If you’re blogging about your DIY projects, then a good image gallery is essential. Your DIY blog will feature projects that your readers can do at home, for themselves. Following instructions is a lot easier when you have good images and a photo gallery that illustrates exactly what you need to do. So here are some tips for creating the perfect image gallery for your DIY Projects.
Take Photos
The first tip is to take photos – and lots of them. Take photos of the equipment you use if you’re building something, or the items you’ll need to make your project. Take photos from different angles, from close up and further away. And don’t worry about deleting anything just yet. The more photos you have, the more you will have to work with, giving you the best chance to display your DIY project step by step.
DIY projects need Progress Photos
If you’re taking plenty of photos, you should have this covered. But before you begin, think about the steps involved in your DIY project. Then make sure you get plenty of shots of each of these. Take photos of every step along the way until your project is finished. Progress photos help your readers understand the steps they’ll need to follow, making the projects easier to accomplish.
Compose your Shots
Taking the time to organise your shots can give you better, more interesting images. Start by getting the clutter out of the way. Your workbench doesn’t have to be spotless, but clear away the rubbish before taking your photo.
Focus on the subject. Make sure your DIY project is the focus of the shot. That may mean using a background that’s a neutral colour, or ensuring your project is the centerpiece. Adding props can make the photo look more authentic, but they shouldn’t distract from the subject.
Take the time to arrange your subject in the best possible setting. You may want to photograph your project inside, against a solid background. This could work for something like jewellery. But if you’ve built a wooden bench, for example, show it in it’s ‘natural’ setting – outside in the garden in natural light.
Here are some more tips on taking photos.
Edit your Images
Quality images can make a big difference, so spend some time making your photos look good. At this point, you can also add arrows if you want to bring your readers’ attention to something specific. Other options include circling a part of your image or adding a text box for added explanation. Don’t forget that you’ll be adding captions and descriptions to your images, so keep text on your image to a minimum.
Here are some great options for online photo editors.
Use a Photo Gallery
Thumbnails can work well in a blog, but DIY projects often need bigger images to provide that extra detail. Using a photo gallery like FooGallery means you can add thumbnails to your blog. When someone clicks on these, the gallery pops up and your readers can view the images properly without leaving the page.
FooGallery lets you adjust your thumbnail settings as well as your display settings. You can also add captions and descriptions for added instruction. To find out more, or to download, have a look at FooGallery.