Photographing the Quilts : Digital Mug Shots!
by Carol Henry  chenry@atlantic.net

Lights, camera, action...well sort of. The most I know about taking a picture is that some are black and white, some are blurry, most have half a head cut off by the frame and if it is a landscape, no one remembers what the place was or why they took the picture in the first place..

On the other hand, there are many of you making scrap books, fancy frames, notes, sayings and trims all around your special photos.

Neither of these extremes will work for Doc Day pictures. Think in terms of a Mug Shot. Really! A number and a picture to identify the quilt.

You will be assigning each quilt a number. You must have a system to place the quilt number with the proper quilt. This means taking time to double check every number, every quilt, every step of the way.

4The numbers have to be readable. If you decide to write the numbers, no fancy curves and swirls. If you have access to preprinted numbers, or those little plastic ones that fit in grooves, just like a mug shot, great. You can also preprint letters on the computer or buy a set of letters at a craft store. Double faced tape could be used to hold the letters and there is always the old favorite, pins. Not pins on the quilt. Pin the letters on a fabric covered board. You probably can come up with something even better.
4 Black letters on a white background works best. Keep markers away from the quilts. Make sure the ink is dry before getting near anyone or anything.
4Letters written large enough to read.
4Neatness counts.

Proper lighting and hanging of the quilts is best left up to the person assigned to take the pictures. Find someone that knows what they are doing. Camera nuts are thrilled to take over, so let them.

Computer pictures are great as you can look at them before they are printed. It is easy to redo a picture is there is a problem.