Photographing Miniatures

The point of photographing miniatures is to be able to see the details. If it is not clear or in focus, you won't be able to see the details so the shot is pointless. There are several areas that you should pay close attention to in order to get the best shot. You need to understand some technical information, but surprisingly, not a great deal. You can easily get great shots with a point and shoot if you have the right settings and know how to set up your shot. These tips will help you get a great shot of your miniatures so that all of the details will be sharp and clear.

Best Camera

Most cameras nowadays can take really good pictures of miniatures. You don't have to spend a great deal on a fancy camera. A point and shoot can work just fine provided you have the right features. When you are purchasing a camera, check to see if it has a macro feature. If it is an SLR, you may need a macro lens (although many of the SLR cameras now have a macro setting).

You also want a camera with good resolution to give you good quality shots. A resolution of about 200 dpi (dots per inch) is pretty much the market standard, although many cameras are now coming out with higher resolutions. A 200 dpi shot is usually takes pictures that are 1600 X 1200 pixels. This will give you a nice print that is about 6 inches by 8 inches. A higher resolution camera may give you larger pictures but bigger is not necessarily better.

Digital cameras are probably the best and easiest to use, but you don't have to use that type. When you are searching for a camera, though, keep in mind that 1) there is no "perfect camera" for taking photos of miniatures, and 2) you don't have to spend a fortune to get a camera that takes great pictures.

Camera Settings

There are a couple of settings that you should use when shooting miniatures. The macro setting is one. This setting allows you to get very, VERY close to your subject. It is usually represented by a tulip on your setting directory. This is because many people use the macro setting to take close pictures of flowers.

The other setting for your camera is the white balance. Natural light outdoors is usually white, but inside light with tungsten bulbs has a yellow tint. This can cause your pictures to be yellow. This can be a particular issue if you don't use your flash. You can adjust the white balance setting on your camera to compensate for this. Some cameras self adjust or have a setting for indoors, cloudy, and so on.

Lenses

If your camera does not have a setting for macro, you will need a macro lens. This is usually the case in SLR cameras and older models, but most newer camera models have a setting for macro eliminating the need to purchase an additional lens.

Background

You want a clean background that does not draw the camera's focus. A stark white may not be the best choice because it can throw off your lighting. This is not to say that you can't use a white background, but check your shots to make sure you are getting the best lighting and focus.

Camera Stabilization

You want your camera to be stable and still when you shoot miniatures. A tripod, of course, is your best bet, but if you don't have a tripod, a table can work just as well. Line up your shot from the perspective of where you are shooting, then set your camera on the table where it is stable and shoot!

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