We totally would like a video on photographing larger dioramas and full army shots! 👍

yes please on that army photo

I photographed minis at gw professionally for about 16 years in the main studio and this guide is pretty spot on 😊 But it misses a few things. Louise is leaning on photoshop possibly as that’s what she’s more familiar with. If you adjust your camera settings you can really minimise the photoshop and save a bit of work. So I would recommend shooting with your aperture setting on f16 or potentially f22 rather than f4.0. A higher aperture gives you a larger area of focus so you may be able to completely avoid image stacking or at least reduce the number of stacks. f16 is a nice sweet spot as it also gives you the best image sharpness. This can vary by lenses and camera but is a decent starting point. If you’re using led video lights with continuous light rather than flash then you will have a dark image because of the low light they output and because the higher aperture let’s in less light. But just adjust your shutter speed until your image is bright. You might need something like 0.5 second long shutter speed for a bright image but that’s absolutely fine. You could also increase your iso setting to make the image brighter but I would avoid that as it can make your image grainy. I’d leave it set at iso100. If you have a long shutter speed use the timer function so the camera takes a photo 5-10 seconds after pressing the button. If you’re not touching the camera when it takes a photo you avoid any blur from the camera wobbling. Then if you have a modern camera with perhaps 16 - 20 megapixels you can always just increase the distance between the camera and mini. This will increase the area of focus. It makes the mini look smaller in viewfinder but if you have high megapixel count this doesn’t matter as there is still enough pixels in the small area, especially if you’re shooting for digital / Instagram. There’s a tonne more to it but hope that helps.

Tutorials about that kind of things, like managing miniatures backgrounds for scenery shots, or tricks on how to take videos of minis with different equipment could be awesome for a lots of people

Yes, please! More and more photo knowledge!

Even though I'm not super interested in all the post production stuff, I have to say this is the best video I've seen that goes into what you need to do AFTER taking your photo which is really half the battle. All videos I've seen prior have just been, "Get a lightbox. Light it up. Make sure you have a decent camera. Tweak some settings. And take the photo."

Yes we want to see more! And especially how to ta pictures of large scenes.

YES! I want the video for army shots

Amazing stuff! You are right, I will never unsee the "golden angle" hahah! I find one of the biggest challenges for me when I've tried to photograph my minis before is not the photography (though to be fair I have a ton of photography experience), its more discovering just how much worse I am at painting than I thought I was when the photo of the mini is taken with a macro lens and displaying at like 800% bigger than reality on a 32" screen. No matter how you slice it, taking really high quality photos of minis starts with elite tier painting skills. I'd also add that it can make a huge difference to practice and develop painting skills that work well with photography. The Eavy Metal team's style is specifically designed for showcasing minis in photos. Btw, the refine edge tool can really help with subject select. Save you a ton of time compared to the pen tool. :) Oh and finally one other tip, for anyone who lacks the setup to be able to get the ISO low enough to avoid noise. Lightroom Classic's new Enhance Denoise is insanely good. In a single click you can basically obliterate 95% of the noise without damaging details at all.

Watching this as a professional photographer. This is a solid tutorial. The focus stacking tip is one that is often overlooked and makes a massive difference to the final image. (I never have enough time to do that these days with the amount of products I have ti work through, so it’s f22 and full send on the profotos to get as much in focus as I can) having spent the past few days clipping plastic box images the section of the video where you talk about the pen tool gives me cold shudders haha. The new object selection tool can work wonders on simple images and save a lot of time though! Also… #deathtomagicwandtool haha

Yeeeees. Army shots! They are the most iconic thing I associate with Warhammer.

This was, to quote Ron Weasley, bloody brilliant! Best mini photography guide I've seen.. the Golden Angle unmasked at last! And the editing stuff.. can't wait to try this! Would love the army guide if you can make one, thanks Louise!! 😃

Geat video. I have made really inexpensive light boxes a few times using sheets of white foam board from a local dollar store that I simply tape together. One thing I'd recommend is not to shine your lights directly on your miniature. It can work (as demonstrated here) but if your lights are not diffused (I just use cheap desk lamps) then a good option is to direct your lights onto the interior of the light box. The interior of the white light box will then reflect that lovely diffused light onto your miniature.

