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Three Tips for Elevating Your At-Home Artifcts Photography
Linda Pordon, photographer
September 13, 2023
From the Artifcts Vault!
This week, as our focus on collections continues, we asked interiors and brand photographer Linda Pordon to share three tips to help elevate your at-home Artifcts photography.
Linda is a recognized interiors and brand photographer based out of the New York/New Jersey area. Her work has been published in outlets including Better Homes and Gardens, Domino, Elle Decor, and the NY Times. Additionally, Linda is the owner and founder of Proppe Shoppe, a collection of curated vintage and one-of-a-kind decorative objects and furnishings for the home. (Maybe you'll nod with understanding when you see some of these one-of-a-kind finds didn't even make it to the store front but are instead futured in Linda's public Artifcts collection!)
Through her photography, Linda aims to convey the feel and depth of the pieces and spaces she photographs but, more importantly, she aims to create emotional connections to these subjects through her lens.
Hear from Linda directly for a few easy tips you can try at home to elevate the photography of your cherished objects without any fancy equipment (or frustration!).
1. FIND THAT LIGHT
Let's start off by going against what you may think ... the "best light" does not necessarily mean find the brightest light possible (or upping your exposure on your phone editing mode) to make it all "light and bright." I have photographed and sold $800 sculptures that look like they were taken inside a dark closet. But oh they were sexy. The shadows made you feel something when you looked at it. Sometimes, less is more. So a few tips for lighting:
It may seem counterintuitive but TURN YOUR LIGHTS OFF. Use natural and only natural light if you can.
Bring objects outside. The perfect weather to photograph items is an overcast, cloudy day. It gives even but bright-enough light. If it’s sunny out, find a spot in the shade to place your object. When outdoors, you want to make sure your light is even and not too bright. Watch out for dark shadows that will overpower your images and distract.
When photographing inside, just open your shades and set up near a window ... just not directly in the sun. If your brightest room is too bright, use a bedsheet to hang or tape over the window to diffuse the light a bit. Get creative!
If you can't move your object, make sure you try to minimize the artificial lighting that is needed or opt to bring lights closer vs have the orange glare and reflection of overhead lights.
Play with (gasp) shadows.
I said it. Use objects near or in front of your light to create shadows. A window pane. Hold a stem of flowers in front of the light. A raffia hat. You get the point. This is so easy to do and creates such high drama and can be done with things you have around the house. Your images will be looking "editorial" in no time.
I was photographing my Artifcts on a very rainy and dark day, so I used the space in our home that has the most windows and late afternoon light - our foyer.
2. KEEP YOUR BACKGROUND SIMPLE AND MAKE IT CONSISTENT
If you're photographing several objects or an ongoing collection, try to make sure your color story and mood are consistent.
Do you want all bright pops of color behind your objects? Simple white? Dark and moody? The world is your oyster. My absolute favorite backgrounds are Replica Surfaces Boards (not sponsored but they should be!) which are lightweight and completely wipeable. The marble truly looks like marble and I have photographed it in every lighting possible. I wouldn't lie to you.
If you don't want to invest in purchasing backgrounds, you can grab cheap poster board and keep it white or paint it any color or texture you feel like. Or hang a sheet against a wall and drape it down onto the floor. You would be shocked at how many brands are keeping their backgrounds pretty organic and homemade these days, but the images still look stunning and professional.
Here I just added a table for height (even any stool with a fabric over it would do) and then a rather cheap white tri-fold poster board to cover the trim work detail on the back wall.
The biggest advice I would give you is take your time. Really think about your shot. Take your time holding your camera (even if it's your iPhone). Look around at the light. When my kids photograph with me for fun, I always have them walk around and take pictures with their hands to really see things before they get distracted with clicking the shutter. Think before you get snap happy!
A few concrete things to focus on:
Composition: This is a really big part of photography and a hard thing to break down succinctly, but try to be mindful of the following:
Leave negative space. It lets the eye breathe and actually makes your object more of a focal point.
Group smaller objects closer together to give them more "weight" on camera (groups of 3 are generally pleasing to the eye).
Vary up your angles. Make sure you get at least one head-on shot. Stand on a stool and take some overhead.
Watch your sight lines. Make sure key details aren't blocked. Try to see what your eye is drawn to and how it moves across an image.
All taken by an iPhone 11 Pro Max (yes, I'm waiting for the new phone); edited on Lightroom mobile.
