Using photos and samples to commission custom work

Photos and samples help with a craft commission when you explain what they are intended to show. An overall photo may convey proportions, a close-up a repair area, and an inspiration image a mood. They do not provide the same kind of information.

Show the existing item thoroughly

Take overall photos from several directions and close-ups of damage, joints, and other relevant details. Include dimensions and known materials. Explain what is uncertain and whether the item has been repaired before.

Do not conceal damage or take the item apart just to get a better picture. The professional can tell you what further information is needed and when an in-person assessment is necessary.

Explain the purpose of each reference

For an inspiration image, identify what interests you: a shape, color, storage arrangement, or finish. Explain what you do not want to copy. The craftsperson can suggest an original approach that serves the same goal.

A material sample or test piece helps you judge color and feel better than a screen image. Agree on whether it will be an approved reference and how natural material variation will be handled.

Approve the final plan

Bring dimensions, materials, details, and agreed differences together in one set of documents. Confirm who is responsible for final measurements. A sketch drawn over a photo is not, by itself, a fabrication drawing.

Request a quote for the proposed work you are prepared to approve. If a detail will be resolved during production, agree on a decision point. Then both parties know when the direction can still change and when materials are already committed to production.