I take pictures of everything i own. I also take detailed pics of each step that i do in my museum work. Then I supply the museums with the high resolution pictures of the before and after of their particular piece. The pictures I take of my personal pieces are for archival and insurance purposes. For the museums to show them what I have done (not how I do it) to show them it is their property and not a scam.
The y previously had a situation with a criminal that was doing their preservation and repairs. He was caught "defarbing" (fake aging and removing modern markings on reproductions) and giving the museum the fakes. He is doing time!
I do use light boxes for small items and platform risers for long guns. Both direct and reflected lighting with dimmer control boxes. I avoid any reflective background drapes and minimal supporting fixtures. I use a NIKON D-5100 Digital Auto Focus with remote shutter operation. Tripod mounted with vernier camera mounts. The key is... lots of practice and various lenses. Macro lenses are useful for extreme detail close-up of serial numbers etc. Practice with close-up photography of coins from various angles with lighting aspects. Then you got it! A great camera is a must. John
