SAY CHEESE!
Personal
Photography tips from an amateur with perhaps natural talent, or an excessive
appetite for experimentation.
Anyone of you lovely readers who have
indulged my blogging journey since inception a few months ago, can tell that my
work has been an upheaval process regarding photography content on this blog.
But through a lot of trials and errors, I have evolved gradually from a girl
who knew nothing about photography to this spectacular amateur who has
decided upon sharing with you a little from her self-inflicted journey.
Before I commence, do know that photographs
are an integral means of conveying a moment or time, insert an appropriate dose
of vanity there and you’re good to go on the 21st century definition.
I go through my ratty secondary school photos and wished for the life of me I
knew a little about photography back then asides the excessively indulged duck
face and non-existent hip jutting. But what’s a trip down memory lane without a
few laughs at the person you evolved from eyy?
Now to the matter at hand.
I believe when taking self-portraits
(photos taken by oneself) be it a selfie or a full body image, capturing one’s
best angle is imperative. To find your best angle look at your face in a mirror
in good lighting and notice which side of your face is most flattering to you.
Photography doesn’t always reflect how a person looks like in real life
sometimes due to the symmetry of individual faces –they only capture an angle.
For selfies, try not to tilt the camera too far back an angle or it would most
likely overly elongate a feature or enlarge it unless of course that is the
plan. And for full body portraits ensure the camera is well balanced on your
tripod or whatever you’re using to keep it in place and using a continuous
self-timer (advisably nothing less than five pictures a time unless of course
you’re the load runner and you can go go go!) change poses rapidly and try to
act as natural as you can.
Alternatively, if you have someone taking
the photos for you, employ the use of a grid system setting so you tell the
person in which box you’d like every body part to fit into.
For flat-lays, which by the way I heavily
indulge, it is advisable to get a flat surface like a marble floor, a wooden
board or table or use spreads like a cardboard paper, fabric spreads, towels,
fur mats etcetera. Arrange whatever it is you want to showcase on your chosen
surface (which should be advisably of single colour so your items standout
unless you know how to play in patterns). Stand on an elevated platform like a
stool and take the photograph from above. There is no necessary rule for layout
but for beginners it is advisable to use lesser items and grow into more
chaotic arrangements.
Now for the most important, lighting. No
matter how perfectly you have followed these instructions, without good
lighting, whether or not your camera is to die for, be ready for a crappy
finished product which if you’re lucky might put you through a shit load of
editing applications to get it looking near decent.
Always ensure you take the photographs in
the morning, by noon, or for a softer and subtle ambiance, by sunset if it is
an outdoors photography. If it is indoors, ensure you take the pictures in a
room heavily flooded with natural lighting and suitably close to the window for
ample sunkissing.
Editing is also a vital finish to photographs but that shall be a secret to share for another day, or the next installment, who knows?
Finally, practice makes it better. Take
multiple pictures, record multiple moments and unless you’re like me where the
camera hates your toothed smiles and they almost always seem to look like
you’re being strangled, don’t forget to say cheese! or not...
I was AWOL last
week and yes, I am well and alive and have not been battling meningitis (Oh
Nigerians, we will live!) Thanks to the lovely lovely people who sent me dozens
of messages to enquire about my whereabouts on the blogosphere, in all the
oddest of questions btw. You have no idea what it meant to me and I love you
for it! I had to take a break to figure out some personal issues and evaluate
the bearing of my blog like changing the name and other stuffs… But I am back
Baby, and it is on!
Don’t hesitate
to leave personal photography tips that have worked for you in the comment
section below, this amateur is happy to learn more!
Wham
Bam! With love, EJ
Last week
Book // Anne of
green gables
Music // Love
and War by Fleurie
Movie // Anne:
the series
7 comments
Huh, I always wondered how the cameras are placed when taking flatlays, so simple a stool, of course...enlightening photography tips...my mind is blown like a lil bit, I'll be sure to indulge
ReplyDeleteThanks for the read and I can't wait to see the results X ❤ EJ
DeleteGreat tips, I'm bookmarking this.
ReplyDeleteNice tips. I'm bookmarking this.
ReplyDeleteGreat tips. I'm bookmarking this.
ReplyDeleteI am so in love with this... Captivating... I might just be an amateur photographer too��
ReplyDeleteAww thanks dear... Lol, glad to find another kindred spirit ❤ EJ
DeleteEager to hear your thoughts!