How to photograph ceramics without losing glaze detail

Think in reflected shapes

A glossy mug does not simply reflect light; it reflects the apparent shape of the light source and the room around it. A bare bulb becomes a small white dot. A large diffused window becomes a broad, calm band. Before changing camera settings, look at the pot from the camera position and identify every bright or dark shape on its surface.

Start with one large source to the side and slightly behind the object. Diffusion between the window and the pot increases the apparent source size and smooths the highlight. Move the diffusion, not only the pot, until the bright band follows the form without covering important decoration.

Use black cards to draw the edge

White rooms can make pale glazed work disappear into a field of reflections. A narrow black card just outside the frame creates a controlled dark line on the surface. That line can separate the rim or shoulder from the background without digital outlining.

Move the card slowly while watching from lens height. Its reflection may travel in the opposite direction you expect. Keep the card far enough away that the transition remains natural, and use a smaller card when it begins to dominate the pot.

• Clean fingerprints before lighting; retouching them is slower
• Rotate the piece to protect the maker's intended front
• Check the rim and foot for clipped highlights
• Photograph a color reference under the final light

Choose depth of field for the form

For a three-quarter view, focus around the front third of the visible depth rather than automatically focusing on the nearest rim. Stop down only as far as needed. Very small apertures can soften fine texture through diffraction, while a wide aperture may leave the maker's mark or far edge unreadable.

A longer focal length from farther away usually keeps the proportions calmer than a wide lens used close to the object. Keep the camera level for cylindrical forms unless convergence is part of the composition. A tripod makes small height changes easy to compare.

Finish with an honest edit

Correct the neutral reference first, then compare the object with the piece in the room. Glaze color is affected by display brightness and surrounding colors, so no screen can guarantee an identical appearance. The useful goal is a consistent, neutral rendering that preserves the relationship between body, glaze, and decoration.

Remove temporary dust, but do not erase pinholes, crazing, throwing lines, or color variation that belongs to the object. A catalogue photograph should help someone understand the work, not invent a different surface.