in the world of self portraits, we have come a long way from sitting in a chair and looking straight at the camera. today, self portraits are so much more than that. they tell people who we are and what we are passionate above. they tell people what makes us happy and what makes us afraid. the modern self portrait is so much more than an expression on one’s face. chuck palahnuik says, “your handwriting. the way you walk. which china pattern you choose. it’s all giving you away. everything you do shows your hand. everything is a self-portrait. everything is a diary.” that quote is just so rich and true. everything we do is a representation of ourselves, and our self portraits are one of the ways we can introduce our true self within the frame. as you are preparing to take a self portrait, try out these 5 ideas for being more creative with your portrait. you may just like the results!
need help learning how to take a self-portrait? check out my step-by-step guide to taking a self-portrait with a DSLR.
this post contains affiliate links. thank you in advance for supporting bethadilly photography.
The Modern Self Portrait : 5 Ways To Be More Creative With Selfies
.jpg "The Modern Self Portrait : 5 Ways To Be More Creative With Selfies | Bethadilly Photography")
the self portraits in the post were achieved using : nikon d750, sigma art 24mm f/1.4 lens, and tripod.
1. Incorporate Movement
movement is something that is really compelling in a photograph. it allows you to portray yourself in a more real way, as you aren’t frozen within the frame. there are so many ways to incorporate movement in a portray from flipping your hair, spinning around, jumping, etc. remember, you set the tone for your self portrait and movement can be a wonderful way to encourage tone and expression.
2. Faceless
when we think of portrait, we instantly think of eyes, nose, mouth. but, believe it or not, you don’t have to have your face visible or present within the frame to have a self portrait. sometimes faceless is very powerful. whether you decide to cover your face with a book, turn to the side to hide your face, or crop your face out of the frame entirely, consider how creating a faceless self portrait could be really interesting.
3. Include Someone Else
while individual portraits are lovely and necessary, sometimes including another person within the frame is a wonderful idea. i like to do this with my daughter. while i still consider it a portrait, i love to include her within the frame with me because she helps to tell a story about the time in my life. children change so quickly in their appearance and having them present within the frame helps to put a time stamp on the portrait. when i look back on a portrait of myself and my daughter together, seeing her age helps me remember when the photo was taken.
.jpg "The Modern Self Portrait : 5 Ways To Be More Creative With Selfies | Bethadilly Photography")
4. Include an Activity
portraits don’t have to be boring or stiff, the can simply document what you are doing. whether that is putting a baby down for a nap or reading a book, it’s okay to be doing something within your portrait. remember, you don’t have to be sitting and staring at the camera in a self portrait, you can be documenting true life. i like to do portraits in the car, in my office as i am working, etc. using a wide angle lens can be really fun with self portraits, as it can include more of your environment within the frame, instead of just you.
5. Base Your Portrait on a Life Event
if you are feeling stuck with how to be creative with a self portrait, base it on a life event. sometimes i simply take a self portrait to document a time in my life, whether that is to document just having a baby, moving, a trip, etc. sometimes it is hard to be inspired to just randomly get in front of the frame, although i argue that you definitely should do this routinely. taking advantage of life events to give opportunity for a self portrait can be a great motivator.
the modern self portrait can be really refreshing because it is more about you and expression. it is about telling someone who you are and what your life is about. there are so many things that you can tell your viewer through the modern self portrait and, by keeping these five things in mind, you can be encouraged to be more creative when getting in front of the camera.
be sure to join my exclusive email list to receive my latest photography tips and tutorials. it’s free!
need some photography tips + inspiration? check out what posts are trending below!
.jpg "The Modern Self Portrait : 5 Ways To Be More Creative With Selfies | Bethadilly Photography")
when it comes to photographing your everyday, it should be easy right? but sometimes it isn’t as simple as we initially thought. sometimes we feel like our lives aren’t pretty enough or interesting enough. or maybe we feel like our house is too messy or our kids won’t cooperate. there are many reasons why the simple act of photographing our everyday isn’t so…simple. but it can be. it can! there is a game changing secret to photographing your everyday and i am going to spill the secret.
