How to take stunning photos of your amigurumi - lighting & setup tips

When I’m ready with my newest amigurumi creation, I really enjoy showing it to all my crochet buddies. At first, I just looked at all those beautiful photos on Pinterest and other social media platforms, and I thought, "I will never be able to take a photo like that!I tried taking photos with my phone, and sometimes I got lucky, but one day, I decided I would learn how to take great photos. I started taking lots of pictures and thinking about the process. What do I like to see in those pictures on Pinterest? What can I do to find my own style? The answer was easy: practice, think, learn!

How about you? Have you ever thought about photography—photographing your amigurumi—as part of the creation process?

I’ll share a few tips on how to make your photos more beautiful! In this post, I will share a few tips about lighting.

What should you pay attention to in order to take better pictures? If you didn’t know already, I want to mention that I’m self-taught when it comes to photography. I don’t have formal qualifications in the field, and I view photography as a hobby. I’m still learning and having fun with it. So, just to clarify, I’m NOT a professional photographer! 😊 With that in mind, I hope you find my tips helpful and enjoy experimenting with them.

The patterns in the collage – you can grab them by clicking on their names: Cute duck crochet pattern, Alfred, the monkey, Irid, the elf, Grumpy Easter bunny

So here I go with the most important thing about photography: lighting! If you can handle the light, you can take beautiful photos. Lighting is the foundation of photography: Where is it coming from? Where does it fall? How strong is it? What kind of shadows does it create?

When is the best time?

The best times are around the morning or in the afternoon. At these times, the light is not as harsh, and shadows are not too strong, making the light softer and more even. During midday, when the light is sharpest and strongest, it can overexpose the image or create harsh shadows. The timing also depends on where you take your photos!

Where?

Windows provide natural light, so it's best to place your figure near a nearby window. If the window isn’t too sunny, the light creates a beautiful, diffused effect that highlights the details of your amigurumi. If you're shooting in strong sunlight, try using a white curtain or a translucent fabric to soften the light and reduce harsh shadows. Avoid direct sunlight! I usually take my photos in the living room. We have big windows here, and around 9-10 o’clock, the sunlight is perfect for photos. I don’t have any lamps; I use only natural light! And if you're a beginner photographer, I suggest you do that too. :)

The direction of the light

Make sure the light source doesn’t come directly from above the figure but rather from the side or front. This makes the details more visible.

Light intensity

How do you know if the light is too strong? Sharp, large shadows and overexposed photos are clear signs.

If the light is shining strongly from the side, you can soften it with a bigger white board on the other side.

Equipment

If natural light isn’t an option, artificial lighting can be a great alternative. I think these require a bit of experience. For my crochet patterns, I use a lightbox for step-by-step photos, which I take with my phone. But for my amigurumis, the box is too small. :)

For smaller amigurumis, a lightbox (photo tent, photo box) can be a great solution. Choose one that is at least 30×30×30 cm, but the bigger, the better.

For larger items, you can find a variety of lamps on the market, from budget-friendly to high-end options. There are square, round, big, small, three-legged, bendable, dimmable, warm light, cool light, and so on. When the lighting is right, shadows are soft and not too harsh.

I hope these lighting tips help you! I will share my other thoughts about amigurumi photography soon! 😊

Happy shooting!

Zsuzsa