How to properly photograph your pins! (PODM / frame tutorial included)
BugCatcherJenna
It doesnt have to be a snowman
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Okay, so most everyone has this problem- photographing your pin's frame!!!
We all want to show off our beautiful frames, and see beautiful frames- so I decided to create this little guide.
You will need... a camera, a light source, and a piece of paper (depending on your frame's darkness)
You will see my Tangled PODM pin. My pin has a VERY dark frame of Rapunzel admiring the lanterns - I will show you how to properly photograph these DARK scenes!
I have a DSLR camera (a fancy pants camera where you can change the lens) I am just using the standard lens the camera came with.
You DO NOT have to have a fancy camera to follow these steps!
Most digital, and maybe even the camera on your phone will have these settings!!!
What you will need.... your PODM pin, a scrap piece of plain white paper (optional), a lamp/ window, and your camera!
Step 1: Setting your camera- You will see in these pictures the different settings you can use to take pictures of your pins!We all want to show off our beautiful frames, and see beautiful frames- so I decided to create this little guide.
You will need... a camera, a light source, and a piece of paper (depending on your frame's darkness)
You will see my Tangled PODM pin. My pin has a VERY dark frame of Rapunzel admiring the lanterns - I will show you how to properly photograph these DARK scenes!
I have a DSLR camera (a fancy pants camera where you can change the lens) I am just using the standard lens the camera came with.
You DO NOT have to have a fancy camera to follow these steps!
Most digital, and maybe even the camera on your phone will have these settings!!!
What you will need.... your PODM pin, a scrap piece of plain white paper (optional), a lamp/ window, and your camera!
Depending on your camera you will either have to change the mode dial (turny thing you will see in my picture) or go directly into your camera and change the settings- for cameras with out a mode dial. After you change the settings you can just snap away! 
The "P" on your camera indicates the setting "Program Auto" Your camera will automatically adjust to the lighting. This is the setting that most people use when they are taking pictures.
The setting I use to photograph small things is called "Macro Mode" you will see the little icon on your camera's settings is a FLOWER!
The flower indicates "Macro Mode" This mode focuses on smaller items, such as pins, flowers, etc. It is useful for more detailed things. Most cameras will have this setting. LEARN MORE ABOUT MACRO MODE, HERE!
Example 1: I will show you the PODM pins, on the card, laying flat on my bed. NOT LIT UP.
The "P" on your camera indicates the setting "Program Auto" Your camera will automatically adjust to the lighting. This is the setting that most people use when they are taking pictures.
The setting I use to photograph small things is called "Macro Mode" you will see the little icon on your camera's settings is a FLOWER!
The flower indicates "Macro Mode" This mode focuses on smaller items, such as pins, flowers, etc. It is useful for more detailed things. Most cameras will have this setting. LEARN MORE ABOUT MACRO MODE, HERE!
If you have a scratch on your frame, this would be the way you could show someone else the damage on your pin.
I would recommend NOT using flash. THIS IS HOW YOU WOULD PHOTOGRAPH A NORMAL PIN / PIN SET!
Let me say, I have a LOVE / HATE relationship with flash. Sometimes it looks good, sometimes it looks terrible- You just have to work and see what works for you.
As you can see, PA (program auto) does not pick up the details very well around Flynn and Rapunzel. The flash makes things very bright,
so if you want to show someone a scratch on your frame DO NOT USE FLASH.
Here it is again, with out the card, and without the flash.
Here is MM (Macro Mode) MM picks up a lot more detail around Flynn and Rapunzel. The frame is still blurred by the flash,
so again if you need to see scratches DO NOT USE FLASH!
Here it is again, without the card, and with the flash.
^^This is how I take pictures of NORMAL (Non-PODM) pins, and pin sets.
You can choose to use flash if it's dark, or use natural lighting from a window (That works best!)
I would recommend NOT using flash. THIS IS HOW YOU WOULD PHOTOGRAPH A NORMAL PIN / PIN SET!
Let me say, I have a LOVE / HATE relationship with flash. Sometimes it looks good, sometimes it looks terrible- You just have to work and see what works for you.
As you can see, PA (program auto) does not pick up the details very well around Flynn and Rapunzel. The flash makes things very bright,
so if you want to show someone a scratch on your frame DO NOT USE FLASH.
Here it is again, with out the card, and without the flash.
Here is MM (Macro Mode) MM picks up a lot more detail around Flynn and Rapunzel. The frame is still blurred by the flash,
so again if you need to see scratches DO NOT USE FLASH!
Here it is again, without the card, and with the flash.
^^This is how I take pictures of NORMAL (Non-PODM) pins, and pin sets.
You can choose to use flash if it's dark, or use natural lighting from a window (That works best!)
Example 2: Here I will show you just the PODM pin held up to the light, no paper, no cards.
Blurry..
You can see all the details with MM!
You can see the frame perfectly, at least. NOTE: This was MY lighting... I was taking these pictures at night pretty much... your result may be better than mine! Just keep trying!
Example 3: I will show you the pin held up to light with a scrap piece of white paper pinned to the back. (So you do not see whats in the background through the frame)
As you can tell it brightens the frame up... maybe even TOO much.
SORRY- I FORGOT TO TAKE A MACRO VERSION!!!~
But there's not much difference, other than you can see the pin and frame with better detail.
Example 4: Now I will show you the frame held up to light, on the card, with NO paper behind, so you can see the background.
You can see the contrast of the frame and the background because it has no paper behind it.
FORGOT TO TAKE PROGRAM AUTO PIC~
But there's not much difference, other than you can NOT see the pin and frame with better detail, and the frame is blurry.
And remember, natural lighting looks best. Sit next to a window and take pictures of your pins- they will be great. Always keep trying and trying again! If you have any questions please feel free to PM me, or comment here! I am always willing to help!
You can see the contrast of the frame and the background because it has no paper behind it.
FORGOT TO TAKE PROGRAM AUTO PIC~
But there's not much difference, other than you can NOT see the pin and frame with better detail, and the frame is blurry.
And remember, natural lighting looks best. Sit next to a window and take pictures of your pins- they will be great. Always keep trying and trying again! If you have any questions please feel free to PM me, or comment here! I am always willing to help!
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