This post is by Vahni of Grit and Glamour
In her recent post, 2 out of 40, the Queen B of Style Underdog lamented her feelings of awkwardness while posing for outfit shots, then deemed the outcome of her frustrating endeavor as “wonky.”
“This is all I have to offer today,” she proclaims. “Two shots out of 40. What are you supposed to do with your hands when you pose? I think I need a crash course in modeling. Is there such a class as Modeling 101?…Is watching America’s Next Top Model a prerequisite? Hold on, is there an age limit?”
Ah, B. How I know your frustration and appreciate your honesty. Throughout my own journey from print writer, to Web writer, to blogger, to photographer, to subject, to photo editor, to vlogger, I have also felt the sting of my own ineptitude and the familiar disappointment that comes with the realization that that perfect shot on a 2 x 3-inch camera screen isn’t quite so great at 1024 x 768. I’ve felt stupid and self-conscious and have hated some of my photos.
Like B, I am neither a professional model nor a professional photographer; I have neither the gritty gloriousness of London, nor the grandeur of the River Seine for subterfuge or support. I have no photographer/boyfriend, no boxes of goodies arriving at my doorstep daily. I am not 26 and snapping my way through exams, parties, and fashion design school. It’s just me and my camera. In the clean and plainly pretty southeastern U.S.
So B’s post got me thinking about what it is that makes a great shot, and how you get one. While I am certainly not qualified to speak as an authority on this subject, this is why I think you should listen to me: I’m an average girl in an average neighborhood in an average city, without even a single photography class under my Gucci belt. But lately, if I must say so myself, my photos are getting better. And how do I know that? Because other people seem to think so too. I still have a long way to go, but I have made progress.
That said, I know B and I aren’t the only ones who want to produce compelling, memorable imagery for our blogs. I hope the few things I’ve learned to this point might be of service to others struggling with the same technical and physical challenges.
•• Tips for Better Blog Photography ••
Realize that even the pros take dozens of shots to get a good one.
They may occasionally snap a perfect one with one shot, but realize they’ve been at it so long they know how to time the pushing of the button with the movement of their subject. Practice makes perfect, it really does. Don’t beat yourself up if you shoot 40 photos and only get two. Just keep shooting.
You don’t need to be in London or NYC to get a great shot.
There is beauty everywhere, from graffiti-ed walls, to fountains, flowers, the beach, or even a cemetery. When you can, take your photos outside—the lighting is almost always better, and believe me, people will notice a pile of clothes on the floor in the corner of your room. Scout your regular surroundings and find a place that works for you. If you keep shooting in the same place and hate all the photos, stop! Try a different spot, a different direction, a different time. As long as you keep doing the same thing, you’ll get the same result.
I shoot all my photos in my yard, because that is easiest for me, and because I have a bit of stagefright and I’m not really comfortable shooting in public. Even in my yard, I switch it up. Some days the lighting and surroundings are better in one area than another.
Your equipment really does make a difference.
My photography totally changed when I got a digital SLR and a tripod. Canon has some fantastic entry-level SLRs. But if all you have is a point-and-shoot, you can still get some great shots. Tripods are very inexpensive and are critical if you don’t have a hot young boyfriend to shoot your every move. Just know that you’ll have to stay closer to the camera when your lens is shorter.
Even average shots can look amazing with a little photo editing.
Don’t be so quick to delete so-so shots—most cameras come with photo editing software that can transform average photos into little works of art. If those programs are too complicated, try Picnik, which is online, free, and very easy to use. It has a wonderful array of filters and effects, plus all kinds of editing tools. Some photos take on a whole new feeling when they are converted to black and white or sepia. Just because your photo came off the card one way doesn’t mean it has to stay that way.
Case in point. Below is an example of a recent photo I took, unretouched. Notice the black weed liner that has come up in the yard, and the telephone pole. Not so nice. Lighting’s kind of unremarkable too.
Now here’s the photo after I cropped it and applied effects using Piknik. Definitely more compelling, and more appealing to the eye.
Props go a long way.
