Your Turn
I’m meeting with the photographer for Book the Second on Thursday. We’ll be having a planning meeting, wandering the halls of our photo shoot location, and generally plotting how to make this book extra awesome.
I have my list of ‘things to ask’ and ‘things to insist upon.’ But I’m sure there’s something I’m overlooking. After all, this organize and execute a book thing is still new to me.
So here’s where you come in. I’ve got two questions for you.
First, what do you always wish you could tell the photographers of your knitting books? Is there something you love? Something you hate? Something that just bugs the crap out of you? Whatever it is, lay it on me. I can’t promise to do everything (because sometimes y’all give contradictory answers), but I can promise to read and think about all of your comments.
Second, do you have any favorite knitting photographers I should be flipping through for inspiration? I know (and love) Alexandra Grablewski, and would love to have names or sites for other folks I can look at and share with my photographer.
I like photographs in which I can clearly see the knitted object – don’t get me wrong, nice backgrounds, interestingly framed shots are good – but I want to see what I’m planning on knitting. Is there interesting texture? shaping? fiber? Let’s see it!
Good luck and have fun as you continue on with the second book! I’m really looking forward to it.
Hunter – excellent question! One thing I think that photographers miss is that, when considering anything I might want to make – I want to see *all* of it – front, back, sides, spread out details, etc. Even the “ugly” bit can help me decide if I want, or am able, to make something.
The socks in your patterns are often well photographed – I can see the heel and gusset as well and the tops, toes, and legs.
Recently, a major yarn company was offering a pattern, but they only showed the garment from the front and side – I had no idea what the back looked like, nor how it the back was constructed. It was a drapey/lacey thing and the pattern in the lace wasn’t shown much at all, so I had no idea if I’d like it, if my yarn would stripe or pool because of how it was made, etc. I thought at the time it was poor photography for the project in question.
I agree with the above two comments…first and foremost for me, is clear, crisp close-ups so I can see the pattern detail easily. Your picture over there to the right of Vaunt is perfect. I can tell what’s happening and that’s so nice. I also agree that more than one pic to show the details is important too. Does the sock have a patterned heel? Unusual gusset? Show us in a close up!
I agree that the detail shots are necessary – they can also be pretty and fun and artsy. But I equally admire the larger images which give more of a mood and setting to the pattern. For those, I’d only ask that the model be allowed to enjoy herself and do that least model-ish thing: smile a bit!
I like to see the detail shots also. There is nothing worse than starting to knit a project and realizing it doesn’t really look liike the picture and then realizing, well, the picture wasn’t THAT close up, so I really couldn’t see it, I just thought I could. Ok, I’m being melodramatic, there are plenty of worse things, but I’ve yet to have that issue with one of your patterns, so keep up the good work! 🙂
I’m not THAT big a fan of the far away setting shots where I can’t really see the object. But that’s just me.
And finally, I don’t know of any knit photographers that I’m a fan of. Good luck!
Adequate lighting
Detail photo
Total photo
Have fun with this. I know that every step is important, but this part should also be fun, I think.
You always have nice photos. Trust your instincts, ’cause your photos are usually clear and creative. Have fun with this!
I love the way your other book looks, but there were a few times when I really wished I could clearly see the heel and the top of the cuff. Also, a front on shot of the sock from the toe up the curve of the foot would be awesome! Cant wait to see your new book!
I agree that close up detail (especially of complex stitch patterns) is important.
I also appreciate having pictures from several angles to show construction details (especially important in projects that need to be put together, but helpful in socks to see how the heel works).
And it is important to see what the clothing item looks like with a body inside it (to see fit/ease) rather than just draped attractively on a hanger or chair or something….
Thanks for asking!
I want to see the stitches. I know sometimes publishers etc get all “oh no they’ll steal the pattern” if the stitches are shown clearly, but I am not going to buy something if I don’t know exactly what the final product is going to look like. I don’t want to be surprised by lace where I thought only textured stitches lived, and so on. So – clear close-ups of the fabric, so I can judge if I will like the item if I make it myself.
Otherwise, I just like seeing socks in unusual places – outside on the sand or walking up walls or lying amongst stones or whatever. It’s rare that we get to see socks outside of shoes in real life. 😉 So it’s fun to see them out and about.
Mostly, though, I want to see the actual stitches.