I originally shared this post on Jana’s blog, but I thought I’d share it here too. Don’t have a DSLR? No problem. You can enter to win a Canon Rebel t3i at the bottom of the post! (Yes, seriously!) Enjoy!
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Based on the amount of photos in each of my posts, it’s evident that I love photography. I am a very visual person, so having photos in each post is a must for me! Now that I have a few years of blogging under my belt, I have learned a few tips and tricks along the way. In fact, sometimes I look back at the first few photos and I posted and cringe. What was I thinking? Since then, I’ve learned that there’s a lot that goes into planning and taking good photos for my blog. Here’s my top five photography tips for bloggers.
1: SHOOT IN GOOD LIGHT. It doesn’t matter if you have an iPhone or a fancy DSLR, your photos will always turn out better if you shoot in good, natural daylight. This means avoiding a few things like taking photo with at night or directly in the bright sunshine. Instead, try to stand next to a window indoors during the day or if you’re outside on a bright day, try standing in the shade. Whenever I take photos of food, I always shoot next to the window in my kitchen. It lets in a good amount of light, without being too bright or too dark.
Before and After Kitchen Remodel
2: TURN OFF YOUR FLASH. Let me say it again, turn off your flash! Most cameras (cell phones and fancy cameras alike) come with a flash, but unless you buy an external off the camera flash, your photos aren’t going to turn out great. Instead, turn off your flash and aim for good lighting conditions instead. I try to avoid taking photos at night for this very reason.
3: LOOK FOR THE LITTLE THINGS. See the mail piling up on your counter and the strewn toys in the corner? Or even the pole right behind you? Those are all distractions in your photos. Crop them out, change angles, move them out of the way, or else they’ll draw your eye to the wrong part of your photo. This also applies to the details. Does your toddler have paint all over her hands? Get a close up! Love your sandals perched on the sand? Photograph it. My favorite posts are when I have a mix of close up detailed shots mixed with other angles.
4: USE DIFFERENT ANGLES. Speaking of angles, when taking photos for your blog, move around. Try taking a photo while looking down at it, looking up, then from either side. In this post, I mentioned how important it is to use different angles when photographing your baby. When photographing babies or toddlers, I prefer to be down at their level. However, different angles will add character and make your photos unique!
5: KEEP PRACTICING. Practice makes perfect! Challenge yourself. Set a goal to take out your camera more. Learn to use the settings on your camera. Take a class. Whatever you do, don’t stop learning! Always keep practicing and you’ll improve. XO, Lex
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If you don’t have a DSLR, don’t worry about it. These 22 bloggers and I want to give you a chance to win one! How would you like to get your hands on a brand spankin’ new Canon Rebel T3i? Yeah, we thought you might. Just use the Rafflecopter below to enter.
Life Could Be a Dream // Dearest Love // Simply Clarke // Rachel Rewritten
Casual Claire // My New Lines // Happily Ever After // The Wetherills Say I Do // Wearable. // Two Places at Once
Believe in the Sparks // Just a Trace // He and I // Chez•Nemmar // Oh Simple Thoughts
Elizabeth Loves Rad Maverix // A Faithful Passion // Health, Love & Fire // The Ashley Maria Blog
Lot48 // Homegrown State of Mind // So Fill Your Heart
The giveaway will run from 12:00 am EST on July 24th until 11:59 pm EST on July 30th. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only–sorry international friends! Please be honest with your entries. Good luck!
The tools I can't live without are my camera, my laptop, and (not a tool) my cute baby to take pictures of! This is an awesome giveaway! Thanks!
The tips are great!!
Running a business requires a computer!! A new camera would be PERFECT!
I couldn't blog without ipiccy.com. I have yet to get a better photo editing program but this works fine for what I do with it. I revamp my blog all the time and it has just what I need to make my blog cute and easy to navigate!
Great giveaway! Thanks for the tips! Love your blog
I am majoring in Photography in college and taking some video classes.I have a beginner DSLR but I sadly don't have a DSLR that will record videos and can't afford to buy a new one.
Love your pictures! Thanks for the tips. I would LOVE to win!
I'm a stay at home mom so my main tools for survival are toys and snacks! I would love to win this camera to take pictures of my kids!
-Allison Robinson
I could not live without my schooling. It helps me have an open mind.
I'm a mommy and a wannabe videographer — so with both jobs, I couldn't live without a camera. Winning this would be a huge blessing!
I could not live without my laptop computer. Although I would like to get a mac vs pc.
I couldn't do my job without my camera which is a Canon Rebel T2i. I would love to give mine to my dad and get a new better one!
I couldn't live without my computer!
I don't have a blog yet, but when I create one I want to have it filled with gorgeous pictures!!
I couldn't live without my kitchen aid mixer
I could not live without my iPad and phone!
I couldn't live without my computer, phone,stove and refrigerator since I cook for 5 other people.
This is the exact camera I want! I would die. Thanks for the tips!
Thanks for the great tips! I can't live without my camera. I'm trying to learn how to take better pictures, so this post was very useful!
I wouldn't be able to do the things I need to to do for work without my computer and I love having a nice camera as well
My laptop
I could not live without my laptop.
My laptop, my camera, and my husband because he makes for some good posts haha. Excited for this giveaway!
Great tips! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
The White Board and pen. I am a substitute school teacher.
I don't know what i would do without my macbook. Blogging was a zillion times slower on my other laptop! & i need the speed since I do three missionary blogs besides managing my own blog! If you ever decide to teach a photography class in St. George please let me know! I would be the first to sign up!
I couldn't live without my laptop!
I just couldn't live without my laptop. Not just for my blog, but to communicate with my family and friends.
Can't live without something to write my blog with (laptop) nor a camera to take pics for it
Can't live w.o a computer & binoculars help a lot 🙂
I can't live without my laptop, my phone! A camera would be nice, but due to costs I am not currently able to get one! Crossing my fingers for this giveaway!!
I could definitely not live without my computer!
Thank you so much! I am trying to figure out the whole good-photography-on-the-blog thing, and these tips are so perfect! Thanks for the link in Grow Your Blog.
-Kailei
These are awesome tips! I could definitely improve my blog pictures!
My phone! It is my lifeline to everything (Miriam Matheny)
I would blog so much more if I had an amazing camera. iPhone photos just aren't cutting it anymore. Such great tips! Gets me excited to take more pictures! Even if they are just on my phone 🙂
A good camera!
Hope I win!