piece enough space that the backdrop does not compete with its silhouette.

Choose a background that separates from the pot: a very pale bowl can disappear against bright white. Remove unrelated tools and scraps unless you are deliberately documenting the making process.

Keep the camera level and steady

Clean the lens, support the phone and use its timer if tapping the shutter moves it. Start with the main camera rather than an ultra-wide lens, and move back if the rim looks distorted. Tap the piece to set focus and adjust exposure so pale glaze still shows detail.

Check the image at full size before dismantling the setup. A thumbnail can hide missed focus, a distracting reflection or a cropped foot.

Make a small, repeatable shot list

• A three-quarter view to show the overall volume.
• A straight side view to show the profile and proportions.
• A view into the opening, especially for bowls and mugs.
• The underside, including the foot and maker’s mark.
• A close-up of texture, glaze transitions or a defect you are tracking.
• A separate reference image with a ruler when dimensions matter.

Keep documentary images as well as polished portfolio photographs. A picture of a fault can be the most useful image when discussing the next test.

Control reflections without hiding the finish

Glossy pots reflect the room around them. Move the piece, phone or a large white card until bright reflections stop obscuring the surface. A broad soft reflection can help communicate gloss; trying to remove every reflection may make the photograph less descriptive.

For matt or textured surfaces, light from the side can reveal relief. Take a second image if one lighting angle cannot show both the shape and the glaze clearly.

Edit lightly and file immediately

Crop, straighten and make modest exposure or white-balance adjustments. Avoid filters that change the apparent glaze colour. Compare the photo with the real piece in neutral light and retain the original image.

Save the photographs with the project reference, clay, glaze version and firing notes. If you share a photo online, add a useful description of the piece so the image has context beyond its appearance.