How to photograph your creations
Hello boys and girls,
A first post for me in the land of lemons, my name is Simoné (aka Olitax) and I'm behind the lens of Lisa, who soberly inducted me as Prince of Images at Make My Lemonade (I appreciate it). Taking pictures of yourself is never easy, but we love it when you share your creations with us. Wear Lemonade on Instagram or on our Community page ! So to help you, I'm going to give you a few tips on how to get the most out of your photos and show off your creations to best advantage.
In 5 points, we'll look together at some simple tips for successful photography without professional equipment. Indeed, today's smartphone cameras are more and more powerful, and almost rival expensive DSLRs. So we've taken all the photos in this article with our iPhone (with another smartphone it works too).
The essential element for a successful photo is light!
But not all light sources are good. Forget built-in flashes, old yellowish lights and flickering neon.
If the weather's on your side, shoot outdoors. Preferably in the morning when the light is soft, or in the late afternoon (the famous "Golden hour").
Avoid midday when the sun is high in the sky, as the light is "too harsh" and will create harsh shadows on the subject, not necessarily unattractive but very difficult to master in photography.
If the weather is fickle and forces you to stay indoors, choose a location near a window to catch as much light as possible.
Background:
Often overlooked, the background of a photo is crucial to its success. You need to find the right balance between something pretty and not too busy. A background that's too saturated will distort the picture, drawing the eye to the objects in the background and lessening the focus on the main subject.
Choose a light background to enhance the subject. Indoors, you can quickly set up a pretty corner of your apartment near a window, a colorful wall or even a pretty wallpaper.
Outdoors, you've got more options: stand in front of a patch of greenery for a background that's both colorful and textured. A garden or park can quickly do the trick.
If you're shooting in the street, you'll need to be careful of unattractive street furniture (garbage cans, parking meters and other unattractive posts), in favor of a pretty bench, a lamp post or a colorful or atypical street. Play with the street's perspective to give your image a nice background, or stand in front of a pretty building door.
Framing:
To highlight your silhouette and make the most of your work, opt for a slightly counter-angle framing. In other words, the camera should be "lower" than the subject.
Remember to stand back from the subject, and avoid framing the shot too tightly.
The pose :
In a single word: enjoy! Give it your all, just like in a Dior ad. In photography, the secret is to exaggerate your poses. You can also play with the garment you're wearing, turning on yourself to bring the fabric to life, a hand on the hip, on tiptoe, etc. Have fun!
Retouching:
Of course, we're not talking about professional Photoshop retouching here, but rather about improving the color of the image, adjusting the framing or adding effects.
These few adjustments can give your photo a whole new dimension.
For example, if the light was a little too weak when you took the shot, the "Brightness" tool will enable you to boost the image.
It's also during retouching that you can use the "blur" tool to slightly blur the background, to make your subject stand out even more. Use with moderation.
VSCO This is the one we use most at Lemonade Studio. It's free and offers a wide choice of settings. Some filters have to be paid for, but the basic ones are very good and easily adjustable to your needs.
AfterLight In addition to basic settings, it lets you add lighting effects and original framing.
Layout : Allows you to create montages with several photos, with or without edges, in original shapes.
A Color Storypop and color filters, it also lets you add effects and other lighting elements (Lisa's an addict).
and last but not least, the secret application that works magic, I call it Facetuneit can whiten your teeth, smooth your skin and make you look like you've slept for 45 hours (use sparingly).
If you don't have the possibility of getting help when taking photos, don't forget that the mirror is your best ally, or the selfie stick, but that's a whole other story... On the photos Lisa wears the Frida dressThe pattern will be online later today! And now it's your turn!