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10 Tips for Taking Good Still Life Photos

Looking back at the types of photography techniques, still life photography should be the one with the longest development time. In the early days of the development of photography technology, due to technical limitations, the exposure time would last for a long time, so shooting still life was the best choice. However, with the development of technology, the charm of still life photography remains the same and it is still one of the most important photography techniques. From a higher perspective, still life photography is of great commercial value, for example, magazines, product catalogs and websites all require product display. Some still lifes are often overlooked, but there are benefits to taking photos of them. Next, you can learn how to shoot them creatively and take your own photos.

1. Getting Started

Unlike conventional photography, you don’t need to find a studio or an ideal location specifically for still life photography. You can start your photography work in a simple space at home, such as a table next to your bed, with a simple background and some lighting fixtures.

Still life photography is very different from landscape photography and portrait photography. Landscapes and portraits generally set a theme, either a mountain or a model, which can vary greatly. , the creative space is ready in front of you. However, still life photography is different. They change very little. All situations are controlled by the photographer, including the subject. You need to rack your brains to think of interesting and novel ways to creatively capture their characteristics.

2. Choose a subject

What kind of photos you take is entirely up to you. Search around the house for something interesting but simple to start with. Don’t think that you have to take pictures of fruits or flowers like other people. You can choose your subjects openly, but don’t choose ones that are too difficult to take.

When you’re out and about and something catches your eye, take it home, or mark it so you can take a photo later when you have time. Try to avoid objects with reflective surfaces, such as metals, as the light when photographing them is difficult to control. Once you have mastered the technique of photographing a single object, try shooting several objects together, preferably with different shapes, colors, and textures, to see if you can achieve good results.

3. Light

You don’t have to use very expensive lighting equipment. I know very well that my budget cannot afford a complete set of studio lights, so I will try to use my Have the lighting equipment at hand to shoot still lifes. Remember that every aspect of photography needs to be under your control. If you feel this way, you will need to find a room and use baffles or curtains to block out all natural light so that you have complete control over what hits you. The light on the subject is gone.

If general lighting can be used effectively, good results can be achieved. Be sure to try several placement positions in addition to placing it in front of the actual object. Light projected from the side and behind can increase the interest, light and shadow, and depth of the shot. Otherwise, you can choose a room where light comes from only one window and use this as an advantage. Natural light hits an object from an angle, and you can use other lights or reflectors to adjust the lighting you need.

4. Tripod and angle

Depending on your lighting conditions, you may or may not need a tripod and shutter release cable. I recommend using these devices because with them you can see and photograph your subjects better. These devices can also slow down the shutter speed, moving the focus of the image forward and blurring the background, if you need it.

However, don’t let a fixed camera position limit your creativity. Once you use a tripod, it’s easy to forget that all photos are taken from one angle due to the fixed position. Make sure you can adjust the angle and height when shooting. Otherwise, until you know and make adjustments, your entire series will be shot from one angle, with very little variation and extremely limited viewing angles. Angle and height can be adjusted simultaneously. Try taking a bird's eye view of your subject, shooting from above, but be careful not to cast shadows on the subject as you move.

5. Use the background correctly

Choosing a good background plays a very important role in creating a successful work. It is best to choose a background that is simple but beautiful so that it does not have a big impact on the subject you are photographing. A plain wall or a large piece of white or plain paper is a good choice.

If you choose a background to support an object, you need to carefully consider whether you want a neutral background or a background that matches the tone of the object. For some relatively small objects, it may not be necessary to use a background. You can use a substrate instead. For example, black velvet would be a good choice because it can absorb light and make the substrate look pure black.

6. Combination of shooting elements

The combination of various creative elements is very important for taking a unique and exquisite still life photography.

Combined with the rule of thirds, you should consider how to achieve the best combination of various elements in your work. Make sure there are no distracting elements in the picture, just the subject and the background.

Try to use some creative thinking to change the combination of various elements for shooting. Where do you want the audience's focus to be? Do you make full use of the empty space around the object, is it possible to try to fill the frame? What is the most striking feature of the subject you photograph? What is it used for? Is it part of a whole, or does it exist as a separate entity?

7. Repeated shooting for a long time

I can often feel that the purpose of shooting determines the mood in the work. So if I only take photos to relax myself, I will feel less pressure, which can ensure that I can well restore what the photography wants to express. Doing things aimlessly is definitely a bad habit, but for still life photography, it may actually be a good thing. Because you need enough time to complete your work.

Unlike landscape photography, the light will not change quickly; unlike portrait photography, your subject will not become more and more boring, it will always look like this without any change. These are the advantages of still life photography, you can fix your subject, light, background and camera, take some photos, then change them and keep shooting. If you don't feel good about yourself, you can step away for a while, have a cup of coffee and come back to continue shooting.

There is no reason not to take clear and clean photos when shooting still life, because you have enough time to adjust the light and focus. If you have a macro lens on hand, that's great. If not, try selecting your camera's macro mode, which will allow you to better capture the details of the subject.

8. Inspire through famous works

If you are struggling with light, combination and composition, you may need some inspiration. A better way to find inspiration is to look at the still life works of masters from many years ago. Look online for Renaissance still life art and look closely at the individual elements of the pieces.

Studying these works will help you think better about composition, shadow and color. I hope these can give you inspiration and enable you to take more exciting photos.

9. Test your skills

Now it’s time for you to test your skills. Find a free time in your schedule to practice. Try setting up your camera, setting up your background, getting the right light against a window, and start shooting.

Once you've mastered the basics, experiment a bit by changing the camera angle and lighting, or using some variable light sources like candles and table lamps. Aperture is also a part of creativity. Using an f/1.8 fixed-focus lens can achieve special artistic effects with a fixed-focus background. If you're using something real as a subject, photograph it. Still life photography isn't just about fruits and flowers. So, find a unique and captivating object to start with.

10. Consider making money

The market demand for still life photography is huge, especially now that photography can be easily uploaded to online photography material libraries. Libraries are typically used for magazines, trade publications or online content. Once you've captured your work, don't be afraid to share it online and in photo galleries. Every time you shoot, you have to bring out the passion for your work. You never know when your work will bring you much income.