Gridlines: My #1 tactical PLEASE PLEASE do this is get your picture straight.
If you are taking pictures crooked, panned up or down and not taking a minute to get as straight as possible, your images are always going to look more amateur. I can forgive almost any sin above the crooked image. An iPhone trick here is to turn your gridlines on (Settings -> Camera -> Grid set to green), and voila! The Lightroom app (available on iOS and Android) also has a great feature to auto correct gridlines (Geometry -> Upright click this toggle -> keep to "Auto," generally).
Editing: If you looked at a professional photographer's images, they should look pretty good SOOC (straight out of camera), but we would all be lying if we said post-production editing isn't a large part of the creative process.
There are some horrible filters out there, but there are also some good free and cheap phone apps you can use for your camera phone photos. Lightroom is my favorite for photo editing. I also love Color Story. Your iPhone's built-in camera editing tools aren't all that shabby either. Try to keep your highlights down, your shadows up, and play with the contrast and warmth as much as you want. If you find settings you love using, try to consistently apply them to your images.
(LEFT) Taken by iPhone 11 Pro Max; edited on Lightroom mobile.
(RIGHT) Taken by Nikon Z6 mirrorless DSLR; edited on Lightroom desktop.
Photography is such a beautiful way to tell a story about something or someone you love. My favorite photos are the ones where I wasn't overthinking, I wasn't hyper focused on the technical pieces, and I was just inspired by what I was shooting. Enjoy the gift of translating things you love for others to see and enjoy.
Pop over to Linda Pordon's public Artifcts collection to view the "finished" Artifct from her rain-filled day of Artifcts photography. A bonus Artifct is there awaiting you with an oh-so-sweet story.
Want to learn more from Linda? Watch our Evenings with Artifcts event replay!
Happy Artifcting!
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ABOUT THE FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER
Linda Pordon is an interior and commercial brand photographer based out of Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey. She has a B.S. in Finance and started her career in forensic investigations at PricewaterhouseCoopers before pivoting to marketing as an executive at American Express in the premium product space for 15 years. Linda draws on her 20-year tenure in corporate marketing and strategy to enable her to better translate the visions and stories of businesses in her photography work. When she's not behind the lens, Linda has her hands full with her favorite ever-moving subjects, her three young sons, 5, 7, & 9 years old.
Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Sasso Piatto, destroyer of stuffies and Chief Happiness Officer here at Artifcts. I haven’t got much time as my Mum has stepped away from her laptop, and I know she’ll be back soon.
Today’s topic? The importance of Artifcting ALL your life’s keepsakes because you never know what will happen next. Case in point, my cherished Mr. Moose.
Mr. Moose was the love of my life (second only to bacon). We had been through thick and thin together. Mr. Moose was always up for adventures—mud puddle hopping, snow pile digging, and zoomies in the front yard. He was my constant companion, my snuggle buddy, and my best friend.
And then, just yesterday, an unthinkable thing happened. My Mum got rid of Mr. Moose. One moment I was admiring my handy-work (who knew Mr. Moose had so much stuffing?) and then, gone! Into the trash. How could she?!
Sure, he was well-loved (who doesn’t love a plush moose with squeaky antlers), but that doesn’t mean that it was time for him to go. My Mum claimed the stuffing was falling out of him (I think she needs new glasses) and that the squeaker was a choking hazard. As if! I swallow Milk Bones whole! Choking hazard, it was not.
And the worst part is that she didn’t even pause long enough to let me ARTIFCT him. Not one photo. Not one solemn moment to stop and reflect on all the love and joy Mr. Moose has brought me over the years. Of all the people, of all the deeds. How could my Mum, the founder of Artifcts, TOSS MR. MOOSE OUT before I got to Artifct him?
I beg you Dear Reader to take a moment today and Artifct That! It could be a favorite photo, a cherished piece of kid's art, or for the love of all, a favorite toy. If you’re planning to declutter this spring (hello spring cleaning!) take a moment to Artifct those treasures before you (OR YOUR MUM) toss them out.
Speaking of spring cleaning, I heard my Mum mumble something about re-homing the Everest sized pile of sticks I’ve accumulated outside the front door. For those of you not in the know, I’ve learned that “re-homing” really means removing. I’ve got to go! Time to Artifct my favorite sticks before they too disappear.