Thanks a bunch for the video. I wasn't aware of the stacking and auto-adjust tool despite the fact that I use PS for years on a professional level. The part of "post production" is what a lot of mini photograph tutorials lack of

Hey Louise... one suggestion regarding pen tooling a layer mask. after youre done creating your cut out and selection (right before clicking the layer mask button), hit SHIFT + F6 to bring up the feather selection. depending on the resolution of the pic youre working with, try setting a 1 to 2 pixel feather (i usually default to 2 pixels), THEN create your layer mask. reason for this is to make the subject/object that youve masked/clipped out have a subtle soft edge (instead of the hard/sharp anti-aliased edge). creating a softer edge tricks the eye via the feathering to create a more natural looking placement (almost like a focal point). when edges are left with a hard anti-aliased cut, the eye/brain will more likely detect that it is an image simply cut from something else and stuck on top. with the lightly feathered edge, the eye/brain sees it as a properly executed object placed into the composition and its not an immediate stop for the brain to say "yeup, its just hastily stuck on there". basically the eye/brain sees it as that object you placed was already in there (like it was photographed against the background instead of being placed on top of the background). give it a shot in future projects and see how it works out :)

Army pics would be awesome! Thanks for the video. I've had Garfy try and walk me through it and I was just like yeeeaaah naaaah lol 🤘😎🔥

I’m following your lead and am much happier with my miniature photos. I even bought the same camera for the ease of dragging the focus around. Image stacking is a lifesaver. I was feeling really grim about my photos, “what’s the point?”, but am pretty pleased now. Thanks!

BIG. COOL. ARMY. SHOTS. 💯💯💯

That was a perfect scone of a video !!! Your recipe of technical points, charmingly goofy enthusiasm and real love for your subject matter makes for a very useful and charming watch. Yes, please, on the massive army scene tutorial.

The Fishing Gobo is so adorable

Okay, this tutorial is way over my head, but its Louise, so its still a pleasure to watch!

This was the greatest video regarding this subject I've ever watched. Thank you so SO much for this. Seriously. ALSO YES, an Army/diorama/multi-model photography tutorial would be utterly magical. Thank you so much for your hard work on the channel!

This was one of the best, most well explained videos I’ve seen about the techniques and theories used for miniature photography! Your professional experience doing this really brought a wonderful perspective. Thank you so much for this video and the tips. Being a Rogue is so freakin’ awesome!

The golden angle tip is priceless. Thanks!

The photo stacking is such a good tip.

Yes!? Of Course! Shooting those Diorama Scenes is a gereat storytelling Option! I need that XD

Oh! Yes!! More On making thar perfect photo. Both for single figures AND for groups of them 😊

i wouldn't mind seeing you tackle this video again, actually. this was great and i'd like to see the same again, please. :)

Something tells me that just arting in the same room as you is that much more fun!

Finally I can take good photos thanks. I'm a photographer by trade but I struggle with small stuff

Yes please to the army photography. Would love to see a sculpting video too!

Ah, heck yeah for the larger army pictures!!

This is what I need. Would love to see an army / scenic photography vid.

Best Miniature Photography lesson going, thank you.

I'd love the batlescene/ unit picture tips video. Thanks so much for going into proper depth about the pictures. I've struggled for years

Great tutorial video! I'd love to see a video where you take a miniature, paint it in an acceptable but undetailed way, then have the next pass with slightly more detail, etc.. until it's professional quality!

That family photo was hilarious

4:02 this tip just changed my photos forever! I just took a picture of my latest miniature and it looks soooo much better than my previous pictures! Thank you so much!

Needed this as I take pic.s of action figures ! Most positive video by far ! 👍

Yes to the army photography video, or at least small squads! Great video btw!

Yes, please do the 'big army shots' video! I have some large armies that desperately some need photographic love. Thank you! Love the channel btw!

Thank you for making this video. Most of your presets, equipment, etc I had figured out myself but I had not realized the "GW magic angle/golden ratio" - it does make quite a difference. I'll be using it from now on.

there're so many miniature channels out there and still you manage to drop not just fine quality but also individual content. Love that!

I wanna see you hit 100,000 subscribers get a plack on that wall. your content deserves it. the fans got your back.

“Big, cool army shots.” Yes.

Really useful, thank you! Not just for figures, too! Look forward to a diorama video! Thanks!

Yes please!! Thank you for sharing this information with us!!

Really well explained. Straight to the point and very helpful. I'm a good painter but until I saw this video my camera was telling me different. Thankyou

just in time before i deliver a commision, i was dying to take some pictures because is my best work up to date THANK YOUU FOR YOUR HARD WORK

Holy moly. So many tips! Scenic shots next please!

