Photographing Arts, Crafts & Collectibles: Take Great Digital Photos for Portfolios, Documentation, or Selling on the Web

I had the opportunity recently to hear the author, Steve Meltzer, speak in person at a local art gallery. He gave a day-long presentation for local artists on how to photograph their work for applying to juried shows or selling on the Web. It was a great day of learning and Steve was a wonderful teacher! Afterward I bought his book and it goes into more depth than what he could cover in the class. I sell a wide variety of goods on eBay, plus I photograph some of my own artwork and artwork for friends and family. The most helpful part of Steve's book for me has been the short chapters on photographing particular types of items, such as ceramic plates, ceramic sculpture, stained glass, glass plates, and so on. I also appreciate Steve's overall attitude that digital photography should be fun and that you can just keep trying different approaches until you get it right. He's a great guy both in person and in his writing!

I was hesitant about purchasing this book because I am a painter, and it appeared that the book was geared more toward crafts. However, I recently purchased a Canon SX10 digital camera, and the information about digital cameras alone was worth it. I am not an expert in photography by any means, so it was helpful to learn about digital cameras and to learn about the setting in my camera and how to utilize them. While the section covering 2D art is small, it still provided some of the most valuable information to date I have received. This, combined with the helpful information about studio lighting and set-up, has made this book extremely useful. I have no doubt that my photos of my artwork will improve dramatically. I highly recommend this book to artists (even 2D artists) who need assistance taking better pictures of their work, and who cannot afford professional photography services.

This is a wonderful book for those who wish to photograph their work in the most professional way possible. Mr. Meltzer takes you gently by the hand, assumes you are starting from scratch and gives an outline of the various types of digital cameras, how they work and compares them to film cameras -- all in an easily understood way. He then goes on to talk about other equipment, lighting, a bit of colour theory and different methods of photographing. If you need help photographing your art, this is the book to buy!

As I searched for books to learn more about how to use my digital camera and create the best photographs, I happened upon this gem of a book. It is a mixture of the art, the fun and the simple and complex information on digital photography. The illustrations and photographs are very helpful to understanding how to create the best digital photographs. The very best thing about the book is that appeals to the beginner, the average user and to the professional. It also explains in a very clear and simple way the jargon and technical aspects of digital photography. This is a great book for anyone who wants to learn how to use and get the best pictures or the person who wants to become a professional digital photographer.

This gorgeous book is a must have for anyone who wants to use a digital camera to maximum effect. Not only are the pictures fabulous, but the instructions and explanations are so simple and straightforward that even someone like me can understand them. I can design beautiful jewelry, but I could never understand how to take a decent digital picture. Now I can. When I first launched my website, I was fortunate to find Steve Meltzer to take my pictures and I've used him exclusively ever since. The first thing people say is how great the photos are and nothing is more important than good photos. Steve is a great photographer, but also has the gift of explaining his craft in a way that anyone can understand. I highly recommend this book. I've already bought six copies and plan to give it as Christmas presents to all my friends who own digital cameras whether they're beginners or pros.