So you bought a DSLR camera to improve your blog photography, but you aren’t exactly sure how to use it to its full potential. Here are a few simple tips that you can implement right away to improve the quality of your photographs, and I won’t even require you to read your manual…yet. Ha! One more thing: I purposely did not retouch these photographs with fancy editing software so you can see that you can get it right in-camera.
1. Follow the Light
One of the quickest and easiest ways to improve your blog photography is to turn off the automatic flash on your camera and use natural lighting. Using a flash can make your photo feel flat and lifeless, while natural light makes the photo feel more vibrant and appealing. (Flash can actually be used really successfully to create fill light in your space, but that is much harder to achieve. It’s much easier to just find a window!)
2. Minimize Distractions
With the right equipment and settings, you can create a dramatically shallow depth of field with a dreamy background. On a camera with automatic settings, you can often use the Macro function to achieve this with smaller objects. (The mode symbol often looks like the outline of a flower.) On a DSLR, this is achieved by shooting in Manual or Aperture Priority, then manipulating the aperture (f-stop) within your settings.
3. Find a Unique Perspective
You can also shoot from directly above your subject! Don’t be afraid to stand on a chair or step stool If you are unable to get high enough above your subject, then you can also move it to the floor and shoot it while standing over it.
A Note from Kristen:
I am so excited to have my very first guest blogger today! I asked my good friend, Beth, from Adventures of a Schoolmarm to give us some expert tips on taking gorgeous photos for our blog posts.
If you haven’t checked out Beth’s TPT store, you need to (because I know she won’t toot her own horn!). She has some fantastic educational resources!