4 Easy Ways To Create Depth in Your Photos

when i first began my journey with photography, i was always obsessed and stressed with making sure everything in the frame was in focus at the same time.  i thought that is what made me a good photographer.  as i continued my journey with photography, i started playing around with depth and found that i began to create better images once i had a focal point paired with some blur.  when i create depth in my photos, i find that i connect more with my images and like the result a lot better and am able to tell my story in a way that is more powerful.  creating depth is actually really simple and easy, if you know how to do it.  check out these 4 easy ways to create depth in your photos.

having photos that contain depth is a game changer.  read about the importance of creating depth in photos to see why depth is so powerful.

4 Easy Ways To Create Depth In Your Photos

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1.  Use A Low Aperture

using a low aperture is a quick and easy way to create depth in your photos.  setting your camera to f/2.8 or lower allows you to place your focus point on your subject, while creating blur in your foreground and background.  doing this allows your subject to pop, while blurring the surroundings and creating depth.  in the photo above of the yarn, i set my sigma 50mm f/1.4 lens to an aperture of f/1.4, placed my focus on the wire rim on the basket and created depth by blurring both the yarn in the foreground and the wooden floor in the background.  placing your focal points on different subjects (for example, on the yarn, on the basket, on the floor) allows you to create completely different photos that tell different stories because of depth.

 2.  Photograph From A Low Angle

one of the easiest, and my favorite, ways to quickly create depth in your photos is by photographing from a low angle.  when you photograph from a low angle, you can place your focal point on a subject that is further into the frame and blur your foreground.  this will encourage your viewer to come into your photos as they are drawn into your frame and rest their eye on your focal point.  this is also a wonderful way to create leading lines, if you have lines available.  you can either set your camera on the floor, or lay on your belly while photographing to achieve this.

the photo above of the tree was taken with my lensbaby composer pro sweet 35.

3.  Lens Choice

you can use just about any lens to create depth, but having a lens with a low aperture capability is one of the easiest ways to create depth in your photos.  by using a lens with a low aperture, you can set your f stop to f/2.8 or lower to easily create more blur in your images, as you create a crisp focal point.  my favorite lenses for creating depth are my sigma art 24mm f/1.4 lens, sigma 50mm f/1.4 lens, and my lensbaby composer pro sweet 35 lens.  again, it is important to note that you can create depth with higher apertures as well, as you get creative with your composition.

4.  Shoot Through Things

i love using this method to create depth, it’s so easy if you know what to look for!  shooting through things helps create depth in your photos by framing your subject in a unique way.  for the photos above, i chose to photograph my daughter through the slats of her crib.  for the photo on the right, i wanted to create depth so i took a step back and photographed through the crib slats, while keeping the crib within the frame.

look for anything that will naturally frame your subject like doorways and windows.  any hallow opening, whether it be the handle on a coffee mug or wheels on a bike offer you the opportunity to shoot through it as you photograph your subject from the other side of your framed object.

creating depth in your photos is something that will quickly elevate your photography.  it is something that will instantly make your photo more interesting and compelling, not to mention three dimensional.  because we view our world three dimensionally, creating depth in your photos will help portray the world as we would naturally see it.  this helps create realism and makes your photographs come to life more.  keep these 4 easy ways to create depth in mind as you pick up your camera.

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