How do I photograph a book?
I would say that you can’t capture the essence of a book unless you read the book first. When I started to take pictures of my books I was using an old camera that couldn’t zoom in and out. I didn’t have the patience to take many pictures. That is until I got an Olympus camera with a superzoom lens and I started taking lots of pictures. Now, I have developed the skill to take great pictures. It is quite a challenge, though, because I need to find a subject that will capture the essence of a book. That is why I use books that I have already read.
A good starting point would be to find the perfect lighting. If you are working indoors, you need a window light on one side and a soft light on the other. You can use a flash if you want a bright picture but you might lose detail. If you are outside, there is a variety of light conditions and you need to choose the right one. The sun is often the most interesting light, but it is also the hardest to photograph.
If the book you are reading has an interesting cover, it might be a good idea to take a picture of the cover too. In fact, you can combine several photos into a collage. You could create a mood board on Pinterest to help you. You can pin pictures that inspire you, find inspiring images, or even create your own.
You can then start by taking a picture of the cover. If the book has a title, you can add it to the picture. You can then search for the title of the book and you should be able to find images of the cover and the title. This is how I created the picture above. Next, you can look through your library and look at some other covers to inspire you. Once you have found a few great images, you can put them together in a collage, using Microsoft PowerPoint or similar software. If you are really ambitious, you could even create your own book cover.
Finally, go out with your camera and take a picture of a place where you like to read. Choose a spot that has interesting surroundings and that is not too busy. It could be the entrance of a shop, a street corner, or your favorite café. The more you practice, the easier it will become and the better your pictures will become.
Book Photography Ideas