Not only do they add to the photo, they give you something to do with your hands. Obvious props are a handbag, hat, scarf, or jacket that are essentially part of your outfit. Less obvious? The items in your environment. I was having some yard work done at my house this past spring and my landscaper left his wheelbarrow and shovel in my yard for a few days. Of course I cheekily included them in a few shots. Other less-obvious props: a ribbon that was in your hair, your dog or cat, flowers, a coffee mug or tea cup you’ve been sipping from. I think viewers want to see the things that make up your every day life—the things you love or use—as much as they want to see you.
Be yourself.
Are you a smiler? A jumper? A laugher? A smirker? Do whatever feels natural to you and the photo will look natural. I am not a chronic smiler, and sometimes that’s not so great in photos, but most of the time, shots don’t look cheesy or forced because they’re not. Some bloggers have a perpetual, slightly-agape smile, some don’t smile. Some jump, others squat. I’m a stander and I feel best not looking directly into the camera. That’s me. Do what is comfortable for you.
There’s a reason why photographers wax philosophic about light.
Most really amazing photos aren’t a result of the photographer’s talent, but his or her ability to catch a subject in the right light, and the right angle. I never realized how stunning sunlight is until I started shooting outside. Now that I’ve done it a fair amount, I have found that my favorite light for my setting is in the morning between 9am and 11am. On a sunny day, I know exactly where the light will hit and where I need to be in relation to it. But that’s because I’ve shot over and over and over and I’m learning. I also know which spots are too bright because of direct sunlight, and to avoid them because my photos wash out.
Remember that unless you are being paid for your photographs, you should be having fun.
If photos aren’t coming together one day, just let it go. Don’t force yourself to post. When you get shots you like, go for it. At the end of the day, if you’re having fun and love your work, that’s really all that matters. If you have an audience of even one reader, just consider it a bonus. Blogging is not about numbers and comments and popularity. It’s about creative expression—that’s why you started your blog, remember? It wasn’t for everyone else. It was—and is—for you.
Oh. And P.S.: There is no age limit. All one needs is a click through Scott Schuman’s blog to know there is beauty and elegance at every age, in every ethnicity, in every shape.
P.P.S. B, I hope you don’t mind the mention, and your photos are not wonky!!!
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Great post V! I always love your photos.
XO Piper
.-= DailyDivaDish´s last blog ..10 more Things to do this Summer =-.
Thanks Piper…you always say such nice things!
.-= Grit and Glamour´s last blog ..Friend Friday- Am I a narcissist =-.
Great post!! I start to get frustrated in the middle of my sessions because I LOOK like I’m posing. Your tips are really helpful and encouraging. Thank you!
.-= megan´s last blog ..When in doubt wear cowboy boots =-.
So lovely to hear this was helpful for you! I certainly can’t tell from your photos that there is any problem at all…love the boot shots!
.-= Grit and Glamour´s last blog ..Friend Friday- Am I a narcissist =-.
Great post! I have been feeling so self-conscious when taking outfit photos. I’ll definitely try your tips. I hope it will become easier as I go along.
.-= Anthea´s last blog ..My shopping philosophy =-.
So glad this was helpful Anthea. I think when it comes to blog photography, practice makes perfect. Keep shooting!
.-= Grit and Glamour´s last blog ..Friend Friday- Am I a narcissist =-.
love the photo example above, fantastic visual for beginners. I’m a super fan of picnic for quick retouching, but for more complicated things, I love sumopaint, it’s just like adobe photoshop but free!
Great article!
.-= liz (odetoawe)´s last blog ..Under A Funeral Moon =-.
Great tip, Liz…will have to check sumopaint out. Thanks for your comment.
.-= Grit and Glamour´s last blog ..Friend Friday- Am I a narcissist =-.
Ha ha — I’m always talking about this ” I have no photographer/boyfriend, no boxes of goodies arriving at my doorstep daily. I am not 26 …”
.-= WendyB´s last blog ..What Wendy Wore- Cheap -amp Delicious Cava With Tina =-.
I know, right? Some of us are blessed with all of the above, some of us, not. But that’s what I love about this medium and phenomenon…it’s what we make of it.
.-= Grit and Glamour´s last blog ..Friend Friday- Am I a narcissist =-.
I think you are adorable and like anything it just take practice! Try having music on so you can relax and just get into moving with the music. Think about the outfit you have on and how it makes you feel, go with that feeling and it will translate in to your shots!
Thank you! Will do!
