From Collection to Catalogue: How VHEC Digitizes Its Artefacts
Michaela Sawyer, VHEC collections assistant, photographing an artefact in a lightbox.
January 6, 2026
Before an artefact appears in our collections catalogue, it goes through a careful photographic process that ensures each object is handled safely and documented accurately. Although photographing artefacts may seem straightforward, producing clear, high-quality images requires a series of steps that support preservation and public access.
Handling is the first consideration. Gloves should always be worn, and the photographer should take their time, ensuring there is ample space for the artefacts. Artefacts should always be handled from the bottom for full support during transport.
For photographing, we use a Nikon D5200 Digital SLR with an AF-S Nikkor 18-70 mm lens and most often use a collapsible lightbox. This is because many of the artefacts we receive are small, and the lightbox provides the most uniform lighting while also blocking interference from the surrounding environment.
Because they provide diffused light, lightboxes are especially useful when photographing shiny objects. Our lightbox has lights built into it, which simplifies the process; otherwise, two lights at 45 degrees on each side of the artefact is standard when lighting for photos. Minor adjustments may be needed depending on the artefact.
The VHEC uses a gray paper backdrop for most photos to make the images as uniform as possible. We ensure there is a gradual curve in the backdrop where it goes from horizontal to vertical; this helps minimize shadows.
When taking photos, it is important to frame the artefact as closely as possible and straight on; avoiding the camera’s zoom helps prevent image distortion. Test photos are a good idea to make sure the camera is focused on the artefact, as well as to check the lighting to make any adjustments before taking the final images. Once the artefact is framed and in focus, one photo is taken for publication or display; another is taken with a colour checker or scale for collection management purposes.
A colour card or checker with a scale should be placed at the midpoint of the artefact being photographed to ensure accuracy. At the VHEC we document artefacts as thoroughly as possible, from all sides and sometimes specific angles to show an accurate depiction of the artefacts. Some artefacts need more detailed documentation to capture crucial elements, like makers‘ marks or inscriptions on the bottom of a teacup.
Once the photos have been taken, they are imported into one of our computers for post-processing edits made in Adobe Photoshop, allowing us to ensure the quality and accuracy of the images. Images are captured in a RAW format, which is converted to TIFFs. After edits are done, we generate JPEG files for upload to our collection management system, Collective Access, where the photos and information about the artefact can be viewed by the public.
About the Author:
Michaela Sawyer, VHEC collections assistant, holds a BA in history and world literature from Simon Fraser University, a diploma in cultural resource management from the University of Victoria, and a master’s degree in Holocaust studies from the University of Victoria.
Acquisition of digitization equipment is supported by funding from the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Vancouver.
