updated: 24 August 2026, Wellington, New Zealand ## Photography for Potters Last month I took a pottery photography class (yes it is a thing). [Mel Waite](https://www.melwaitephotography.co.nz/) is a photographer who takes wedding photos and photos for businesses. I met Mel at a pottery class a couple of years ago. Her photography class was perfect! As a fellow potter, she knows how to bring out the best in each handmade piece. No fancy equipment needed, she showed us how to use our phones. I liked my previous setup with the jute back drop and the kauri slab table. It fits my natural vibe. But I see how having a mid-tone backdrop with proper lighting makes pieces stand out more. Here's a comparison: ![[IMG_0031.jpeg]]![[IMG_0044 1.jpeg]] ![[IMG_0037 1.jpeg]] ![[IMG_0045.jpeg]] The first is with my jute backdrop, then with a black backdrop, a white, and a grey. I decided that the grey backdrop looked best for my pieces. One surprising thing I learnt was: to counter the bluish tinge I used to get in my photos, use the brightest cool white light placed the same side as the window. Look at these two: ![[Screenshot 2026-08-24 at 8.05.10 AM.png]] ![[Screenshot 2026-08-24 at 8.05.18 AM.png]] The one on the left is with just the light from the window, the one on the right is with the brightest cool white light bulb I can find at Bunnings (1400 lumen) switched on. I had always thought to get a warm tinge to photos, I need to use a warm white light bulb. ## Last week of preparing for the Wellington Food Show The show starts in four days, with packing in on Thursday 27 August. I have a couple more glaze firing to do as well as practicing the set up. I've drawn my setup for the 2x2m space in Adobe Illustrator to scale and hopefully it all works out in real life! ![[Screenshot 2026-08-24 at 7.31.28 AM.png]] So excited yet also so terrified. It's my first major show. There are so many *what if*...s: - what if the setup doesn't work? - what if I don't make back the table fee? - what if I don't have enough stock? - what if the three days just completely exhausts me? - what if there's a queue and I get stressed out? - what if I run out of packaging materials? - what if...? I told my best friend this and she said "Laila, you're the most organised person I know. If anything happens you'd just adapt as you always do. But if you need somebody to stamp paper bags, just let me know and I'll be there." I love her so much. She puts my mind at ease, but also reassures that she's got my back as always. Another friend said "Like: What if they will love you as much as we do?" I am so grateful to be surrounded by good friends. I am preparing a page for the [[FoodShow]] for all the things I'm taking, using the newfound photography skills from Mel. It will be a catalogue for those who may be interested in placing a pre-order. Selling out would be a nice problem to have. But if I don't, then I'd have enough stock for upcoming markets as well as restocking Welly Collective. From experience, holiday season is a very good time for handcrafted goods. ## Sweet Clover I was looking after my friend's rats while he was on an overseas trip. Cricket and Clover were our first introductions to rats two years ago, and a few weeks after meeting them, we got our own boys, Remy and Emile. Clover was a bit frail, with a bad hip and a bad knee. He mostly moved around pulling himself forward with his front legs. I took him out every morning to give him some baby food so he doesn't have to fight it out with the other more abled friends. Every night we took all of the boys out so they can run around the little mischiefs that they are. Derek was away for two months, and I was so sure that Clover would make it till he came back. But one day, less than a week before Derek was due to fly back, Clover took a turn. He stopped wanting any food, not even his favourite baby food. He then started having seizures. I took him away from the others, worried he'd accidentally bite the others in his seizures (he bit my finger really hard). I kept him with me that night, wrapped up in a cushioned box. Every half an hour he'd be twitching violently. I stroke his little head praying *please let him go swiftly, he doesn't deserve to be in pain*. At 1am he passed, and I was a sobbing mess. My friend Malaika on the other side of the world sat with me as I was sobbing in the early hours. She said *Mother Clover picked Baby Clover up on the other side of the bridge, grateful for your earthly care.* Later in the morning, I took him upstairs and let the others say goodbye to him, before burying him in my garden amongst clovers. It's amazing how big a chunk of my heart little Clover took with him. Sleep easy Sweet Clover ❤️ ![[Screenshot 2026-08-24 at 9.19.23 AM.png]] ## now archives [[2026-06-24]] [[2026-05-21]] [[2026-04-12]] [[2026-03-29]] [[2026-03-16]] [[2026-03-01]] [[2026-02-23]] [[2026-01-29]] [[2026-01-03]] [[2025-10-10]] [[2025-09-08]] [[2025-08-16]] [[2025-06-27]] [[2025-06-16]] [[2025-05-09]] [[2025-04-02]] [[2025-03-09]]