Photographing Quilt Projects and Kaffe Fassett Collective Fabrics

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Photographing Quilt Projects and Kaffe Fassett Fabrics

Like most of us, I love getting a package in the the mail that contain quilt fabrics and goodies! I order these beautiful Kaffe Fassett fabrics last week from Fat Quarter Shop. The 2 ½” roll was on sale and I also picked up a couple yards of matching fabrics for I quilt I’m going to work on. The colors are beautiful!
Photographing Quilt Projects and Kaffe Fassett Collective FabricsI have to say that this is the FIRST time I have ever worked with Kaffe Fassett fabrics. I have always thought the fabrics were wild and beautiful but…..out of my comfort zone. Wanda from Exuberant Color uses them quite often and I have always admired her work. If you click on her Kaffe post label you will find over 400 posts that Wanda has done using Kaffe Fassett fabrics! Wow! She also works with batiks……a lot!

I also bought the Creative Grids 90 degree Double-Strip Ruler, I think you can guess that I’ll be making a strip quilt! I really didn’t need this ruler as I have the Cozy Quilt Designs Strip Tube Ruler…..I think I have a couple others too……I can never have too many rulers!
Photographing Quilt Projects and Kaffe Fassett Collective Fabrics
I can’t wait to start sewing with this neat 2 ½” roll of Kaffe Fassett fabrics! I found them on Craftsy also.

I was asked to share a little bit about how I take my photos for my blog so I’m going to share a little information with you.

  • I use a Canon G9 camera (I have had it for 8 years or more) but I just use the automatic features. I have also started using my Samsung 6 for more and more photos. I am amazed at the quality anymore.
  • I NEVER use a flash…..ever.
  • Most of the time I take my photos in my quilt studio. I only have one window but lots of overhead lights. I also pull the blind down before I take my photos.
  • If I take photos outside I either do it in the morning or late afternoon, never at noon unless it is overcast.

Here you can see that I am using a section of beadboard for my back drop. I bought a 4 x 8 foot piece from Menards and had Builder Bob cut it into a 4 x 5 section and a 4 x 3 section so it would be easy for me to move around. I think Menards will also cut it for you for a small price.

  • I also use a piece of white fabric that I quilted……I need to either quilt a bigger piece or buy a quilted mattress pad.

Photographing Quilt Projects and Kaffe Fassett Collective Fabrics

I move this display all over the room depending on the time of day and what I am taking photos of.

photographing Kaffe fabrics in studio
Every photo on my blog goes into Photoshop first where I usually adjust the image. I also resize each photo. My normal size of photo now is 650 x 650 pixels. I save as a JPEG with a quality of about 7 so my file isn’t too big.
photographing Kaffe fabrics

Here is a photo of another Fabric Basket made with Art Gallery Fabrics as it came out of the camera (I resized it for this post). I am going to make a Pinterest image with this photo so I made sure to have plenty of vertical space which is what Pinterest wants..
basket photo before editing

I can also crop this image so I have a good photo for my blog post. This image is 650 x 650.Fabric Basket photography
Here is the image ready for Pinterest. The size is 600 x 900 pixels. I have lightened the photo and added text.
Fast and easy Fabric Basket
Once I have my photos done it is time to upload them and write my post. It takes time but hopefully it makes posts that you enjoy reading! If you have any questions be sure and ask! This photo was taken with my Samsung 6 phone.photographing Kaffe fabrics in studio across from windows
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27 Comments

  1. I loved your blog so much. Thank you so much for visiting my blog.. so that I could find you.. will visit you often , so much to learn from you ?

  2. Joanne Bates says:

    Here is a tip for using your bead boards. If you cover them with a plastic tablecloth that has a cloth type backing – you can lay out your cut pieces of fabric (on the back side of the plastic tablecloth) to decide on a layout and they won’t move out of place. Once arranged you can leave them on the board all ready to sew in proper order.
    Other than the plastic tablecloth; a batting of your choice may work well.