This is wonderful advice. I do have some wonderful tools…photo shop elements etc…but some of my best photographs as snapped on the spur of the moment without a lot of planning or staging. I have even captured some great shots with my iphone! I thought your suggestion to take a lot of photos in different places was right on the mark. I have come to the conclusion that they put the delete button on our computers for that very reason.
As you so aptly pointed out, blogging is for fun! It just fills a creative need for many people. Thank you.
b
.-= b´s last blog ..Whats for dinner Lets talk about Mexican grilling for a minute =-.
What a wonderful comment, b. Thank you!
Great Post. Seriously. I needed this (i’m a beginner)!
.-= Elsie´s last blog ..The Onesie =-.
Thanks Elsie! Hope you’ll pop over to my blog and let me know how it goes.
This post is exactly what I needed to read! Thank you for the great tips and moral support.
My new canon s90 arrives today, and I already ordered a tripod since the BF rolls his eyes when I ask him to shoot my outfit. Now I just have to get the courage to shoot myself outside in NYC without feeling completely vain and ridiculous.
.-= TheBrogueTrader´s last blog ..He ate my heart =-.
Ooh, have fun with your new camera! I say go for the ouside-in-NYC shots! If anyone looks at you funny, tell them you are a famous blogger and hand them a business card with your blog address on it!
what great tips. I think most of all practice and repetition is what makes for better pictures and being more comfortable in front of the lens. You just have to keep trying, keep looking for inspiration and eventually you’ll get the pictures you desire. Thanks or this article.
Thank you my dear! I agree that practice and repetition really does help. Thanks for your comment.
Great post! Definitely going to get lost in picnik now! Thanks.
–K
Great post! I’m definitely going to get lost in picnik now! Thanks.
–K
.-= Katie (Red Lips & Bardot Hair)´s last blog ..Its like Jell-O on Springs- =-.
Thank you Katie, I hope you’ll drop by my blog and let me know how things go.
Thanks for posting this, great article, I’ve found it really helpful
Thanks, doll. I appreciate your continued enthusiasm and support!
I kind of like taking pictures, although it has been a learning process trying to figure out how to look natural and find the best angles. It is pretty much take tons of photos and learn from trial and error. I do think someone should develop a Top Model posing tutorial for fashion blogging though. I would defnintely sign up for that!!
.-= fshnonmymind´s last blog ..Notes from the Dressing Room- Thumbs Up in Anthro =-.
I think taking a ton of photos is the BEST way to learn which angles are best! You’re on the right track. Thanks for your comment.
Great tips! I started my blog nearly 3 years ago and have shied away from personal style photos for so many of the reasons you mentioned. I lived in a boring town with no scenery. If I tried to take a few photos outside, there was always a neighbor looking at me, probably wondering what on earth I did with those self-shots. Upon moving to Germany, I was romanced by wonderful scenery. Rose petals falling on old concrete steps, cemeteries, old churches, great shopping centers…and I got the bug. I’m 35 and am still a bit concerned with whether my readers really want to see a 35 year old woman attempting to pose while she works on her style evolution. But, I’m thinking a lot like you…your readers want to see the things you use every day. We are our own toughest critics. They probably don’t expect perfection and may feel better seeing that we are real and really aren’t perfect. Thanks for the encouragement and great tips. Great photos
.-= Krista´s last blog ..Women’s Wear Daily- The Fashion Bible- Celebrates Its 100th Birthday =-.
Awesome points, Krista, and I think you are right. If it’s any consolation, I’m older than you!
What a great article, and very useful tips. I wish all my bloggy friends could read it, especially those who are shy about posing in front of camera and taking pics of their awesome outfits.
And I love the tone: i laughed when I read about the no boyfriend/photograher and piles of freebies on doorstep. I see all these folks outfit posts with their cheerful boyfriend snapping away. My lovely uh, gentleman friend takes lousy photos so it’s up to me to point and shoot.
I’m 45, and yes my vanity often wonders why I keep posing BUT we are all stylish and have something to contribute, even if we’re not 98 lb. 18 years olds being hyped on lookbook.nu.
Thanks for writing this, I’m so happy I read it.
Aw, thank you sooooo much Bella! Your comment made my day.
You are so right about so many things. It’s up to US to change that air of exclusivity the fashion blogging world seems to have. The mags can do that, but this is a FREE medium and it’s up to all of us to support each other, to find something nice to say to ladies and gents of all ages and sizes. It takes guts to believe in yourself and put yourself out there.
