when it comes to camera straps, i like to use something other than the stock strap that comes with my camera. while i am sure they are good straps, they are just plain ugly and i think that a nice camera strap is a really fun way to dress up your camera and show your personality as a photographer.
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i have gone through several camera straps and most have either not worn well or have simply been too cheap looking. and i think it is just plain wrong to put a cheap strap on an expensive camera. after gushing over foto straps for far too long, i finally took the plunge and invested in one for myself. best decision ever. not only is the quality top notch, but the strap is really comfortable to wear. i also love that these straps have the comfort of a canvas strap with a really nice ergonomic shoulder pad, but have a beautiful leather addition to make the strap visually attractive. when all is said and done, this strap is just darn gorgeous. and nice cameras truly deserve quality camera straps.
photographing my everyday is one of my passions. to inspire your everyday photography, be sure to read the everyday photograph.
Camera Straps: The Only Strap You Want To Use
.jpg "Camera Straps: The Only Strap You Want To Use | Bethadilly Photography")
while some photographers choose to not put a camera strap on their camera, i am 100% a camera strap user. being a newborn and family photographer, i am always photographing from a variety of angles, including from above. i would never, ever photograph anyone or anything from above without my camera attached to a camera strap that is firmly around my neck. my camera and my subject are just too precious for that.
additionally, camera straps simply make everyday photography more manageable. whether you are photographing your kids or heading on a street photography outing, camera straps make photographing so convenient. and honestly, when i wear my camera on my camera strap and have my camera constantly ready and available, my photography is so much better. there is nothing worse than constantly having to pull your camera out of your camera bag each and every time you want to use it.
when it comes to camera straps, i have found the only strap that i will ever use. in fact, i am ordering another one as i type for my backup camera. these camera straps are seriously the bees knees and i truly think every camera deserves to be held by one. in the end, yes the price my make you hesitate for a second but know that once your strap arrives in the mail and you attach it to your camera, your only regret will be wishing you would have bought one sooner.
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with the prompt for week 22 of the bethadilly 52 being reflection, i had many ideas in mind when thinking of how i would incorporate a reflection into my image. and like many of my favorite images, this image was created out of spontaneity.
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if there is one thing that i love about riding in the car with a little one, it’s watching her reactions in the rear seat baby mirror. and i love that when i turn around to smile at her, she smiles right back. as we were heading to dinner the other night and my husband was buckling her in, i just happened to have my camera with me to photograph this moment. and while my focal point is on my husband, i love that this is a creative use of a reflection that continues the story for the viewer. without the reflection of her sweet face, we would have an incomplete story because only a sliver of her head is visible within the frame. by adding this simple reflection, the viewer instantly knows what my husband is doing and who he is interacting with.
photographing my everyday is one of my passions. to inspire your everyday photography, be sure to read the everyday photograph.
to join in on the bethadilly 52, where we take one photo a week using the hashtag #thebethadilly52 on instagram, check out the prompt list.
The Bethadilly 52 Week 22 – Reflection
.jpg "The Bethadilly 52 Week 22 - Reflection | Bethadilly Photography")
this photo was achieved using : my nikon and wide angle lens.
my settings were : ISO 200 | f/1.4 | 1/200ss
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to learn more about photographing reflections, be sure to read 3 key tips for capturing reflections within photographs.
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when it comes to everyday photography, one of the biggest hurdles for photographers is finding inspiration when they are stuck in a daily routine. sometimes our routines can make us feel restricted with our photography, as we feel like we are photographing the same thing over and over again. and while this may seem like the case, it doesn’t have to be. here are 5 ways that you can still find inspiration, even when you are stuck in the same daily routine.
check out my latest ebook, the everyday photograph. it’s a guide to seeing the beauty of your everyday!