Yours Truly,
Sasso Piatto
PS. Happy April Fool’s Day! We hope today’s ARTIcles story from Sasso made you smile. You can click here to view all of Sasso’s Artifcts(written in his voice of course!).
Where were you in 1996? Take a moment and really think about it.
Where were you living? What filled your days? What music was on repeat, and what did your favorite outfit look like? Maybe you were heading off to school in flannel and Doc Martens, building a career in your first real job, or chasing toddlers around the house. Maybe 1996 was loud and exciting—or quiet and uncertain. Either way, it was yours.
Lately, there’s been a surge of nostalgia inviting us to revisit that specific year. But the truth is, it’s not really about 1996.It’s about something much bigger.
It’s Not Just 1996—It’s Any Year
Pick a year. Any year. 1996. 2006. 2016. Last summer.
Every single one holds a version of you that no longer exists—someone shaped by the people, places, and moments of that time. And tucked inside those years are vivid snapshots: the song that instantly transports you back in time, the hat you wore until it fell apart, the photo you’ve kept in a drawer for decades.
We all have these anchors, the objects and memories that pull us back to “way back when.” A concert t-shirt isn’t just a shirt. It’s the night you sang every word with your friends, the feeling of freedom, the version of yourself that felt invincible.
A certificate, a ticket stub, a handwritten note—these aren’t just things. They’re evidence of a life fully lived, in moments both big and small.
The Small Moments Matter More Than You Think
It’s easy to assume that only major milestones deserve to be remembered—graduations, weddings, promotions. But what about everything in between?
Our co-founder Heather recently came across a stash of photos from her high school days and her daughter was in awe. The clothes! The hair! The concerts! Heather had forgotten how she had spent the summer of '96 working two jobs and attending every Phish concert within driving distance of her childhood home. Funny, because that's just what her daughter wants to do this summer.
The everyday moments are often the ones that define us most:
The summer you spent making friendship bracelets at camp
The first apartment that barely had furniture but felt like independence
The hobby you picked up on a whim that turned into a lifelong passion
The concert t-shirt you wore so often it became part of your identity
These moments may feel small at the time, but they’re rich with meaning. And over time, they become the stories we wish we had captured more fully.Because memory fades. Details blur. And eventually, even the most vivid experiences can become harder to recall.
Why Capturing Your Story Matters
The people who come after us—our kids, grandkids, and beyond—don’t automatically know who we were. They might know the broad strokes. Where we lived. What we did for work. Maybe a few stories that get told again and again.But they don’t know what it felt like to be you in 1996. Or 1976. Or 2016.
They don’t know what made you laugh, what you worried about, or what you dreamed of, unless you tell them.
How to Turn Memories Into Artifcts
That’s where Artifcting comes in. Artifcting is the act of preserving not just your objects, but the stories behind them—so they can live on far beyond your memory.Looking for an easy way to get started?
Start with What You Already Have
Look around your home. Open a drawer, a closet, or an old box in the attic.Find something that instantly takes you back:
A photo from the ‘90s
A concert t-shirt (Fun fact! Our Advisory Board Member Matt Paxton recently spent an afternoon with his teenage son Artifcting his vintage concert t-shirts from the 90s.)
A piece of jewelry
A letter or postcard
If it sparks a memory, it’s worth preserving.
Capture the Story, Not Just the Object
Ask yourself:
Where did this come from?
Why did it matter to me?
What was happening in my life at the time?
Who was I then?
The object is just the entry point—the story is what gives it meaning.
The object is just the entry point—the story is what gives it meaning
Add Context That Only You Can Provide
This is the part no one else can recreate, especially the most well-intentioned AI-apps that promise to tell you your story. (Naturally, we have our doubts about that.)
Describe the details:
What you were wearing?
Who you were with?
What the world felt like at that moment?
These personal insights transform a simple item into a living memory.
Preserve It Digitally
Open the Artifcts App and upload your photo or a photo of your item and pair it with your story.Now it’s not just stored—it’s documented, searchable, and shareable with the people who matter most. Bonus! Add audio or video too for greater context and details that only you can provide.
Share It Across Generations
Invite your family into the experience by privately sharing the Artifct with them.Your stories become a bridge—connecting generations through shared history, personal insight, and emotional truth.