The Gamechanging Secret To Photographing Your Everyday
.jpg "The Gamechanging Secret To Photographing Your Everyday | Bethadilly Photography")
the everyday photograph is the gamechanging secret that will inspire you to pick up your camera and document your daily life, regardless of the messy house or the uncooperative kids. learn how to look past all of life’s little imperfections and pick up your camera anyways. many of us struggle, thinking our homes need to look like the homes in magazines in order to photograph well and that is simply not true.
this ebook will show you what choices you should be making when photographing your everyday to turn ordinary moments into compelling photographs. with my tips for how to see beauty in your everyday you will begin to see your day to day in a new way. you will also get a list of daily photography inspiration that will help encourage you to photograph, even on the days when you are feeling a little uninspired. and trust me, we all have those days of uninspiration.
stop letting your life go undocumented, it’s time for you to pick up your camera and take those pictures! don’t wait for the house to be clean enough, the kids to be looking straight at the camera, or the light to be the brightest, but instead be inspired to photograph regardless. sometimes we spent too much time waiting for the perfect photography conditions that we miss the moment entirely and instead of left with pictures, we are left with regret.
are you feeling like you are simply stuck in a daily routine that looks the same every single day and, therefore, leaves your photography uninspired? i will show you how a repetitive routine is actually a good thing and will also give you a list of 100 things you can and should photograph. yep, you will walk away with at least 100 ideas of things to photograph! and that’s our biggest stumbling block, isn’t it? “it don’t have anything to photograph!” no worries, i’ve got you covered.
even better, i give you a peak into my editing world. in a 1 hour long editing video, you will watch me edit three images from beginning to end and be given insight into my thought process and what i think about when editing my images to maintain honesty and realism.
the everyday photograph is your secret to photographing your everyday and learning how to see the beauty in the ordinary moments that make up our day to day. by learning what things you should be thinking about when you pick up your camera, learn how to create a home that will photograph well (without spending money on decor!), and being inspired with photo prompts that will help spark your creativity, you will be photographing your everyday easier than you thought!
be sure to get a copy of the everyday photograph today and stop missing those beautiful everyday moments. someday you are going to look back on those moments and either wish you would have photographed them or be thankful that you did. i hope you will be thankful, instead of regretful that you didn’t take the time to photograph.
Yes, I want a copy of this eBook!
be sure to join my exclusive email list to receive my latest photography tips and tutorials. it’s free!
need some photography tips + inspiration? check out what posts are trending below!
.jpg "The Gamechanging Secret To Photographing Your Everyday | Bethadilly Photography")
the dreaded photography rut. we have all been there. it seems like one day we are taking endless photos and inspired everywhere we look, and soon after we find that we have little desire to pick up our camera. it is a natural part of being a creative. we have our ups and we have our downs when to comes to being inspired to be creative. if you feel like you are, or have been, in a photography rut…it’s okay and normal. what’s important here is not that you are in a rut, but how you will get yourself out of the rut. getting out of a photography rut can be difficult, but here are 5 things that i try when i need a boost of photography inspiration. if you have more ideas of how you tackle a photography rut, be sure to leave them in the comment section at the end of this post, i am always looking for more inspiration.
want to take better pictures? here are 3 things that you can do daily, that don’t involve picking up your camera.
this post contains affiliate links. thank you in advance for supporting bethadilly photography.
Getting Out Of A Photography Rut : 5 Things To Try To Boost Your Inspiration
.jpg "Getting Out Of A Photography Rut : 5 Things To Try To Boost Your Inspiration | Bethadilly Photography")
1. Pick Up Your Camera Anyways
getting out of a photography rut can be as simple as picking up your camera anyways. it is the biggest way to combat that lack of inspiration. how are you going to find inspiration without a camera in your hands to photograph it? during this time, it’s possible that you are going to take a bunch of pictures you hate. and that’s okay, you’re in a rut! but the act of picking up your camera is opening that door to being inspired. that inspiration may not happen on the first try, but what if it does? some of my best pictures were taken when i forced myself to drag my camera out.
if picking up your just doesn’t seem possible, give yourself a set amount of time for a photography break. but put a time limit on it. maybe try stepping away for a few days or a week, but be sure to pick up your camera again after that time period and give it another go. the worst thing you can do it set your camera down for an indefinite amount of time. out of sight, out of mind doesn’t do anything to help get you out of photography rut. but a couple days off to recharge is always good for the soul.
2. Read A Tutorial
sometimes getting out of a photography rut is easier when you look to other places, other than yourself, for inspiration. reading a tutorial is a wonderful way to do that. learning something new is a great way to spark some inspiration and motivation. most of the time, the reason we are in a photography rut in the first place is because we are bored with our photography. by reading a tutorial and encouraging yourself to try a new technique, you may just find some inspiration.
