Setting The Scene: 5 Steps To The Perfect Picture
First of all, before I start, you must know I do not claim to be a photography expert BY ANY MEANS! I am in every sense of the word a beginner. While I have taken a college course on film photography, I have never really delved into the world of digital photography; until now, that is.
Over the course of the past month, I have learned a great deal about how to create an aesthetically-pleasing composition. Below are five steps I used this weekend to create the carousel picture.
1. Pick An Outfit
For a carnival theme, I decided to dress down. I wore my cutoff jeans from Ross, my Old Navy twisted flip flops, my Knockaround sunnies, and stole a tee from my hubby’s closet. I also cut up an old chevron scarf to create a colorful hair tie. Depending on the setting, you may want to dress up, casual, semi-casual, etc. The key here is to be original. Choose clothing that accentuates your style and personality!
2. Find A Location
Choosing this location was simple because I was taking part in the #samelocationchallenge. If you would like to know more about becoming a part of that, click here. However, this is not usually the case. Most of the time I must plan which location I would like to shoot pictures. My advice is to pay attention to cute photo spots while driving around town. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy. Brick walls, old cars, and hidden stairwells are all examples of simple photo shoot opportunities, and I guarantee anyone can find one of those three in their hometown.
3. Choose Your Props
In this picture, I opted for some cute sunnies and a few balloons. The balloons costed a grand total of $7 to purchase and air up at my local Dollar General. Props do not have to be expensive! Check your local thrift store for old suitcases, hats, etc. For summer photos, purchase cherries, watermelon, or grapefruit to add some small pops of color. Better yet, scrounge through your home to find random items which fit into your ideal shot. I know you can find something!
4. Strike A Pose
This part is, perhaps, the hardest part for me. I do not consider myself a shy person, necessarily, but I am definitely much more comfortable behind the camera than in front of it. My flaws (or what I consider flaws) often get in the way of my personality when it comes to pictures. I could write a book about the self-hate we inflict upon ourselves as women, young and old. But instead, I only have two words: BE. FEARLESS.
“Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.” -Babe Ruth
Throw your head back. Laugh. Enjoy the moment. You’ll be glad you did!
5. Shoot With Composition Technique
PetaPixel has a great article on Composition Techniques which you can read here. For this particular picture, I loosely followed the “Rule of Thirds” composition. Obviously, it is not perfect, but it works. Keep in mind that the editing process can also help with this part of the composition process. Do not rely too heavily on editing to create a relevant composition, though, because too much cropping will create a grainy photo. Instead, focus on recreating a beautiful composition technique and make small tweaks if necessary later.
There you have it! A beginner’s guide to setting the scene for the perfect picture.
Please let me know if you have any questions or comments in the comment section below.
I can’t wait to hear from you!
xoxo
Kate
