How to Photograph Your Artwork Using a Phone
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You have the artwork It is wonderful. You want to keep it - or better yet, frame it.
The first step is getting a good photograph. A clear, well-lit photo is the foundation of everything: your digital archive, a future framed print, a gift for grandparents, or simply a record of this exact moment in your child's creative life.
The good news is that you do not need a professional camera or a photography studio. Your phone is more than capable — if you know what to do with it.
Here is exactly how to photograph your child's artwork and get the best possible result.
What you need
- Your phone (any modern smartphone will do)
- A clean white or light-coloured surface — a table, a floor, a sheet of white paper
- Natural daylight - near a window is ideal
- Two minutes
Step 1 - Choose the right light
Light is the single most important factor in a good artwork photo. The wrong light will wash out colours, create shadows, or leave a yellow cast that makes the artwork look dull.
Use natural daylight wherever possible. Place the artwork near a window on a bright day - but not in direct sunlight, which creates harsh shadows and can bleach colours.
Overcast days are actually ideal. The cloud acts as a natural diffuser and gives you soft, even light with no shadows.
Avoid:
- Flash - it creates glare and flattens colours
- Overhead indoor lighting - it casts yellow and creates uneven shadows
- Direct sunlight - too harsh, bleaches colours
- Mixed light sources (e.g. window light and a lamp on at the same time)
Step 2 - Lay the artwork flat
Place the artwork flat on a clean, plain surface. White is best — it reflects light evenly and won't introduce colour casts. A white table, a white sheet of paper, or a light-coloured floor all work well.
Smooth out any creases or curled edges. If the artwork is on thin paper and keeps curling, place a piece of clear glass or a transparent cutting board over it to hold it flat — just make sure the glass is clean.
Remove anything else from the frame — no cups, no other papers, no distractions. The artwork should fill as much of the shot as possible.
Step 3 - Position your phone directly above
Hold your phone directly above the artwork, parallel to the surface. This is the most common mistake people make - shooting at an angle causes the artwork to appear distorted, with one edge larger than the other.
Stand over the artwork and hold the phone flat, lens pointing straight down. Your shadow should fall outside the artwork, not across it.
If you find it hard to hold the phone steady directly above, prop the artwork against a wall and shoot straight on instead — just make sure the artwork is perfectly vertical.
Step 4 - Clean your lens
It sounds obvious, but a smudged phone lens is one of the most common causes of blurry or hazy photos. Give the lens a quick wipe on a clean cloth before you shoot.
Step 5 - Use the right camera mode
Most modern smartphones have a document or scan mode that automatically corrects perspective and enhances contrast. This can be useful for pencil or pen drawings.
For colourful artwork - crayon, paint, marker - use the standard photo mode rather than document mode, which can alter colours.
Turn off HDR if your phone has it enabled by default. HDR can over-process the image and alter the colours of the artwork.
Tap the screen to focus on the artwork before shooting. If your phone allows it, lock the exposure so it doesn't adjust automatically when you move.
Step 6 - Take multiple shots
Take at least three or four photos and choose the sharpest, most evenly lit one. It costs nothing and takes seconds - and having options means you're not stuck with a slightly blurry shot.
Step 7 - Check the result before you move on
Before you put the artwork away, zoom into the photo and check:
- Is it sharp? No blur or camera shake?
- Are the colours accurate? Does it look like the original?
- Is the artwork straight in the frame, not at an angle?
- Are there any shadows across the artwork?
- Is the whole artwork visible, with no edges cut off?
If anything is off, reshoot. It takes thirty seconds and makes a significant difference.
Common problems and how to fix them
The photo looks yellow or orange
You're shooting under indoor artificial light. Move to a window or wait for daylight.
There's a glare or bright spot on the artwork
You're in direct sunlight or using flash. Move to indirect light and turn flash off.
The artwork looks distorted - wider at the bottom than the top
You're shooting at an angle. Hold the phone directly above the artwork, parallel to the surface.
The photo is blurry
Tap the screen to focus before shooting. Hold the phone steady, or prop it on something solid. Clean the lens.
The colours look washed out
You may be in too much direct light, or HDR is over-processing the image. Try shade or turn HDR off.
Saving and organising your photos
Once you have a good photo, save it somewhere you'll actually find it again. A dedicated folder - organised by child and year - makes it easy to look back and see how your child's drawing has developed over time.
Some parents create a simple system: one folder per child, one subfolder per year. Others use a shared family album. Whatever works for you - the important thing is that the photos are somewhere safe and easy to find.
When you're ready to frame it
A good photo is all you need to order a Little Otis frame. Upload the clearest photo you have at checkout, and our team will review it before production begins. If we need a better image, we'll contact you - so you never have to worry about getting it perfect on the first try.
We preserve your child's original artwork faithfully - every colour, every line, exactly as they drew it.
Preserve their artwork with Little Otis →
Little Otis turns original artwork into beautifully framed pieces - from children's drawings to your own creative work. Australian-owned family business. Simple upload. Delivered for your home gallery.