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Everyday Photography: 5 Ways To Find Inspiration When You Are Stuck In A Routine
.jpg "Everyday Photography: 5 Ways To Find Inspiration When You Are Stuck In A Routine | Bethadilly Photography")
1. Let Your Routine Inspire Creativity
instead of looking at your routine as a bad thing, let it be a good thing for your photography. sure, the same thing happens every single day. but use that as a challenge to photograph the event differently each time. for us, every morning starts with cheerios in the high chair. and while this happens every day, i like to challenge myself to photograph this event differently each time. some days, i focus on your hands full of cheerios and other days i focus on the dog and tell the story of how he loves to watch for a cheerio to fall on the floor. instead of feeling restricted by your daily routine, seek comfort in knowing that you can experiment with your photography and, should it not work, you can try again the following day when the routine repeats.
.jpg "Everyday Photography: 5 Ways To Find Inspiration When You Are Stuck In A Routine | Bethadilly Photography")
2. Read The Everyday Photograph
if you feel like you are struggling with seeing the beauty of your everyday and want to be happier with your everyday photography, be sure to read the everyday photograph. it is a wonderful guide that will help you learn how to find beauty in the simple things that surround you and how you can photograph ordinary things, like coffee cups and laundry, in a more compelling way. if you are always feeling like your house is too messy or your kids won’t cooperate for photos, the everyday photograph will help inspire you to get great photos despite it all. this ebook truly is a game changer for everyday photography and has inspired many photographers to take better images of their everyday.
.jpg "Everyday Photography: 5 Ways To Find Inspiration When You Are Stuck In A Routine | Bethadilly Photography")
3. Let Light Inspire You
natural light is one of those secrets to really great photos and can certainly elevate your everyday photography. turn off the lights in your home and watch how the natural light begins to play on your belongings. watch how something as simple as light can take a boring overflowing basket of laundry and turn it into something that is beautiful.
.jpg "Everyday Photography: 5 Ways To Find Inspiration When You Are Stuck In A Routine | Bethadilly Photography")
4. Change Your Perspective
one of the best things you can do for your everyday photograph is change your perspective. as you are going about your daily routine, constantly challenge yourself to think through your perspective in order to create a more intriguing image. should you stand further away, or get up close? should you photograph from above, or photograph from the side? should you include the setting in your photo, or move closer to only include your subject? by thinking through these things every time you pick up your camera, you can encourage yourself to photograph your everyday with intention. in the image above, i want to tell the story of our puppy being tempted by the rice puff that was on our baby’s highchair tray. in order to create a more compelling image, i decided to get closer to capture not only the expression of the puppy, but to ensure that the viewer knew what he was being tempted by.
.jpg "Everyday Photography: 5 Ways To Find Inspiration When You Are Stuck In A Routine | Bethadilly Photography")
5. Jump In The Frame
while getting in the frame always seems so daunting, it is one of the best ways to photograph your everyday. your everyday. you. be sure to include yourself in your everyday photography. even when your day feels like a routine, let it inspire you to jump in the frame and capture you living out that routine. in the image above, i wanted to capture our daily routine of cherrios for baby and coffee for mama. and even though this may seem like an ordinary moment, years from now i will want to look back and remember this exact routine. what seems boring and routine today will certainly be cherished tomorrow and in the years ahead.
do you need help with self portraits? be sure to read my step by step guiding for taking self portraits with a dslr.
as someone who lives in a routine day in and day out, i am intentional about not allowing my routine to hinder my everyday photography. instead, i let my routine inspire it. by constantly changing my perspective, jumping in the frame to preserve memories, allowing light to inspire me and being intentional with creativity, i am more happy than ever with my daily photography. and i am also thankful. because someday i will look back at these images and lovingly remember how beautiful our routine was.
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.jpg "Everyday Photography: 5 Ways To Find Inspiration When You Are Stuck In A Routine | Bethadilly Photography")
when it comes to photographing indoors, most people are very surprised that i will intentionally turn off all of the lights before taking out my camera. but really, besides thinking through my camera settings, turning off the lights is one of the most important things i do to ensure a successful photo. when it comes to photography, i have always focused on natural light and learning to work with the light that i am given. natural light photography simply lends to better, more honest images. as you prepare to photograph indoors, here are 6 reasons you should turn off the lights.
if you need help seeing the beauty in the little moments of your everyday, be sure to check out my ebook the everyday photograph.
