Uploaded April 2021 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Woodturning is straightforward to photograph well, and you do not need expensive camera equipment to do it. A simple lightbox (or even a sheet!) and your smartphone can give you clean, professional results that do justice to the craft.
This film covers the complete process of photographing woodturned pieces for online listings, social media, and websites. I work through four different pieces: a beaded bowl, a live-edge piece, a coloured bowl, and a miniature vase.
Each presents different surface and lighting challenges, and you will see exactly how to handle them. By the end you will know how to set up a lightbox, position your pieces for the best light, and avoid the common mistakes that make turned work look flat or washed out in photographs.
Whether you are listing on Etsy or Folksy, updating your website, or building an Instagram feed that reflects the quality of your turning, the method in this film will make a genuine difference.
🎓 Want to learn in person? I run woodturning courses at my school in Hampshire for all levels — from complete beginners through to more advanced techniques. Details at www.thewoodturning.school
🛢️ My Finishes: yandles.co.uk/shop/?manufacturer=martin-saban-smith-woodturning
📘 Design and proportion in woodturning — I wrote the book: msabansmith.com/shop
📍 Based at Garthowen Garden Centre, Four Marks, Hampshire — next to the South Downs National Park.
🌐 msabansmith.com
Facebook — Me: facebook.com/msabansmith
Facebook — Woodturning School: facebook.com/thewoodturningschool Instagram — Me: instagram.com/msabansmith
Instagram — School: instagram.com/thewoodturningschool
The visual video content (including my voice), any text and any graphics in the video are Copyright © Woodturning Online Ltd 2015–2026. All rights reserved.
Woodturning is straightforward to photograph well, and you do not need expensive camera equipment to do it. A simple lightbox (or even a sheet!) and your smartphone can give you clean, professional results that do justice to the craft.
This film covers the complete process of photographing woodturned pieces for online listings, social media, and websites. I work through four different pieces: a beaded bowl, a live-edge piece, a coloured bowl, and a miniature vase.
Each presents different surface and lighting challenges, and you will see exactly how to handle them. By the end you will know how to set up a lightbox, position your pieces for the best light, and avoid the common mistakes that make turned work look flat or washed out in photographs.
Whether you are listing on Etsy or Folksy, updating your website, or building an Instagram feed that reflects the quality of your turning, the method in this film will make a genuine difference.
🎓 Want to learn in person? I run woodturning courses at my school in Hampshire for all levels — from complete beginners through to more advanced techniques. Details at www.thewoodturning.school
🛢️ My Finishes: yandles.co.uk/shop/?manufacturer=martin-saban-smith-woodturning
📘 Design and proportion in woodturning — I wrote the book: msabansmith.com/shop
📍 Based at Garthowen Garden Centre, Four Marks, Hampshire — next to the South Downs National Park.
🌐 msabansmith.com
Facebook — Me: facebook.com/msabansmith
Facebook — Woodturning School: facebook.com/thewoodturningschool Instagram — Me: instagram.com/msabansmith
Instagram — School: instagram.com/thewoodturningschool
The visual video content (including my voice), any text and any graphics in the video are Copyright © Woodturning Online Ltd 2015–2026. All rights reserved.
