Today is the kickoff to a really fun summer photography series cooked up in my little brain called Oh Shoot! It’s Summer! Over the next four weeks, I’m going to share real life tips to help you improve your everyday photography, capture more of life’s moments, and do it all without the need for fancy equipment!
The whole idea for this series is to get you involved! I want to encourage you to take what you learn each week, apply it to your everyday photos, and share them with me on social media or through email.
[Tweet “I’m improving my everyday photos with @sweetteagrace & #OhShootItsSummer2015! “]
A FEW LITTLE DETAILS:
- Each week we’ll cover one photography tip that you can apply to improve your everyday photography.
- You’ll have a chance to sign up for a special freebie offer – 4 FREE 8×10 images created by me, mailed directly to your front door, ready to frame and display in your home!
- Share your images using #OhShootItsSummer2015 on Instagram & Twitter, send them to me via email to sweetteagrace{at}gmail.com, or post on my Facebook page! (Your images might end up in the weekly newsletter or on this blog!)
- At the end of this series, on June 29, 2015, you can enter a giveaway for awesome prizes, including a chance to win a $50 gift card from Shutterfly!
- The best part: No fancy equipment needed! You can use these tips for photos taken with your point & shoot camera, a DSLR, or the camera on your phone!
Put Things Into Perspective
Ansel Adams is one of my favorite photographers. He’s most known for his stunning black and white images, and has a way of creating images that make us pause in wonder at the beauty he captures. He once said,
A good photograph is knowing where to stand.
I couldn’t agree more.
I think it’s easy for us to get into the habit of just snapping a picture from wherever we’re currently standing and decide that’s good enough. Then we look back at our photos and wonder why none of them really stand out.
I know we all do it – we see someone’s Instagram feed with extraoridinary images of ordinary events and wonder how we can recreate those in our own photos. Ready to change that for yourself?
MOVE YOUR FEET!
Let me give you an example of how simply shifting your perspective (aka moving your feet) can drastically improve your photos.
When my daughter Marley received her new compound bow, I was anxious to capture those first shots at the target.
The two photos above both capture the same event, but by shifting my perspective, the second photo makes a bigger impact.
All I had to do was move from her side, standing at a distance, to directly behind her, lining up my shot with the line created by her arm and the target in the distance. Instant impact.
Let me show you a few more examples and offer some tips:
SHOOT DOWN:
Stand above your subject and shoot down.
This is a great way to capture the smallness of children. I love seeing images of Marley when she was so tiny! It adds a dramatic touch to an otherwise bland photo.
Shooting down is also a great way to capture a moment without disrupting it, like this sweet moment I captured when Marley and her buddy Jacob were enjoying the rain tickling their toes during a random summer shower.
SHOOT UP:
Shooting up from under your subject is a fun way to add a different look and feel to your photos! This image of Marley on a tire swing really shows the fun of the moment, and I love that you can see the movement in her hair.
Some moments just wouldn’t be the same with an eye-level photo. For this image, I placed my phone in my lap and set the timer. It’s a fun image of me enjoying a drive in my Jeep with the top off – a detail that would be otherwise overlooked with a picture taken straight on from the front.
GET LOW:
Similar to shooting up from under your subject, getting low just means lowering your eye level for a different perspective.
Daisy Mae has the cutest cankles ever, and despite all my other photos of her, none do them justice quite like this photo. I laid down on the road in front of our house to snag this super cute photo!
Sometimes getting low allows you to see a moment in a totally different way. Sweet Rosie loves watching her human momma cook breakfast while her family plays in the background. This is an ordinary moment captured in an extraordinary way, and really creates visual interest.
EYE LEVEL:
Sometimes, right where we sit or stand is the best location for a shot, but framing that photo in a creative way makes it stand out.
A Saturday night family bowling experience is so much fun! Capture the details by snapping a picture of all the colorful bowling balls lined up in a row.
Sitting in a kayak doesn’t allow you to move your feet for a shift in perspective, but by including the tip of the kayak in the image, it creates visual interest and great perspective.
My husband and I love to snap “the view from here” style images anytime we go on vacation.
NOW WHAT?
#1 – Snap some photos with different perspectives and share them on Instagram or Twitter using #OhShootItsSummer2015 and be sure to tag me @sweetteagrace – or share them on my Facebook page or through email!
#2 – Pin this post and be sure to come back every Monday through June 29th (Just pin that image right down here:)
#3 – SIGN UP HERE & check the box for “Special Announcements” to learn how to get your FREE 8×10 photos mailed directly to you, plus get extra entries in the epic giveaway that will go live on Monday, June 29th!
(P.S. If you are already subscribed to the email list, you’re already signed up! WOOT!)
Get a FREE photography resource by clicking the image below!
Just click to get your free download. It’s that easy!
Talk to me:
In what areas do you want to improve your photography?
What are your biggest challenges with day-to-day photography?
Ready for Week 2? Click HERE:
4 Responses
I want to take better pictures of my daughter. She’s almost a year, and I want to capture those memories.
What a great way to start! I will take some photos on Wednesday and see if I can do this!!
Thanks for sharing these tips on perspective in photography. Most times I’m taking pictures that are like your original picture of your daughter practicing archery. I’m definitely going to try these out!
I absolutely love all of these perspective changes. They make each picture look beautiful and so much more appealing. I’m really excited to use these tips in my life capturing this coming week!