the idea of self portraiture used to be really intimidating to me but, since becoming a mama, it is something that i find that i do quite regularly. no one else is going to document moments of motherhood and it is up to me to build the memories with my camera, and i want to be included in those memories. with week 10 of The Bethadilly 52 focusing on self portraiture, i took the opportunity to get in front of the camera during nap time to snap a solo self portrait. i wanted to create something fun and carefree, a way to portray a different side of my personality. i liked the idea of playing with the concept of movement and the idea of comparing the constrast of moving hair paired with standing on solid ground. i demonstrate solidarity in my stance, yet portray movement through my hair. i found the contrast between the two to be quite interesting and was really happy with how this self portrait turned out. not to mention, there were a lot of really fun outtakes during this process…some that i will definitely be sharing later.
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.
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The Bethadilly 52 Week 10 – Self Portraiture
.jpg "The Bethadilly 52 Week 10 - Self Portraiture | Bethadilly Photography")
this photo was achieved using : nikon d750, sigma art 24mm f/1.4 lens, and tripod.
my settings were : ISO 400 | f/2.8 | 1/125ss
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to learn more about how to so self portraiture, be sure to read this step-by-step guide for take self portraits with a DSLR.
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one of our biggest goals as photographers is creating connection with our audience, through our photography. photographs that make our audience feel and think are the photos that are the most successful and powerful. they are the photos that leave a lasting impression on our audience and are remembered long after they stop looking at them. so how do we go about creating connection with our audience to create those powerful and lasting impressions? it is much easier than you would think, if you just incorporate one of the following 7 things into your images.
do you want to improve your photography, but don’t have time to pick up your camera every day? here are 3 things that i do daily to improve my photography that don’t involve taking pictures.
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Creating Connection : 7 Ways To Create Photos That Connect With Your Viewer
.jpg "Creating Connection : 7 Ways To Create Photos That Connect With Your Viewer | Bethadilly Photography")
there are a variety of ways you can create connection with your viewer, but i tend to build connection through the following 7 ways.
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1. Connect With Their 5 Senses
a viewer can be quickly drawn into an image that captivates their five senses. you can do this by adding texture to your images, making your viewer want to reach out and touch a loaf of banana bread. although obvious, food photography is a great way to connect with the viewer’s sense of smell and taste. if you are wanting to connect with their sense of hearing, don’t be afraid to photograph things that are both loud and quiet in nature, like giggling children or a peaceful waterfall. there are so many ways to connect with the viewer’s 5 senses and it’s an easy way to accomplish a photography goal of creating connection.
.jpg "Creating Connection : 7 Ways To Create Photos That Connect With Your Viewer | Bethadilly Photography")
2. Bring the Viewer Into Your Image
think of how you can compose your image so that the viewer is pulled into your image. pulling a viewer into an image means that they are quickly moving from the edges of the frame to the intended subject, and also feel like they are move towards the subject. this can be done easily with leading lines, as the lines accompany the viewer quickly to the subject. in the photo above, i brought the viewer into the frame through my use of light. i purposefully darkened the edges of the frame to provide a contrast between the unimportant dark areas and the important bright area, where i wanted the viewer to look. through my use of light and leading lines, i am creating connection with my viewer as they visually enter the frame.
using a wide angle lens can help with creating leading lines, as you are able to include more of your surroundings within the frame.
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3. Have Your Subject Connect With Something
creating connection can be as simple as having your subject connect with something, such as a toy. this adds a little more purpose and connection to your image, versus a baby being by themselves. the most common way to create connection with another object is by waiting for the subject to interact with it. in the example above, the subject is connecting with the toy. it is important to note that this connection doesn’t have to be huge, it can be a simple touch.
.jpg "Creating Connection : 7 Ways To Create Photos That Connect With Your Viewer | Bethadilly Photography")
4. Have Your Subject Connect With Someone
one of the easiest ways to create connection in an image is to have two subjects, connecting with one another. not only does this show obvious connection, but it allows you to encourage emotion within the frame. and emotion is a very powerful connector to your audience.
.jpg "Creating Connection : 7 Ways To Create Photos That Connect With Your Viewer | Bethadilly Photography")
5. Make Your Viewer Feel Something
images that make me feel something are images that i remember. whether they make me feel happy or sad, scared or confused…images that evoke some type of thought or feeling are creating a connection with the viewer. in the image above, i connected with my viewer by creating the emotion of wonderment. through the use of light, shadows, and leading lines i am pulling the viewer into the image and allowing them to focus on the wondering gaze of my subject.
.jpg "Creating Connection : 7 Ways To Create Photos That Connect With Your Viewer | Bethadilly Photography")
6. Connect Your Subject To You Viewer
eye contact is a powerful way to create connection between the subject and the viewer. you are looking at one another! just as eye contact is important and powerful in real life, if can be important and powerful in an image when creating connection. most of the photos i take of my subject do not include eye contact, but when they do it’s a wonderful way to connect with the viewer.