Your Story Is Still Unfolding
Thinking back to 1996 might feel like a fun exercise in nostalgia. But it’s also a reminder: the life you’re living right now will one day be “way back then,” too.
What from today will you wish you had captured?
The coffee mug you use every morning
The playlist that defines this season of your life
The photo sitting unnoticed on your phone
These are tomorrow’s Artifcts just waiting to be captured today. You don’t need a milestone. You don’t need a perfect story. You just need a moment—and the willingness to preserve it.
So ask yourself again:Where were you in 1996?Then take the next step.Capture it. Tell it. Artifct it.Because your story deserves to be remembered—not just by you, but by everyone who comes after.
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You might also enjoy reading these related ARTIcles:
There’s something almost magical about the objects we keep.
A framed photograph on the wall. A handwritten recipe card tucked into a drawer. A ring passed down through generations. These items are more than ‘stuff’—they are vessels of memory, identity, and connection.
However, we also keep, either intentionally or unintentionally, vast collections of other items, trinkets, and do-dads. Don’t believe me? Take a look at your junk drawer and let’s talk.
According to an article in the LA Times, the average American home contains 300,000 items. Now that’s a lot of ‘stuff.’ If you took just one minute to briefly examine each item, it would take you 5,000 hours, or roughly 208 days. That's a lot of time, especially if you inherit an estate and are trying to get to the bottom of what the objects are and if they have any value.
At Artifcts, we believe there is a better way to not only sort and organize the items we keep and the keepsakes we love, but to also document the value, history, and stories that go along with those items.
From Object to Story in Seconds
We created our Artifcts QR code stickers to solve a simple but meaningful problem: how do you seamlessly connect the physical objects in your life with the stories behind them?
No more printing, cutting, or searching for labels. Just grab a sheet of durable, weatherproof stickers, place one on your item, scan it, and start creating. Each scan prompts you to either create a new Artifct or link the sticker to an existing one—instantly tying that object to its digital story.It’s organization, storytelling, and preservation—all in one simple action.
But Here’s Where It Gets Personal…
With Artifcts, you can add audio and video to every Artifct you create. That means when someone scans your QR code sticker, they don’t just read about the object—they experience it.
They can hear the laughter in your voice.
They can see the way your hands move as you demonstrate a recipe.
They can feel the emotion behind the memory.
Because sometimes, the story isn’t just what happened—it’s how it’s told. Audio and video are powerful keepers of memories. They capture inflection, personality, and even the little imperfections that make memories real and human.
Imagine the Possibilities
Once you start thinking about it, you’ll see opportunities everywhere.
📸 Photo Frames That Speak
That wedding photo on your wall? Add a QR code sticker to the back.Now, when your children or grandchildren scan it, they don’t just see the image—they hear you tell the story of that day. Maybe even watch a short video clip from the reception.A single photo becomes a living memory.
Sorry, this Artifct is private! But it definitely has a QR code sticker attached to the back of the frame.
💍 Jewelry with a Voice
A ring isn’t just beautiful—it has a past.Was it your mother’s? Does it now have a special meaning to you?Attach a sticker to the jewelry box, and suddenly that piece carries its full story. Imagine hearing your mother explain where it came from, who owned it before her, and why it mattered.That’s legacy—preserved in her own voice.
🧁 Recipes That Come to Life
Yes, you can save Grandma’s famous biscuit recipe. But with Artifcts, you can do so much more. Attach a QR code sticker to the recipe card or cookbook. Now, when it’s scanned:
You hear her voice explaining why she never measures the flour exactly
You see a video of her hands gently folding the dough
You catch the little tips that never made it onto paper
It’s no longer just a recipe—it’s an experience passed down through generations.
🎨 Collections, Keepsakes, and Everyday Treasures
From antiques to travel souvenirs, children’s artwork to military memorabilia—every item has a story waiting to be told.Artifcts QR code stickers make it easy to catalog, organize, and preserve those stories without interrupting your flow. You can move from room to room, scanning and storytelling as you go, building a meaningful, searchable collection of your life.
Ready to get started? Start small. Pick one object that matters to you. Tell its story. Add your voice. You might just discover that what you’re really preserving isn’t just your belongings…It’s your legacy.
Pro Tip: You can also print off your Artifcts QR codes at home and safely attach them to your keepsakes. No stickers required...
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Sorry, this Artifct is private! But it definitely has a QR code sticker attached to the back of the frame. 