    1. That is a great idea for people who don’t have a design wall, thanks!

  3. Thanks for the photo tips! My Samsung seems to take better photos than my digital camera. The technology changes so quickly. I love Kaffe Fassett fabrics–so luxurious and fabulous colors and patterns! I don’t have very many, however–just enough in a couple of charm packs to make me want more, more, more!

    1. You know I still continue to be amazed at how good the quality is of my Samsung phone too Miriam. I kept telling Builder Bob I wanted a new phone and he couldn’t understand it as I’m not a “phone” person. I told him I wanted a new one because of the camera…….he suggested I buy a new “camera”……it would be cheaper LOL. He is right! I am having fun with these Kaffe fabrics!

  4. Great post Connie. Thanks for sharing your photo process too. I need a new camera and was thinking of a new Canon.

    1. Thanks Debbie! Anymore the quality of our phones is amazing! My grandson has a i-phone 7 and the camera is unbelievable! Thanks also for mentioning me in your last post, The blue pinwheel table runner is beautiful!

  5. Kaffe has also been outside of my comfort zone, but my local quilt shop’s EPP club started making kits using Kaffe, and it turns out that I like them! They’re a lot less intimidating in tiny pieces 🙂

    1. I agree that the Kaffe is less intimidating in small pieces, in fact once I started working with them – many aren’t that wild by themselves!

  6. Connie this is great timing as I have been thinking about ways to improve my photography skills and was looking at backdrops to buy. But I may just use a large white quilted backdrop now. I use a small quilted pillow sham piece for some smaller items. My problem is I don’t have a lot of space for photography stuff to stay up all the time. Anyhow you got me thinking, so thank you!!!!

    1. Glad I could help Daryl, The white quilted backdrop will work fine and is easy to set out and use and then put away. Also find the room in your house that gets the best indirect lighting!

  7. You know howI love bright fabrics but have not yet made anything with the Kaffe fabrics. SO… feel free to pick out a gorgeous design and give it to me. LOL!

    1. You’ll have to stop over and see it Diannia, it is up on my Design Wall and…….wild! LOL

  8. Love seeing how you take your photos. I completely appreciate all the time you spend to keep your blog interesting and entertaining and knowledgable. I don’t know how you keep up every day. Thank you dear.

    1. Thanks Sherry, I love doing it! LOL, saying that, I just took a day or two off!

  9. Thanks for doing this! I have good overhead light over my go cutter but not my design wall (the yellow light) but I’ve once used a white light but it was very directional, but over my GO cutter I think it’s the same light but it just looks totally different, I need to get some boards!…

    1. Glad I could help Bea, also grab a couple foam core boards from the Dollar Store and have someone hold them to reflect the light.

  10. Really good photography tips – thank you. I’m struggling lately with the quality of my photos. And I love those Kaffe fabrics you chose. They are so bright and happy.

    1. Thanks Sara, I hope some of the tips helped. I forgot to mention that I take lots of pictures of the same thing so I can get ONE good one. I am having fun working with those Kaffe prints right now!

    1. They have always been that way for me……we’ll see when I finish this quilt!

  11. A very good and informative post Connie, thanks for sharing your photographing experience with us. It’s one thing I constantly struggle with, getting good photos of my quilts in the house when the weather is too stormy for outside photography.

    1. Hope it helped you Pat, indirect light is the best for your photos. I recently bought new living room furniture and it is too dark…..I’m working on remedying this and I’ll share!

  12. This is so funny, Connie. I made this quilt last year and gave it to my sister in December. This is the only photo I go.
    https://www.flickr.com/photos/wheatens/25262279312/in/album-72157669709736625/
    I was on the phone with her yesterday telling her, early morning, late evening, or overcast sky is the only way to get a decent photo. She did promise me a photo of the finished quilt but hasn’t had any luck so far. lol I have no excuse for not having photographed the finished quilt except for laziness and procrastination. lol

    1. Beautiful quilt Pat! I tried to leave a comment on it in Flickr but couldn’t. Hope to see it all quilted!

  13. Can’t wait to see what you make with the Kaffe fabrics. I love his fabrics but can’t afford them even on sale. So I just enjoy from afar. 🙂

    1. Thanks Kathleen, I bought the roll on sale and I have a feeling I’ll be watching for more sales on them!