Thanks again for your comment.
Thank you for sharing this article. So excellent. It make me feel that life is full of interesting, I must face life with smile.
Great post. I recently started a personal blog and photo-taking is a very awkward and uncomfortable endeavor — even *with* a boyfriend/photographer!
I hear you! Glad this helps. Just keep shooting…you really do get more comfortable over time.
I need to look into this piknik thing.
Nickie you should. It’s fun, easy, and free!
Great advice! I just made a post yesterday about my frustration with taking outfit photos. It’s nice to know I’m not the only one who feels this way!
Since doing a bit of research, I’ve discovered that 80% of good photography is controlling the light. Strobist (www.strobist.blogspot.com) is the biz, and prophotolife.com has some great videos on YouTube.
Good advice! I quite liked the photograph before you edited it, though. Beware of over-editing and ‘vintage’ effects; I think they make it difficult to see the outfit you are showing to your readers and also cheapen the photo itself. There was lovely light in your photograph; as with makeup, don’t let it wear you. Sorry, didn’t mean to be harsh; just honest as I could be.
This was a great post. I need a tripod!
Thanks Courtney…seriously, the tripod will change it all for you! And they’re pretty inexpensive. Go for it!
What a wonderful post. Its definitely helpful for a newbie blogger. Thanks for all the insight!
Thank you Divya…so glad to know this post was helpful for you.
Hi–I’m new to fashion blogging and new to snapping these kinds of photos. I’ve learned a few of the tips you mention the hard way, but I’m filing away several of your ideas for future reference. Thanks for the advice!
Terri, thank you for your comment! It’s good to know this kind of info is helpful for other bloggers.
This is perfect. I always get frustrated taking pictures and lately I’ve been avoiding it completely. This is just what I need to hear.
-Kirstie.
Fabulous! So glad to know this was helpful for you!
This is a great post! I have the same thoughts about my pictures … and totally envy those who look so natural and pretty in their outfit pictures. Thanks for the tips!
Caroline, you are quite welcome. Glad to be of use and thank you for your comment. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions.
Thanks so much for this post! I am always struggling with where/when to take pics so that they come out well. I can’t seem to force myself to do indorr pictures, because outside is soo much beter! I sort of like posing when it is dark outside, just because your outfit really stands out in a dark background.
Thanks, Kinsey! So glad you found this to be helpful.
Very interesting post and a great guideline to non-pro photographers. I am a professional photographer and a lot of what Vahni is saying I can relate to in my early days and even now!
Taking a million pictures to get the shot. Over time I’ve improved on this ten fold but it’s very very true. Snap away. Set your camera on auto shoot and improv.
I too find that the best light is in the morning. I always start my sessions (if they are outdoors) at 10 am. Lighting is everything.
Here are a few items that were apart of my beginning kit when I first started:
“Professsional Photoshop Portrait Retouching” $70 DVD on amazon; but I bet you can find a youtube instruction video for each step in that DVD. I also started on a Nikon D40.
Software I use: Photoshop and Lightroom; Remember if you are a university student or have a friend/ family member that is you can get it at a huge discount, that’s what I did!
If you have the software you can do your editing from scratch (which is what I did for years) or find presets and actions you love which are usually free online on websites like Deviant Art. You can also buy really awesome bundles for Lightroom; I own one that has a plethora of presets of vintage editing styles.
Your Camera: Keep in mind, that it’s not really the body, well it is but that’s not my point… if you can afford a great lens then stay cheaper on the body. Also, if you do buy a camera that has a detachable lens, never buy the one that it comes with but always the body alone and then find your lens separately.
My suggestion for budget (assuming you have one):
Canon EOS Rebel T2i which is basically the 7d in performance.
I shoot on a Canon 5d Mark II, but unless you have a lot of money or it is an investment to a profitable business you are already running or will, I strongly recommend you go with something under 1,000.
Okay well I could keep talking forever. Hope that helps. Cheers.
Thanks for the tips!
Howdy, just stopping by to show some [holiday|seasonal|Christmas|Kwanza|winter} cheer! I posetively accept how hard it is scripting all this information! Have a GREAT NEW YEAR!
Thanks!
Good post. Keep it up. Cheers