.jpg "Creating Connection : 7 Ways To Create Photos That Connect With Your Viewer | Bethadilly Photography")
7. Connect Through Relatable Moments
be real. bring realism into your images and create a connection with your viewer by being relatable. you can do this by creating real emotion with your photography and photographing moments that make your viewer think, “i know exactly how that feels.” in the image above, my goal was to not only create a connection with my daughter, but as a whole i was creating connection with my mama audience when portraying the heartwarming moments of motherhood.
need help creating more emotion in your images? check out what 4 eye-catching ways you can bring more emotion into your photography.
be sure to join my exclusive email list to receive my latest photography tips and tutorials. it’s free!
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.jpg "Creating Connection : 7 Ways To Create Photos That Connect With Your Viewer | Bethadilly Photography")
one of the attributes to a really successful photo is balance. when you create a photo that has balance, you are allowing your viewer to feel a sense of balance and you are giving off a sense of visual harmony. it is what makes your photo work. creating balanced photos is really easy, you just need to be mindful about what you are photographing and how you are composing your image. by keeping these 5 secrets in mind, you will be able to create more balanced images.
another visually pleasing element in photographs is bokeh. check out some easy tips for creating bokeh in just seconds!
Creating Balanced Photos : 5 Secrets To Creating Visual Balance
.jpg "Creating Balanced Photos : 5 Secrets To Creating Visual Balance | Bethadilly Photography")
when you create visual balance for your viewer, you are allowing your viewer to feel comfortable and harmonious with your image. when your viewer is comfortable, they tend to look at your image longer. when your image does not have balance, it creates discomfort with the viewer and they tend to glance away quicker.
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1. Balance Your Tones
there is such a thing as too bright and too dark, you need some balance. if you have a completely white room, balance it out with some color. it doesn’t need to be a harsh contrast, but a contrast in any form. in the photo above, the setting was fairly bright and all the surroundings were very pale and neutral. by placing the puppy in the frame, i am balancing out all of the bright white and pale blue bedspread with a contrasting color, as a way of creating balance. the contrast in tones also allows my viewer to immediately notice my subject and know where in the frame their eye should be placed.
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2. Incorporate Reflections
reflections are a wonderful secret for creating balanced photos. reflections are mirror images of an object and can be found in mirrors, on glass surfaces, on windows, in water, etc. in the photo above, i could have composed the image higher and only included the plant within the frame. instead, i decided to take a step back and get lower, allowing the reflection of the plant on the glass surface to enter the frame and create balance.
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3. Look For Repetition
repetition is a really fun way to create balance. repetition is something that is comfortable for the viewer to see because they know what to expect, removing any sense of unknowing. photographing items that repeat is a wonderful secret for creating balanced photos and can make for a very intriguing image.
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4. Use Negative Space
have a frame that is full of information can be very overwhelming to your viewer. using negative space means that you are purposefully allowing part of your photo to be blank. this makes for a really strong photo because you are creating balance by allowing the blank space to balance out the part of your image that contains all the information. in the image above, i demonstrate negative space in the bottom of my frame. using negative space in this image allows the viewer to keep their eye on the subject, without any other elements competing for attention. don’t overlook the power of having blank space within the frame.
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5. Utilize The Rule of Thirds
creating balanced photos is most commonly done by using the rule of thirds. more importantly, placing your subject on the right side of the frame makes your photo more successful because our audience views an image like they would read a book, from left to right. by placing your subject on the right side of the frame, you are allowing your viewer to end on your subject instead of on blank space. and we always want our subject to be the last thing our viewer sees, it helps to create a lasting impression.
creating balanced photos is really easy and, by keeping these 5 things in mind your photos are bound to contain more visual balance. using the rule of thirds, properly using negative space, looking for repetition, incorporating reflections and being aware of contrasting tones are all elements that will help you in creating balanced photos. and remember, when you have a visually balanced photo, your viewer will want to look at your photo longer.
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there are so many ways to improve photography skills and learning more about what it takes to be a photographer. most commonly, this means picking up our camera to practice that skill. but what if you don’t have the time to pick up your camera on a daily basis? i am raising my hand, here. since having a little baby, it’s hard for me to find the time to pick up my camera daily, yet i love photography so much that i really do feel the pull to learn more each day. instead of picking up my camera every single day, i now pick it up a couple times a week. and i am okay with that because i feel that, right now my photography is stronger than ever, despite the decreased amount of time i spend shooting. even though my camera is not in my hands every day, i am still taking the time to learn about photography every day. here are three daily tasks i do to learn more about photography, that don’t involve taking pictures.
if you are trying to improve your photography, be sure to make some photography goals for yourself. goal setting makes you a better photographer.