3. Make A List Of Inspiration
this is something you should be doing always, regardless if you are in a photography rut or not. having a running list of things that inspire you or photographs that you want to take will help give you a place to turn when the inspiration isn’t naturally flowing. think of it as your rainy day fund for photography ideas.
4. Photograph Something Entirely New
we tend to fall into a photography rut when we photograph the same thing all the time, whether that is the same type of client or the same room in our home. getting out of a photography rut can be as simple as photographing something entirely new. maybe that means getting in our car and driving 5 minutes to a new surrounding or finally attempting food photography. grab your camera, think of something you don’t normally photograph, and give it a go!
5. Rent Or Borrow A Lens
new gear can be a great way of getting out of a photography rut but something that we can’t all afford to do on a whim. try renting or borrowing a lens from a photography friend. this will allow you to both try something new as you are photographing and create a different look with your photographs. when we try something new, we are encouraging ourselves to think and look at photography in a new way. it is during these times of deep thought that we can find that inspiration again. one of my photography friends let me borrow her nikon 105mm lens and it was such a difference from my normal work that i found it to be very inspiring. sometimes new is really fun.
getting out of a photography rut can be hard, but it doesn’t have to be. first and foremost, be patient with yourself. remember that it is natural to feel this way from time to time and it’s only temporary. by keeping a list of photography inspiration, trying something new, reading a tutorial, picking up your camera anyways and giving a new lens a try, you are bound to jump out of that photography rut in no time. any other ideas that have worked for you? please be sure to share them with us in the comment section below, it is always really helpful to learn how others face this struggle head on.
be sure to join my exclusive email list to receive my latest photography tips and tutorials. it’s free!
need some photography tips + inspiration? check out what posts are trending below!
.jpg "Getting Out Of A Photography Rut : 5 Things To Try To Boost Your Inspiration | Bethadilly Photography")
street photography is one of my favorite types of photography because it involves photographing in a place that isn’t my normal day to day. it’s so refreshing to step out of the house with my camera and get a new perspective. i like to take my time, photograph from a variety of angles and seek out the elements that really inspire me and my photography. while doing street photography, there are lots of places that will draw your eye that beg to be photographed. the inspiration can be proven to be endless. but if you are feeling a little uninspired or aren’t sure where to seek out the inspiration, be sure to look to these following 5 places.
as you prepare to head out, are you making the best lens choice for street photography?
this post contains affiliate links. thank you in advance for supporting bethadilly photography.
Street Photography : 5 Places To Look For Inspiration
.jpg "Street Photography : 5 Places To Look For Inspiration | Bethadilly Photography")
1. Horizons
i think we tend to forget about horizons during street photography and tend to associate them only with landscape photography. but horizons in buildings can be very fascinating and they can make for a very intriguing photo. unlike the normal horizontal horizon that you would find in nature, you have the ability and creative freedom to incorporate even more lines into your horizons through the use of buildings. and we all know, lines always are begging to be photographed.
all images in this post were taken with my nikon d750 and sigma art 24mm f/1.4 lens.
.jpg "Street Photography : 5 Places To Look For Inspiration | Bethadilly Photography")
2. What’s Beneath Your Feet
don’t forget to look down, as you are going about your street photography. where are you walking? you will be surprised how much inspiration can be found beneath your feet, whether it be in the lines on the sidewalk or the signs of spring peeking around the walking stones.
.jpg "Street Photography : 5 Places To Look For Inspiration | Bethadilly Photography")
3. Reflections
street photography lends us the opportunity to use reflections and you should definitely do so. whether you are searching for reflections in windows on cars or in shop windows, be sure to have fun with photographing reflections. you can also find reflections in mirrors or in wet surfaces, like puddles.
.jpg "Street Photography : 5 Places To Look For Inspiration | Bethadilly Photography")
4. Textures or Patterns
as you are engaging in street photography, keep in mind that textures and patterns photograph really well. they add an element of interest and realism to a photo and should be incorporated into your photos, when possible. textures and patterns can be found almost everywhere as you look in: streets, buildings, nature, signs, etc.
