Give a photographed object a sense of scale

A close photograph can make a small object look monumental. Give the viewer a scale reference without letting that reference become the subject.

Record the object's dimensions when reliable measurements are available. For an object you own and can handle safely, measure without forcing or dismantling it. For a collection object, use the catalogue measurements and preserve their units and order. Do not estimate a museum object's size by reaching into a display.

Choose the reference deliberately

A ruler outside the object can provide a clear record for a private inventory. Keep it in the same plane where possible and avoid covering an edge. For an editorial image, a familiar nearby object may help, but sizes vary and the comparison should not pretend to be an exact measurement.

Make an overall image as well as the detail. Keep camera position and perspective in mind: a wide lens used very close can exaggerate the near edge. If accurate documentation is important, follow suitable specialist guidance.

Include the dimensions in the caption rather than relying entirely on visual clues. Identify whether a measurement includes a lid, handle or stand. The result should let someone understand the object's physical presence, while keeping a dramatic photograph from becoming a misleading account of its size.