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Natural Light Photography: 6 Reasons You Should Turn Off The Lights
.jpg "Natural Light Photography: 6 Reasons You Should Turn Off The Lights | Bethadilly Photography")
1. Better Skin Tones
skin is something that soaks up and reflects color so easily. knowing this, you want to make sure you aren’t casting any unnatural color onto the skin. overhead lighting and artificial light can make the skin look yellow and unnatural. by turning off the lights and only using natural light sources, you are able to capture skin as it truly is and preserve skin tones.
be sure to read more about color casts and how to avoid them.
.jpg "Natural Light Photography: 6 Reasons You Should Turn Off The Lights | Bethadilly Photography")
2. Shadows Will Fall Naturally
when using natural light, the shadows will naturally fall where they should, based on how your subject is positioned towards the light, and will create a more honest and flattering look. overhead lighting can make shadows appear in unnatural places, such as under the eyes and nose, which can be very unflattering.
.jpg "Natural Light Photography: 6 Reasons You Should Turn Off The Lights | Bethadilly Photography")
3. Better Global White Balance
with natural light photography, you are only using one light source: the natural light. when you are only using one light source, you are only working with one white balance and your white balance will globally be the same. in the image above, my only light source was the natural light coming from the windows on camera left and right. if i were to have turned on the lamp, i would have competing white balances: the harsh yellow from the artificial lamp light and the cooler white balance from the outdoor light source. by only using natural light and turning all other lights off, you are eliminating uneven and competing white balance issues within your frame.
.jpg "Natural Light Photography: 6 Reasons You Should Turn Off The Lights | Bethadilly Photography")
4. Natural Light Surprises
when you turn off artificial light and only use natural light, you will be surprised and what you will discover. in the image above, all of the light were off in my bedroom before i picked up my camera, with only a 6 inch opening in the blinds positioned behind the baby. through those blinds entered beautiful light, which acted as my sole light source. when you turn off all the lights and play with the natural light you are given, you are bound to see that natural light comes with a lot of beautiful surprises that can make for very compelling images.
need help combating low light? here are some tips for working in low light situations.
.jpg "Natural Light Photography: 6 Reasons You Should Turn Off The Lights | Bethadilly Photography")
5. Depict Realism
natural light photography simply depicts realism. it allows you to photograph what you see, accurately. in the image above, i wanted to capture how the light honestly played on the baby’s feet while she was eating and, by only using natural light, i was able to portray the scene as i was seeing it in present day.
.jpg "Natural Light Photography: 6 Reasons You Should Turn Off The Lights | Bethadilly Photography")
6. You Are Given Ultimate Control
natural light photography means that you are in ultimate control of your light. instead of relying on artificial light and it’s uncertainties of how it will play on your subject, you are given the creative freedom to move closer or further away from the light or control how much light is let into the room, through blinds and curtains. in the image above, i purposefully positioned myself and my baby close to the light source (the window) in order to create deep shadows. should i have stood across the room, further from the light, i wouldn’t have created as many shadows as i originally wanted.
i promise you, one of the best things you can do for your photography is use natural light. natural light photography is so honest and rich, allowing you to accurately depict the scene as you see it in real life. it allows you to take full control of your light, capture skin tones accurately, play with shadows naturally, improve your white balance and depict realism with your camera.
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.jpg "Natural Light Photography: 6 Reasons You Should Turn Off The Lights | Bethadilly Photography")
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I loved reading your post! I use natural light in my photography sessions and when my clients ask me what is “natural light photography” and why I use it, I sometimes fall short of describing how awesome this technique can be. I will have to reference your reasons to help explain how natural light photography just makes the whole session more organic!!ReplyCancel
one of the biggest things i have learned about photography and storytelling is that you don’t need to include your subject’s face in order to create a strong image. in fact, purposefully creating a faceless portrait has it’s benefits and can actually make an image more compelling. there are several times when you may want to consider omitting your subject’s face in a portrait and so many ways you can do so. while we can tell a lot about a person by their face, sometimes their face can take away from the story we are trying to tell in our image.
if you need help seeing the beauty in the little moments of your everyday, be sure to check out my ebook the everyday photograph.
