I need to say it. Photoshoots are positively exhausting. Fun but exhausting.
I will destroy my entire house to get ‘the shot’. Right down to running around outdoors in pjs to walking on top of decor shrapnel strewn all over the floor.
Ever feel you aren’t getting the look you want? Here are a few brief tips that help me capture exactly what I wish to reveal:
Lighting is everything
If you aren’t the most proficient at taking indoor shots, move your things outdoors. I use my covered patio a LOT. The light is always perfect. Too bad the trampoline is always in the way in the background…grrrr
Speaking of backgrounds, they count.
Your background is just as important as your subject. I personally like realistic backgrounds as opposed to something standing in front of a blank wall or sheet of cardboard as it warms up your subject. So… keep the background as clean as you can. And try moving things farther away from your subject so your camera can focus JUST on your subject. You’ll capture some really neat effects!
Clean first!
You cheat here, and you’ll pay the price over and over. I generally don’t have time to clean an entire room before a shoot so I’m always throwing things over my shoulder to get them out of my way. Or blowing the dog hair off the floor AFTER I thought I got the shot. Or using spit to wipe away that smudge. Honestly? It pays to clean right first. Just sayin’.
Try loads of locations
Didn’t make your subject shine? Try again. A purse may look best on the hook of a chair in your garden against your lawn vs hanging where you normally store your purses indoors. Keep trying until you know it’s ‘the one’.
Take TONS of shots
I have a photographer friend at one of my work locations. He once told me he took over 500 pictures on one given day and he only liked ONE of them. He shoots like crazy and deletes like crazy. Digital makes this easy. So don’t be shy. Click like a maniac until you land it.
Don’t MOVE that camera
Blur comes from camera movement, plain and simple. Lock your elbows to your body, lean on something, and hold your breath before you click. Better yet, use a tripod or set your camera on something steady. Self timers are fabulous for low light areas.
I’ve done a past workshop on photography which never got finished HERE. It needs to be a full blown ebook which I’ll be working on in the fall, so bear with me. I have ALOT to say and teach on this subject. I can’t wait to share all my top secrets. Because if I can win a large photo contest with a lousy point and shoot, so can you. 🙂
My Jeanne Oliver photoshoot reveal of my $500 windfall is coming soon! After I have a nap… 🙂