For the best results in your portfolio, photograph your work outside. Sunshine lightens your work and shows bright colors effectively. Positioning your work along a north-facing wall will provide a softer or diffused lighting to reflect onto your work. If you shoot your work inside, use an incandescent lightbulb, as it gives off softer more even light. If you choose to shoot your work inside, pick the night time hours as it's easier to control the amount of light hitting your work.
Set your camera to shoot using either Auto white balance or manually adjust the white balance on your camera. Depending on what type of lighting you choose, white fluorescent, twilight, tungsten or daylight and shade, you must adjust the white balance to maintain the natural colors of your work. Use a matte background when shooting. You want the artwork to be the centerpiece, and if you use a flash when shooting, any shiny surface you place your work in front of will reflect back brightly.
Use a photoflood bulb when shooting. Instead of using a flash, which can produce a harsh glare, a photoflood bulb will produce more even lighting in an indoor setting. Photoflood bulbs attach to tall stands and imitate daylight, casting an even glow over the subject. Most professional photographers use these lights during photo shoots to highlight their subjects evenly.
To make sure your artwork has sufficent lighting, use a light meter if your camera does not come equipped with one. The more even your lighting is, the better your art will look. Light meters detect light levels around the subject and allow for you to adjust your lighting accordingly.