Alright you foodies, this one’s for you. It seems that ever since cellphone cameras’ quality improved, people have enjoyed taking snapshots of their meals. Whether you’re trying out something new & want to remember the presentation or are shooting items for a recipe or for a blog, these tips are for you! Dish Figuring out what you want to shoot will be the first step. Is it a simple meal? A drink? A fancy dinner selection? Once you decide what you want to make, you (or someone else) will have to prepare the food before shooting. Technicalities The 4 main things you want to make certain are accurate: lighting, white balance, exposure, & focus. In this instance, more light is better. If you aren’t able to shoot near a window to allow natural light in, put your camera on a tripod and set a slow shutter speed. Artificial light could always be used, but unless the bulbs are set to “daylight,” white balance could be off due to the color temperature of the bulbs. White balance can be fixed in post however, & should be set to look as close to the scene as possible. Exposure […]
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Next to portraits, fashion (or more accurately style) is my favorite subject matter to shoot. Whether you’re shooting your own outfits or other peoples’ here are some tips! If you’re shooting yourself you’ll need… A tripod Camera with a self-timer or remote shutter 35mm-50mm lens (avoid wide angle because of distortion & telephotos because you’ll have to stand further away which will make previewing more difficult.) Patience It would be helpful (though not required) to have a camera that has an articulating screen or a way to connect it to a different screen so you can set up your composition quicker. Setup Once you’re at the location, set up your tripod facing your background. Many like to shoot in front of a wall because it makes focusing easier. Finding a wall that compliments or matches your outfit is usually recommended too. Turn your camera to portrait orientation & take a few test shots. Settings In order to get your entire outfit in focus, you’ll need to have a smaller aperture. 5.6-8.0 should be just about right. Due to this however, you will need to have adequate light. Keep your ISO low and make your shutter speed […]
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Something I’ve always admired about different bloggers I follow is their consistency with making photography a part of their daily life. Not necessarily behind the scenes of a shoot or out on assignment, but a simple portrayal of enjoying lunch with friends or a walk in the park. So on my yearly trip up north with loved ones, I decided to challenge myself to create a few images that really capture that tradition for me. (And I didn’t even use my phone!) Here are my favorites with thoughts to consider the next time you tackle this particular niche. 1) Put some life in it. 2) Hone in on the details. 3) Try to share a specific mood. 4) Capture humor. 5) Don’t forget the food & drinks. 6) Make some unconventional portraits. 7) Refrain from being a perfectionist. 8) Find an interesting texture. 9) Show an overview of the place. 10) Get in there yourself. May the light be with you. Follow Save
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This niche is closely related to other specialties such as lifestyle & documentary photography, but it differs in a major way. Typically subjects are strangers who you just happen across out and about, not models or clients hired for the job. There are two methods street photographers usually take: conspicuous & covert. Conspicuous Fearlessness is a must when going this route. Much like asking someone out, the photographer must be prepared for the chance of rejection. A help would be to compliment the person, tell them you’re working on a project, and/or have a business card ready to hand over with your email so they have a way to reach out and ask about the photo (then concurrently, you will have a way to send it to them.) You have a chance to guide this individual and if they’re willing, they can even do different poses for you. Covert This is the method I go for because talking to strangers is still nerve racking to me. Stealth is a key skill with this route. Blending in with your surroundings, or going to an already bustling area where people are focused on what they’re doing will yield more […]
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In continuation of my shooting series, this week I’d like to give a couple tips in regards to shooting motion. At some point, you may find yourself wanting to freeze or intentionally blur an action. Both tips will be dependent on setting your shutter speed properly, but are very easy to achieve once you get into the habit. So without further ado, let’s get in! Tip 1: Freezing Motion In order to freeze motion, you will need your shutter speed to be set very fast. But you can’t set it so high that not enough light will get in. So you have two options here: you can either put your camera in shutter priority mode and let the camera figure things out, or you can keep fiddling in manual mode until (with practice) you know what your best settings will be. The speed at which your subject is moving also plays a large role. For instance, you will need a faster shutter speed for someone who is running vs someone who is walking. (Think 1/1000th vs 1/100th.) Tip 2: Blurring Motion In order to blur motion, you will need your shutter speed to be set very […]
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