I would LOVE to see how those in-world army shots are done!

I just love the main music theme, reminds me of early video games 🙂

Great tutorial, especially regarding the photo mapping. For removing the background, I like to use Photoroom for speed.

Honestly, I don't really think I'll be doing this kind of photography. Yet this video is fascinating as all hell to watch. So will I use any knowledge you have to impart on large diorama photos? No. Will I watch the hell out of such a video? Absolutely. Your tutorials are always a bunch of fun to watch.

Yes please! Army shots tutorial sounds amazing

Yes, I'd love to learn about big army shots as well.

I really like the technical aspects of your videos.

I didn't know I needed this until I watched it.

Big cool army shots!!! Mmm.. please and thankyou 😅

wow and I thought I new golden angle but it is all so much clearer now. Thanks Louise

The stacking just blew my mind. Seems so obvious. Thanks! Got another photoshoot in the next couple days and will give this all a go then!

Brilliant!

Very useful information! learned a lot! thank you.

Super helpful! Thank you!!

This is amazing to know! So handy! Never knew about the stacking - thank you so much. Would love to see the army tutorial.

Great! Thank you!

Yes, please do a video on the larger scenic shots!

LOVE IT!!! And of course even more curoius about big shots!!! (I'm a terrain maker and I've never been able to catch the whole beauty of the stuff all together...) PLZ HELPPPP!!!! :)

Good lighting is probably the most impactful upgrade people can make. Bright, high CRI & TLCI lights will give you much better color reproduction, though on a budget these aren't usually LEDs. Having a way to diffuse that light will prevent harsh, blown out highlights while allowing a larger portion of the object to be in focus when using your phone's camera.

This was great, thank you.

Thank you for all these tips!!!

Very helpful thanks!

Super handy video, thank you!

Super skills & amazing skills vs "boob-hammer" Love your practical advice 😀 VS old school stuff!

wow thank you for sharing! this is aswome

That was amazingly useful! thank you.

Absolutely keen to see further videos like this. Thanks for this one and looking forward to more in future.

Love these videos. Great content.

This definitely helps. Thanks!

Great tutorial! Thanks for sharing

I really appreciate this video. thank you!

This was really interesting and helpful. I am going to come and revisit this video when ever I want to photograph my minis. I've never been satisfied with my photography and it has been so inconsistant. One time Nick Bayton showed an interest in one of the minis I had made and asked me to send some photos, but nothing ever came of it. I'm pretty sure its because the photos just werent good enough, which is a shame but a lesson learned I guess. Thanks for sharing all this stuff Louise

Yes big cool army shots!

And now I have learned about photo stacking. Thank you! Can't wait to try it with my minis. ❤

This is incredibly helpful thank you so much! 🥰😍😁

Thanks for sharing your knowledge. :)

Big cool army shots. Yes please! I learned a bunch from that. Thank you.

Yes, big cool army shots!! Wosh

Straight forward and to the point, great video ❤

This is excellent! Thank you very much for putting this tutorial together!

This video was super helpfull, thank you very much!!!

I use my airbrush booth for taking pictures of my miniatures. It ready has lighting built in. Put a bit of black or white plasti-card in there to hide the over sprayed paint. I use 2 sheets, one on the base of the booth and one to cover the extraction filter. I might get a macro lense at some point.

First time I have heard focus stacking mentioned in the mini painting scene scene. I used this a lot when I was into macro photography and never thought about it with mini's. One tip I would add is if you are using Lightroom or something similar to edit your photos and your camera/phone has the ability to take RAW images use this, it gives you far more wriggle room with editing. OK two tips, white background slightly overexpose the image, black background slightly underexpose, it makes getting a nice clean background easier and you dont have to worry about cutting the mini from the photo. Love it when my hobbies collide, not managed to merge mini-painting and ice skating yet though ;-P

I learned A TON from this photography tutorial! Thank you, Louise!! : )

Wow, thanks so much for this! I learned the most I have in a very long time in just 11 minutes! You are a miracle.

Thanks for this video Louise

I love this, thank you so much. I really get that overly grainy look when taking pictures. Its cool to know that maybe how I take pictures can help with that. This is incredible. I hope I can one day share what I learned with your vids to you with a great picture of a finished mini!

Thanks, this is very useful.

Love it. This is sort of mini related content I don't see a lot of. It is informative, and a nice break from all the videos of people who paint better and faster than me.

Great vid, super informative and accessible, would love to see another similar vid about diorama photography. Thanks for the content 😊