Learning to photograph glass is a trial and error activity. I know there are rules about ISO and aperture settings when you have a nice camera. What if you are shooting with your phone? It's still a valid photo and it gets the point across. As a matter of fact I have seen some awesome phone photos so do what you can with what you've got. We are still learning.
There are some tips that everyone can benefit from.
1. get out the glass cleaner and polish till it sparkles. Dust shows up.
2. Use a tripod. I'm pretty stable but sometimes a sneeze will sneak up on me.
3. Try lighting from different angles. Stained glass has a different look when lit from in front and behind. Both can be pretty dramatic. Even side lighting can look good.
4. Stage your glass in various settings. I have played with black or white backdrops, natural settings and installed windows.
5. Use the reflection to your advantage. I like when the glass reflects the light. It shows up the texture.
6. It's okay to have people in your photos. There is a personal touch when the artist or owner is smiling with pride while holding their masterpiece.
7 Stage on different surfaces. I have shot on a white marble table top that looked great. Out in the grass might be just what shows off your piece.
8. You don't always have to shoot straight on. Sometimes an aerial view, side view or even from underneath can be super fun.
9. Try shooting just a portion of the window for a different effect.
10. The best advice is to use your imagination.
The more you practice, the more you'll learn and the more you'll succeed. And don't be afraid to take many pictures, you can take a dozen bad ones and then get one that's gold and nobody has to know that you took a picture of your finger, or it was blurry...they'll just love the one you show!
