Simple Photography Tips for Bloggers (Indoor Photos)

I still consider myself as an amateur because I know I have a lot to learn. However, I love the progress I have made in the past 3 years since I started taking photography serious. My baby (Canon 600D DSLR Camera) will be two years in March 2016 and it is indeed one of the best things I have ever purchased in my life. I know I promised to talk about how I edit my photos and I will do so soon. I want it to be really detailed so I am taking my good time. Meanwhile, you can catch up on all my Photography Posts and Blogging Tips on here if you fancy. Today, I will be sharing some simple tips I have learnt about photography especially indoor photography for blogging/beauty products. If you have any other tips, do leave them below so we can all learn. Some of these tips are specific to a DSLR camera and others are just general tips..

1.  I am sure everyone is sick of hearing this one but Lighting is key. Any photographer who knows his art will tell you the same. Lighting can make such a huge difference in the quality of your photo and it does not matter what equipment you have. Good Lighting + Regular Camera can produce Amazing shots and Bad Lighting +DSLR/Expensive camera can result in Terrible shots/images. I am a huge fan of natural lighting and will always choose it over artificial lighting. I have one studio light and a small LED light which I use during A/W and I can always tell the difference in the quality (and I am sure you can sometimes too!!)

2. When you are using natural light, ensure that you take your photos when the sun is mild (around 10am or 11am or when it is not blazing). If you take your photos when the sun is blazing hot and directly shining into your room, it may cast annoying shadows and mess about with your images.

3. If you have no choice and you have to take your photos with the blazing sun, use a light curtain or white light cloth to diffuse the light from the window. This would help get rid of any unflattering shadows on your final image and give a soft natural look to your photos.

4. Always switch off your indoor bulbs because they cast an annoying yellowish tint to your final image. I know it is very hard to switch off the light and use natural lighting but you can always brighten the image post processing. If you own a 50 mm lens, you won’t have any problem as you can increase the ISO or mess about with the Aperture to allow more light. I do have to say the yellow lights do look quite flattering in some photos like Event Photos but then those are different quality to the ones people have in their houses. If you have Daylight Bulbs, I don't think they should interfere too much.

5. In order to create a stunning image, capture your images at different angles especially ones that the human eye is not used to. Why do you think Flat Lay photos are so attractive no matter how popular they have now become? It is simply because it is taken from a Bird’s Eye view which is totally different from the human eye view so it always catches our attention. Don’t be afraid to try different angles and positions when taking photos. If you ever saw me taking my blog photos, you would probably burst out in a hysterical laugh. I am usually kneeling on the floor, standing on my chair or sometimes table. Other times, I just sit on the floor so I can get a different view of the image. It always makes a difference, Trust Me.

6. Take a few shots of each angle and you can delete them just before you edit or transfer them to your computer. I always take multiple shots and delete them just before I edit them. Sometimes, you may not notice something is off on an image but if you have another shot, you can save the day.

7. In the same vein, don’t take away your picture setting/background until you are satisfied with all the shots you have taken (after viewing on your computer). I can’t even count how many times I have had to redo my background because some pictures turned out terrible. It’s really annoying and it’s all done to me being impatient.

 

8. Always give your lens (regular camera, DSLR or iPhone) a good clean before you start taking photos because it may produce really dodgy images if you leave it dirty. Don’t use your sleeve to clean your DSLR lens or any lens at all…that’s not cool!! *inserts rolling eyes emoji*

9. If you have time, ensure you check the images on the computer as opposed to the camera’s LCD. This is because the LCD is such a small screen and it may be difficult to detect some errors such as blur, noise, etc. I have been sat on my bed feeling very satisfied after a photo session only to open them on my computer and see some slightly blurry images. I usually check them out quickly on my computer before I dismantle my setting.

10. If you own a camera that is heavy and you are getting blurry images, try and invest in a tripod as it would prevent this. There are really cheap and I purchased mine for £13 in 2011/12 and it's going strong. If you don't have a tripod, you can also lean/balance your camera closer to your body to prevent your camera from moving/shaking which usually causes blurriness.

11. If you own a camera that has a flip screen, make ample use of it. I cannot even imagine using my camera without it because it helps me get the oddest angles ever. I use it for swatches, event photography (I raise my camera high above my head and tit the screen downwards so I can see). It is also really useful for flat lay photos!!

12. Photography is so much fun and it is really what you make of it. Don’t feel intimidated by people’s photos. You have something special to bring to the table. Your setting is different and your lighting is different so your photos may have their own unique beauty. Just have fun and look for ways to improve. That’s pretty much all my little tips for taking photos.  I do have other tips but I don't want this post to be super long. If you like these kinds of post, do let me know in the comments box. I am always keen to learn new things so please leave more helpful tips in the comment box so we can all learn. Thanks for all your lovely comments about my photos; I really do appreciate them…xx