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3 Daily Tasks To Improve Photography Without Taking Pictures
.jpg "3 Daily Tasks To Improve Photography Without Taking Pictures | Bethadilly Photography")
1. Read A Photography Tutorial
one great way to improve photography skill without taking pictures is to read a photography tutorial. i do this daily. one of my favorite places to find photography tutorials is on pinterest and i love pinning tutorials to read later. every day, i will go to my pinterest to look for a tutorial that i have saved to learn something new. not only does this teach me something new about photography, but it inspires me to want to pick up my camera. again, i don’t pick up my camera every day anymore (with a very young baby), but reading a tutorial sparks that excitement for when i do get the chance to pick up my camera.
2. Edit Photos
editing every day is definitely a silent secret that will improve photography skill. not only am i editing daily to keep up on editing, but editing helps me to learn more about photography. it helps me to analyze my photos and learn what i did right, and wrong, while i was taking pictures. it helps me realize what i would do differently next time to improve my skill. if i am editing a certain way, it helps me to learn more about how i can shoot better to make editing more successful.
3. Review My Photography Goals
every month i make photography goals for myself using my powersheets. making photography goals helps to give me a sense of direction with my photography and allows me to pinpoint where i am struggling and where i want to improve. i daily review my photography goals and make plans for improvement. so far this year, i have made goals to learn more about indoor light, learn more about photoshop, learn film, and take steps in learning more about skin tones. again, this doesn’t mean picking up my camera every single day but learning about photography in a different way so that, when i do get a chance to pick up my camera, i am making the most out of it.
there are so many ways to improve photography skill that do not mean picking up your camera daily. it’s okay if you can’t manage the time to shoot daily, most of us cannot. what is important is that you are still actively learning about photography, even when it’s not through taking pictures. by reading tutorials, editing photos and being mindful of my photography goals on a daily basis, i am nurturing my photography and allowing it to grow every single day. even better, all three of these things can fit into a lunch break and…we all need a lunch break!
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according to a quick google search…by definition, bokeh is “the visual quality of the out-of-focus areas of a photographic image, especially as rendered by a particular lens.” bokeh is a beautiful element that brings so much visual interest to an image, by way of creative blur. when dappled light is available, you can also create a beautiful play on light in the form of larger, colorful circles. creating bokeh is something that is really fun to do and you can do it, in camera, in seconds. check out the two ways i quickly create bokeh, in camera, and what two camera lenses i use for creating bokeh.
another powerful way to photograph is through emotion. be sure to check out the 4 eye-catching ways to create emotion in photographs.
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Creating Bokeh : Tips For Creating Bokeh in Seconds
.jpg "Creating Bokeh : Tips For Creating Bokeh in Seconds | Bethadilly Photography")
Lens Choice For Creating Bokeh
lenses that have a lower aperture capability are the best choice for creating bokeh. i love to use my sigma 24mm art f/1.4 lens and my sigma 50mm art f/1.4 lens, as both have lower aperture capability, allowing me to create more of a visual distance between my foreground and background. and that is when the beauty of bokeh is created. generally, i find that using an aperture of f/2.8 or lower is a great choice for creating bokeh.
Tip 1 : Intentional Out Of Focus
the first way to create bokeh would be to intentionally create an image that is out of focus. for the image above, i was walking in georgetown in the middle of rush hour traffic and was drawn to all the beautiful lights created by the traffic signs, cars, and surrounding buildings. using my nikon d750 and sigma 24mm art f/1.4 lens, i placed my lens on manual focus and intentionally unfocused the image before pressing the shutter button. when doing this, my entire image fell out of focus, which was my intended goal. as a result, the light from the traffic lights, cars and shops fell out of focus and created beautiful, eye-catching bokeh.
.jpg "Creating Bokeh : Tips For Creating Bokeh in Seconds | Bethadilly Photography")
Tip 2 : Thoughtfully Placing Your Focal Point
but what if you don’t want an image that is entirely out of focus? another easy way to create bokeh is through thoughtfully placing your focal point. in the image above of the asparagus, i noticed that there were dappled light coming through the trees in the background that would make for some beautiful bokeh. knowing this, i placed my focal point on the center of the frame and used an aperture of f/1.6. using this low aperture and placing my focal point in the center of the frame allowed me to blur both the foreground and background, creating bokeh in both areas.
creating bokeh is a fun way to add interest to your image and play with the light you have available. try having fun with intentional out of focus images as well as being thoughtful about where you place your focal point, when creating bokeh. be mindful of your aperture choice and get ready to be amazed with your images. creating bokeh can be addicting and will have you looking at light and composition in a whole new way.
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 "Creating Bokeh : Tips For Creating Bokeh in Seconds | Bethadilly Photography")