Because who doesn’t want to appear like a professional photographer?
In my own search for creating more artsy photos, I decided to take some advice from the people that do it best.
1. First, download artsy apps:
- Camera+ ($2.99) – tons of awesome filters.
- VSCOcam (Free) – the best free filters, i.e. Aesthetic series and the Hype Beat series.
- Afterlight ($0.99) – user friendly editing tools, and lets you add effects like light leaks and dust.
- Litely (Free) – filters photos in a really subtle way.
- Instagram (Free) – because why not, they have some great filters.
2. Practice focal-point shots
- Just focus on one thing.
3. Practice top-down food shots
- Basically just hold your phone above your food so that everyone in the whole restaurant sees you taking the photo.
- Make sure it’s in a photogenic restaurant, you know, one with wooden tables. To find these restaurants just look on Instagram, and go to the ones with the most appealing “looking” food. Who cares about taste anyway.
- Next increase the exposure, and brighten up your photo.
- Also slightly increase the contrast.
- Lastly, sharpen your photo so everyone can see every detail of your delectable meal.
4. Practice the faded and desaturated shot
- Take a photo of anything that makes you feel something. You know, a picture that evokes emotion.
- Then, fade your colors, and bring down the saturation so it looks alluring, but not grey-scaled.
5. Practice all-white minimalistic shots
- This is very simple. All you basically need to do is put something in front of an all white background.
- Then just choose a filter that makes your pic look light and delicate.
6. Practice nature shots
- Venture out into the wilderness, or go someplace new.
- Make sure there’s a focal point- a flower, a lighthouse, an animal, or open landscape.
- Add a slight vignette, which puts more focus on your subject.
- Lastly, bump up the contrast.
7. Practice city shots
- This image might be a stretch, but get out into the streets, and be careful not to run out into oncoming traffic.
- Snap some photos of buildings casting shadows.
- Clarify your photo on Instagram with the Lux filter.
8. Practice the colored wall shot
- Find a colored wall.
- Stand in front of it- you are the object of focus.
- Make the color pop by playing with the temperature (warmth in Instagram’s editing tools) and increase the saturation slightly.
Happy Instagramming!
[Featured Image Credit: theglitterguide.com]