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3 Tips To Capturing Unique Photos in Ordinary Places
Sometimes ordinary places can provide the best backdrops for unique photographs. Next time you are scouting for a location and come up empty, go ahead and make use of your current surroundings. Here are ways to make any location shine.
1. Use props and accessories to enhance the mood of your shoot.
Using props and accessories really helps enhance my style while taking my photographs to another level.
Every town has trees, pretty ordinary right? – So to spice things up I add props or accessories. To this photo I added a masquerade mask that I just LOVE. Find something you LOVE and incorporate it into a shoot. It’s a lot of fun and oh so easy. When you add something you love, not only does it become unique, it also makes it your style because YOU like it.
2. Look for new places with interesting colors and textures.
One of my favorite things to do when I am driving around is to seek out new locations for a photo shoot. I have found some of my favorite spots are empty lots and fields just like this one. I drove past this one day and really liked the colors and feel. The thing I like about using foliage is the fact that it looks different at different times of the year. This gives me several different looks depending on the time of year.
Ordinary empty lot where above photos for tip #2 were taken.
3. Change it up by digging DEEP for creativity.
It doesn’t matter how ordinary or extraordinary your location is if your creativity isn’t working. I always take the “Safe” shot and then think to myself how else could I shoot this location/shot? How can I incorporate this location into my own style? Push yourself and you will be amazed at how your creativity will kick into gear. A few ways that I switch up a generic location is: posing, perspective, personality, technique (dof or lighting), or post processing. In the following shots a change of perspective gave this image a whole new feel.
LIGHTING LIGHTING LIGHTING Oops did I say “three tips”, I meant four because I have to add lighting. The way I choose to light a photograph can take it from drab to fab. It can also differentiate two sessions shot at the same location. This is awesome because I have a few locations that I LOVE, but I want to make each session unique for each client. By using lighting differently and creatively I was able to give these two shots a completely different look, even while using the same location and prop.
Use these suggestions with your own style to make unique photographs that are extraordinarily YOU!
I am beyond honored to be a guest blogger on the MCP actions Blog. You can find me on the Sundloff Photography Facebook Page. I hope to see you all there! You can check out some of my recent work on my Sundloff Photography Blog. Thanks again – Lindsay Sundloff
Now, it’s your turn. How do you turn ordinary locations into extraordinary ones?
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I love your tips! It’s amazing how you turn simple into amazing! Love your style and the way you capture moments!
Tiff, I am not sure if you are aware or not, but I was doing a little contest over here for all that commented on this article in the first 24 hours and you won. Please contact me to collect your prize. You will get to choose between a couple of options. 🙂
I absolutely love your work! Thank you so much for your advice! I seriously cherish it!
Thanks Tiff and Brittany Goforth! You two are awesome. Hey Tiff – I recognize that photo ;)If anyone has any photo related questions they’d like to ask me. I will be checking in here all day. Thanks, 🙂
I love the way you think about the photographic result that you want. When I get stuck shooting the same old way repetively I know I need to get unstuck in my thinking. Your post and your approach are wonderful examples for me in how to do that.
Thanks Iris.Glad I could help 🙂
Oooh to number two. Love pull backs! They are so helpful.
Thanks Mindy I love pull backs too.
Mindy- thanks for your comment. Pull backs give an additional perspective. I love them too!
“P.P.P.T” – my new mantra to push myself creatively, thanks! Loved the examples with lighting, I wouldn’t have guessed it was the same location!
Jamie I’m a little slow what do you mean by P. P. P. T? Oh and thanks for commenting.
Thanks for the tips Lindsay! I love how you turned an empty lot into a perfect backdrop.
Thanks Amy!
Great post! I love that last image with the sun flair. How was it lit?
The last photo was backlit with the sun filtering through the trees. All natural light.
LOVE that mask! Great work and tips:)
Thanks Mandy!
Jodi, these pics all look like natural light only, is that correct? They are awesome.
What great bokeh!