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The Power of Faceless: 5 Times You Should Consider A Faceless Portrait
.jpg "The Power of Faceless: 5 Times You Should Consider A Faceless Portrait | Bethadilly Photography")
1. To Create Realism
real life doesn’t mean your subject is always looking at you, it means that they are interacting with their environment. a faceless portrait could be as simple as capturing a moment from above, as your subject naturally goes about their activity. in the image above, i purposefully chose to photograph a faceless portrait to keep the viewer’s attention on the block in the baby’s hand. even though the baby’s face isn’t shown, her head is tilted towards the block, guiding us to look at when she is looking at.
need help photographing successfully from above?
.jpg "The Power of Faceless: 5 Times You Should Consider A Faceless Portrait | Bethadilly Photography")
2. To Create Surprise or Tension
one of the reasons why a faceless portrait can be so powerful is because it surprises the viewer. the viewer expects to see eyes, nose and mouth when presented with a human subject. by omitting the face entirely, you are creatively creating surprise or tension with your viewer. when a viewer is surprised, they tend to look at a photo a little longer because of their reaction. in the self portrait above, i omitted my face with my moving hair. because i am faceless towards the camera with most of my body within the frame, the viewer would initially expect to see my face. when they don’t, they are caught by surprise, making this a more powerful portrait that leaves a lasting impression…all because it is faceless.
to read more about self portraits, be sure to check out the modern self portrait: how to get more creative with selfies.
.jpg "The Power of Faceless: 5 Times You Should Consider A Faceless Portrait | Bethadilly Photography")
3. To Build Curiosity
a faceless portrait is known to surprise the viewer, but it is also known to build curiosity. this can be done by turning your subject away from the camera, or photographing them from behind with their back towards the camera. when a subject is turned away from the camera, whether it is just with their head or with their entire body, the viewer is instantly curious about what is drawing their attention away from the camera. this can help create a stronger image that tells a story. in the image above, the baby’s head is turned away from the camera and looking out the window. this encourages the viewer to wonder what is drawing her attention and makes them think about what is beyond the window.
.jpg "The Power of Faceless: 5 Times You Should Consider A Faceless Portrait | Bethadilly Photography")
4. To Create A Story
sometimes it is better to create a faceless portrait in order to tell a clear story. when a viewer is looking at a photo that contains a face, their eye immediately goes to the subject’s eyes. but sometimes, that is not where you want your viewer to look. sometimes that is not the story you are trying to tell. in the image above, i was telling a story of a baby learning to feed herself. i wanted the viewer’s eye to focus on the baby’s hand and the cheerios on the tray. because i knew that the viewer would look at the baby’s face if i kept it within the frame, i purposefully cropped it in camera with my composition when shooting with my wide angle lens.
.jpg "The Power of Faceless: 5 Times You Should Consider A Faceless Portrait | Bethadilly Photography")
5. To Be Creative
as we become creative with our photographing and storytelling, this means placing our focus on different focal points in order to tell a stronger story. in the image above, i wanted to tell a story of the baby pulling herself up on the side of the crib and used a low aperture of f/1.4 on my wide angle lens to place sharp focus on her little hands and blur her in the background. because her face is not in focus, the viewer is told that the story is to remain in her little hands.
when taking portraits of people, be sure to consider how creating a faceless portrait can add more interest to your image and build it’s strength. by being creative with your aperture and focal points, using creative crops, shooting from above, having your subject turn away, or purposefully obstructing their face with another object you are helping to create a strong story that your viewer will appreciate. remember, while portraits are beautiful, sometimes a faceless portrait can prove to be very powerful.
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.jpg "The Power of Faceless: 5 Times You Should Consider A Faceless Portrait | Bethadilly Photography")