Creative Ideas for Photography
Whether you’re an amateur or a professional photographer if you’re looking to inspiration and a little more creativity to your work than you will want to begin by looking at the work of others. This may sound obvious but the reality is photography is a visual art – you can certainly use your imagination but using your eyes and observing the work of others is the surest way to stimulate your own creativity.
Every photographer finds new ways to express themselves and through their creative expression new trends and techniques are born.
It’s true that creative photography is an art in and of itself that requires a skill which comes from practise. Now more than ever, the digital age allows anyone the opportunity to produce limitless amounts of work until they refine their craft. Often the only difference between an amateur photographer and a professional is that the pro has taken a lot more pictures!
In the following sections we will present a variety of creative photography ideas and some examples to help you get a visual on the boundless creativity which you can emulate. Hopefully these will get you thinking about new and different tactics of your own for expanding your creative portfolio of work.
Some examples of Creative Photography
Creative Wedding Photography
First a little disclaimer – I’m not a Professional Wedding Photographer. For that matter I’m not a Professional Photographer period. I’m an amateur who really like to take pictures and like you I’m always working on my craft – working to develop some level of mastery. I’d like to begin this piece on Creative Photography by sharing a few tips on the topic of Wedding Photography.
I will leave the technical stuff to the pros and as someone who has photographed a few weddings I’d like to simply offer these few suggestions:
- Start with List – Pros call it the ‘Shot List’. Get with the engaged couple before the big day and brainstorm their ideas about who, where, when etc. they want photos taken.
- Have a Family Rep – Have the couple assign a family member who is
share,creative and knows everyone. Think of them as the director who makes sure you get the right shots of the right people with the right people! - Be Prepared – Visit the different locations the couple have requested for photos as well as the wedding venue ahead of time. This will get your creative juices flowing and your subconscious will continue to work on it right up until the moment you are there shooting. Part of being prepared is also having backup plans for pretty much everything. Backup batteries and equipment is obvious but you also want a backup plan for changes in weather and the unexpected wardrobe malfunction etc.
Examples of Creative Wedding Photography
Creative Portrait Photography
Every portrait photographer needs to pay attention to the finer details of their subject, things like: lighting, composition, contrast and more. One of the greatest mistakes made by amateur portrait photographers is the lack of emphasis they often place on the background setting.
Portrait photography done without closely examining the surroundings that will appear within the frame of the image will end up with photos that have distractions and leave the focus of the portrait, the person, disconnected. Let face it no high school grad or blushing bride is going to be impressed with a portrait where a tree appears more important than they do. Such distractions take the emphasis off of the main subject and are detrimental to the goal of capturing them and making certain they are without a doubt the topic of the portrait.
There is nothing worse than taking a portrait that is elegantly posed, perfectly lit, and ends up being completely unusable because background composition was ignored. Posing and lighting play a very important role in the creation of a beautiful portrait but background composition requires an equivalent amount of time and energy to insure the portrait comes out right.
Here are some things to think about when your goal is to create a perfectly composed portrait:
- Make sure your subject fills the frame.
- Keep your subject’s eyes in the upper 1/3 of the frame.
- Use the background elements to frame and highlight your subject.
- Utilize background elements to create texture.
- Don’t be afraid of lines in the background – use them to lead the eye to your subject.
- Move around and use your shooting angle to put your subject in the best possible space and light.
Examples of Creative Portrait Photography
Creative Newborn Photography
When it comes to photographing newborns utilizing props is a common and effective way to bring context to the size of the newborn. Of course it also adds to the image by giving you more creative license. If you’re an amateur photographer and you’re looking for some creative ideas for props or if you’re a new parent who has some ideas of your own and want to take your own props to your newborn’s photo shoot, here are a some popular and creative ideas to bring your photos into a space which is as unique as your baby. The key here is to be creative by using props which will enhance the image of your newborn and will be something you are comfortable showing and looking at for years to come. Remember these are likely to be some of the most cherished and viewed photographs you will ever take or have taken of your baby.
Common and Creative Baby Photography Ideas
- Stuffed Animals – Probably the most popular choice for newborn photography is the tried and true stuffed animal. It may seem cliche but the stuffed animal as a prop is as timeless as you can get. One of the additional advantages of using a stuffed animal is that babies and children in general seem to truly enjoy and be calmed by the presence of a stuffed animals. Chances are having that cuddly teddy bear may make it easier to prompt a smile out of your baby. Additionally, a stuffed animal adds that cuteness factor to any baby picture.
- A Tub or Bowl – another popular prop for photographing your newborn baby is to place them in a bowl, a baby bath tub or some other other small place which highlights the real size of your newborn. Try putting your newborn in a large fruit bowl or a small bathtub to create a cute effect and to show how tiny your infant is. You’ll look back on these photos in the future and be amazed at how small they really were.
- Touques, Hats and Headbands – Headwear and hats, in particular that may be too big for your newborn, are popular props. There’s just something undeniably adorable about a newborn in a big hat. Headwear comes in a variety of shapes and sizes perfect for that creative visual effect.
More Examples of Creative Newborn Photography
Of course props can be used in a wide variety of circumstances and are terrific for creative family photography ideas. Think about those boring old shots of you and your extended family lined up in a row. Ho hum, boring. Now think of that same group with a theme utilizing some creative props. All of a sudden not only your photograph by your subjects come to life as they step in to character for the role the props might place them in. Think country and western, the roaring twenties, that 70′s show – all great examples of creative photography ideas for people.
Whether your photographs will be taken by a pro an amateur - indoors or outdoors – in a studio or in a natural setting these creative ideas have hopefully stimulated your thinking and helped you step outside your own box to bring more creativity to the photographs you will be enjoying for many years to come.
