How to Photograph Your Art Collection (With Just a Phone)

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Good photographs do three jobs. They prove to an insurer what you owned and what condition it was in. They help a buyer trust a piece they can’t see in person. And they let you check, years later, whether anything has changed. You don’t need a professional camera. A recent phone, daylight and ten minutes per piece are enough.

The six photos every piece needs

1. The front, straight on. Stand square to the piece with the camera at its center height, so the frame looks rectangular rather than tapered. Fill most of the picture with the piece.
2. The front, without the frame edge cropped. Include a little wall around it, so the whole frame is visible.
3. The signature, close up. Sharp enough to read.
4. The edition marking, close up (112/200, AP, HC and so on). It’s usually the only record of your example’s number. See edition terms explained.
5. The back, with any labels, stickers, inscriptions and the hanging hardware.
6. Any existing damage, close up with something for scale. On record now, it can’t be mistaken later for new damage.

For sculptural pieces and sculptographs, add one photo at an angle from each side to show the depth.

Light: the difference between good and useless

• Use soft daylight. Hang or lean the piece opposite a window, out of direct sun. An overcast day is ideal.
• Turn off the flash. It bounces off glass and acrylic as a white blob.
• Beat reflections in glazing by standing slightly to one side and moving until the glare leaves the image. Wear dark clothing, and turn off lamps behind you.
• Avoid mixed lighting, such as a lamp plus daylight. It gives odd color casts.

Getting the image right

• Hold steady or rest your elbows on something. Tap the screen on the artwork to focus.
• Don’t zoom digitally. Step closer instead.
• Don’t apply filters. An insurer or buyer needs the true colors.
• Check each photo at full size before you move on. A sharp-looking thumbnail can still be blurry.

Name and store them so you can find them

• Name files by registration number and title, for example 938700-wright-spirit-front.jpg.
• Keep them with the paperwork for that piece: certificate, appraisal and invoice.
• Keep a copy away from home, in cloud storage or with a family member. The photos matter most when the house is inaccessible.
• Re-photograph after any change: reframing, a move or a repair.

In Park West Collectors, you can add your own photos to each piece from your phone, tablet or computer, alongside its official Park West image and paperwork.

Your Art Vault is an independent platform operated by Kerja Group LLC, written by collectors for collectors. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to Park West Gallery. Park West documents shown are from our own collection, with personal details removed, and are reproduced for explanation only. This article is general information, not legal, tax or insurance advice.