#CYStyleSeries: Ch 3 "Become a Storyteller"
CHOOSE YOUR SUBJECTS WISELY
This chapter will focus on taking DIFFERENT kinds of photos. Since we talked about the important #OOTD and the Selfie shot!
FOOD -TRAVEL- & DECOR-
We've all seen the food porn, the destination shots and the decor goals all over instagram, so this chapter will discuss how to take these types of photos and not disappear among the thousand others that will be posted!
- FOOD -
It's important to know that food pics are always popular on instagram and will always be popular! There are certain types of foods that will always be at the top of the food pic picks! Desserts, brunch, any beautifully arranged dish is a usual go, but think about it, does it look appetizing to you? Does it look appealing? Choose Wisely!
Timing:
Obviously you want a good shot BEFORE hands have been all over it and messed up the stellar arrangement, so make sure your friends, lovingly, hold on while you get a good shot!
Arrangement:
Arrange the plates neatly and look at the rest of the table to make sure things are clean and in place, no dirty napkins please...unless it can somehow add to the picture (think smudged lipstick and a piece missing from a decadent dessert)
Lighting:
It's difficult to take a good shot in a restaurant, which usually has dark lighting, unless you're on a patio on a beautiful summer day, think about your lighting and if it's going to come out! You want to avoid overhead harsh lighting. Natural lighting is again the way to go ( as always), but in the natural light, you also want to make sure to avoid any harsh streams of day light, which can overdo any well put together meal!
Angle:
Birds eye view, better known as the flat lay shot! If you've got to stand on a chair, do so quickly, and take your heels /dirty shoes off! People get the Food pic desire, but NO ONE will understand a boot print on a seat!
Style the photo:
Like with any flat lay, you want a nice arrangement, so move things around, add SMALL details that will add to the photo but not take the attention away (sunglasses maybe? A nice wallet even?). As for the distance, try to get your dish framed nicely with the extra's around it, take it as far back as possible, rather than zooming, and then CROP to your hearts desire!
- TRAVEL -
While everyone wants that epic shot in Paris or Dubai, we all can't afford to get there (just yet, right!?) So Travel shots don't always need to be some crazy exotic location, it could be a shot at a local hiking location that's rarely seen, that cute new cafe in a small town two hours away from your home. If you're on a budget (like most of us are), make your travel shots, local and awesome!
One of the things that you should consider when taking travel shots, is how you intend to tell a story (remember we're always telling stories with our 3, 6, 9 12 grid photos.
So consider your:
Beginning shot, feet on the floor, in the car, maybe the outfit shot with a caption giving a hint to your destination.
Middle shot(s) maybe that's one or two of you mid hike, or cafe shop shot.
End shot which may be a simple shot of you in bed, with a caption that reads, "great day, time for a nap/bed".
No Square? No Problem:
Now depending on your theme style, you might want to take a full shot and post it! Especially if the destination is a beautifully scenic location.
No Zoom:
Especially if you want a crisp shot of your beautiful/chic spot! Crop later and avoid losing quality!
Just as we talked about in Ch 2- consider the lighting, those golden hours! Get those shots in during those times if you can!
Play With Perspective:/ Originality Is Golden:
You know that shot of the Eiffel tower that's posted once or twice a day on instagram, well, try NOT to do that! Be creative and find a different/unique perspective of this shot and take it, Looking down will help. Even if you were taking it from a window, make sure it's clean and press our phone right up against the window to avoid glare!
So the perspective or those extra details, they are the things these typical shots need to make them unique, switch your perspective, add a small item to add to the shot, throw a person in there doing a unique thing, help make your photo stand apart!
Details:
While the big shots, the expected shots from a certain location are hard to ignore, don't forget the details of a small cafe in Paris, or a beautifully designed wall of art in a store, these are the small details you want to capture and share with your followers, so they too will know there's more to these beautiful locations than just the cliched photos we often see!
Don't forget...a straight photo is always better than a crooked one, that's blurry! No thank you!
- DECOR -
Some quick tips to remember if you want to take a decor shot:
-Natural lighting (ALWAYS the best choice)
-Clean up if there's any mess or clutter, you want a CLEAN photo.
-Look for Symmetry: a row of neat pillows, bookcase etc. Symmetrical photos are pleasing to the eye!
-If you're taking a photo of the entire room - stand in a corner and take your shot from there.
-Vignette: a small grouping of objects that come together in a portrait to tell a story - Think a few fashion books, a vase and a lamp, a grouping of candles and a vintage picture frame. These kinds of photos are usually found in a home or in a cafe or decor shop even!
FLAT LAY & PRODUCT SHOT:
We all know the most desired flat lay shots, the OOTD, the product shot, the what's in my bag shot we see these all the time, and some are better than others, so let's talk about how to get that sweet shot!
- Make sure your items go together: whether it be in color or in subject/theme.
- Make sure you pick out an anchor piece that holds/pulls the picture together.
- Have a star of the shot and then pick items to create harmony and balance around your anchor piece.
- Do the items make sense for this shot and the others on your grid?
- How many items is not as important as harmony within your photo.
When preparing a flat lay shot:
consider the square, you know the way instagram pictures are sized, consider your background (remember an overly busy background will be distracting. Make sure your background contrasts your items and doesn't blend in with them.
Natural light
Balance and harmony: find the right amount of items and lay them out around your hero piece and take photos, changing the lay out slightly after a few photos.
Shoot from above. -- The most basic rule for your flat lay shot!
Avoid cliche's -- You know those typical shots, the MAC-book on the bed, the legs, tanned by the pool. These shots AREN'T off limits, they're just better done if there is a creative/unique spin on it! Take these shots, and put a you-nique spin on it! (see what I did there)
Use Instagram to find amazing spots in different cities:
Going away? Start by clicking on hashtags associated with that area, and go down the rabbit hole of hashtags, until you find an interesting location!
The same can be done with Geo-tags (when you tag the location you're at on your instagram post) clicking a geo-tag will let you know where are the popular spots. It's the new way to find the local hot spots. Once you've decided on a location, you definitely cross-reference the location with a REAL google search!
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