.jpg "Street Photography : 5 Places To Look For Inspiration | Bethadilly Photography")
5. Pops of Color
incorporating pops of color is a really fun way to add interest to your photo and a really obvious thing to notice while partaking in street photography. it adds an element of visual interest to your photo and pops of color can be found in traffic signs, advertisements, food, clothing, etc.
street photography really does offer us endless possibilities for photography and there are countless ways we can seek out inspiration. as you are preparing yourself for an outing, be sure to look to the textures, colors, horizons, reflections and note what is beneath your feet as you are being inspired with your camera.
be sure to join my exclusive email list to receive my latest photography tips and tutorials. it’s free!
need some photography tips + inspiration? check out what posts are trending below!
.jpg "Street Photography : 5 Places To Look For Inspiration | Bethadilly Photography")
one of the most powerful ways to bring attention to, and maintain attention on, your photo is through the use of framing. framing your subject in an image is much like framing a picture in a picture frame, you are surrounding your subject with a barrier. this doesn’t have to be straight lines, it can be any surrounding that surrounds your subject. framing is a very useful way to make a strong image because, through the use of framing, your are showcasing your subject. when your subject is framed by something else, it shows the viewer exactly where you want them to focus their attention. also, because you are buffering your subject with a natural frame, you are encouraging your viewer’s eye to stay on your subject instead of wander off towards the edges of the frame. the natural framing encourages the viewer’s eye away from the edges of the frame and towards your subject. to bring more clarity to how you can frame your subject, check out the examples below.
do you want to take better pictures, but don’t have much time to practice with your camera? check out 3 days tasks to improve your photography without taking pictures.
this post contains affiliate links. thank you in advance for supporting bethadilly photography.
Framing Your Subject : How The Use of Framing Makes Your Image Stronger
.jpg "Framing Your Subject : How The Use of Framing Makes Your Image Stronger | Bethadilly Photography")
while framing your subject can be done with practically any lens, i find it easiest to incorporate framing into my images when i use my sigma 24mm f/1.4 art lens. because it is a wide angle lens, it allows me to get more of my surroundings within the frame, allowing me the opportunity to incorporate elements i want to use to frame my subject, as well as my subject itself.
.jpg "Framing Your Subject : How The Use of Framing Makes Your Image Stronger | Bethadilly Photography")
framing can be done through the use of anything that has an opening or that you can see through, such as tubes, glass, openings in trees, etc. in the image above, i incorporated framing into the image by using the hanging lights in our dining room to frame my daughter, eating in her high chair.
.jpg "Framing Your Subject : How The Use of Framing Makes Your Image Stronger | Bethadilly Photography")
most commonly done, framing can be accomplished through the use of windows and doorways. windows and doorways provide a natural square or rectangular frame the lends very nicely to framing your subject. in the image above i used a doorway to frame my daughter and i in the image. through thoughtful use of light, i also framed us in bright light, while using darker edges to surround us and to further frame us. the contrast between light and dark also acts as a frame, keeping the viewer’s eye from wandering to the edge of the frame and, instead, encouraging the viewer to place their focus on the intentioned subjects.
.jpg "Framing Your Subject : How The Use of Framing Makes Your Image Stronger | Bethadilly Photography")
it’s important to note that your frame doesn’t necessarily have to have four sides, like a picture frame does. it simply acts as a cushion for your subject. in the image above, i framed the two puppies in the natural frame of the doorway.
.jpg "Framing Your Subject : How The Use of Framing Makes Your Image Stronger | Bethadilly Photography")
you can either photograph your subject on the same focal plane as the item you are framing with or you can blur your framing by placing your subject and your framing element on two different focal planes. in the previous example of the baby framed by the dining room lights, the framed item (the lights) were on a different focal plane than the baby (the subject), so they created a soft frame as they were blurred in the foreground. in the example above, the baby’s hand (subject) and the crib rails (frame) are on the same focal plane, both achieving focus. neither technique is right or wrong, it simply depends on the look you are going for.
framing your subject is a really fun way to bring more interest to your photograph. it allows you to keep your viewer’s eye on your subject as your framing elements discourage their eye from wandering towards the edge of the frame. in turn, this makes your image so much stronger because your viewer is keeping their attention where you want it to be, for a longer amount of time. there are so many things you can use to frame your subject, the possibilities are truly endless.
be sure to join my exclusive email list to receive my latest photography tips and tutorials. it’s free!
need some photography tips + inspiration? check out what posts are trending below!