[Photography] 7 DIY Photo Backdrop Ideas Everyone Should Try

The post 7 DIY Photo Backdrop Ideas Everyone Should Try appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Darina Kopcok.

Your choice of backdrop can have a huge impact on the final look of your photos; it’s why professional food, product, still life, and portrait photographers often spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on backgrounds sold by photography shops.

But if you’re looking to dive into studio photography and you don’t have a huge budget, never fear! Because with a bit of creativity and effort, you can create DIY photo backdrops that’ll look just as good as the professional alternatives.

I use DIY backgrounds all the time in my own photos, and after years of experimentation, I know the backdrop ideas that work (and the ones that are best avoided). In this article, I share all my favorites, including plenty of options that’ll cost you under $10.

Let’s do this!

1. The painted canvas backdrop

Want a magazine-quality backdrop? Then go for a painted canvas background, which looks amazing in still life photos, food photos, and so much more.

Here’s a DIY painted canvas backdrop in action:

Beautiful, right? It offers texture and harmonious colors, plus it just feels refined. Professionals often purchase expensive (and handpainted) canvas backdrops, but you can make your own for a fraction of the retail price.

Here’s how it works:

First, go to your local hardware store and buy a canvas drop cloth. These are designed to protect the floor when painting interiors and shouldn’t set you back too much money.

Canvas drop cloths are usually pretty large. If you want to shoot food or products, you might consider cutting your cloth into four pieces; that way, you can create four backgrounds using your single stretch of fabric. (And if you paint on both sides of the canvas, you can create a whopping eight backgrounds!)

While you’re at the hardware store, grab two or three paint samples for each backdrop. Similar tones tend to work well together (e.g., a light blue and a dark blue). Note that the canvas soaks up a lot of the paint, so you may need to purchase primer or use more paint than expected. 

Once you get home, spread out the canvas in a spacious, well-ventilated room, then layer the paint onto the fabric using a small, good-quality roller. Move the roller in different directions to create plenty of random texture.

If you want to add even more texture, use a large sea sponge or a scrunched-up rag. Dip it into the paint, then randomly press it onto the canvas.

If all goes well, you’ll end up with a natural texture that enhances – but doesn’t compete with! – your subject:

2. The ceramic flooring tile

Ceramic flooring tiles are simple, they’re beautiful, and they’re really, really cheap. If you’re on a budget and you want a quick DIY photo backdrop solution, they’re an outstanding option.

You should be able to find a nice selection of textured tiles at your local home improvement store, and each one should only cost a few dollars. These tiles are easily wipeable, too, which is a bonus if you’re dealing with food or liquid products.

Just make sure that the tiles you pick aren’t shiny – you don’t want to end up with glare. And aim for more muted and/or minimalistic colors, such as gray, black, white, or cool brown like taupe. (These will enhance and complement a wide variety of products and still life subjects.)

Note: Ceramic tiles, while perfect for small products and mini still-life photos, are not ideal for larger products or expansive setups. The tiles themselves are on the small side, and while you can spend time expanding the background in Photoshop, it’s far easier to use the correct background from the get-go. So if you do have a larger subject, try one of the other options on this list.

3. The painted wooden backdrop

DIY painted canvas backdrops (discussed above) are great, but they can be on the pricey side, especially if you plan to experiment with lots of different colors and textures.

That’s where painted wooden boards come in. They look just as good as canvas, yet you can grab far more boards for far less money.

To make your own wooden backdrop, buy thin plywood sheets at the home improvement store. Pieces of 2×3 feet should accommodate most setups. The bigger stores – like Home Depot – will cut up larger pieces for you, so if you want to save a few dollars, consider buying a larger board and getting it sliced into a few potential backdrops.

You can purchase paint samples from the hardware store, or you can use craft paints. Just make sure that all your paints and varnishes are matte; even some of the satin types can cause unwanted shine in your images.

Once you have your materials, the fun begins: Take three or four similar colors, then pour them together in the middle of the board. Grab a large sea sponge and dab the paint all over to create a blended, mottled effect. Finish with a thin coat of matte, water-resistant sealer. 

Once your boards have dried, test them out! Try shooting a mix of vertical and flat-lay still life scenes:

4. Cloth

This DIY backdrop is especially great for still life photography, but you can also use it for food shots, product shots, and even portraits.

Note that you can use all kinds of fabrics, including sheets, tablecloths, drapes, and even clothing. If you try shooting with cloth and like it, I encourage you to start collecting fabrics on a regular basis; look in thrift shops, check out yard sales, and even search online.

You can use the fabric as the entire backdrop, as shown in the image below, or just to cover a portion of another backdrop. But if you do decide to cover your entire surface with a cloth, place another layer of fabric underneath. This will plump it up and make the setup look more attractive.

As I emphasized in previous sections, when choosing your colors, stick to simple, non-distracting neutrals. Shades of blue also look good, especially in dark and moody images. Of course, you can also choose pastels or other bright colors depending on what you’re shooting and your desired result. Just make sure that the background doesn’t draw the eye away from the main subject!

5. The vintage tray

Don’t throw away any old or vintage trays you have stored in your kitchen or basement – they make great DIY backdrops for still life and food setups!

Depending on the tray material, it may introduce a lovely patina that adds something special to your shots. In my experience, such trays look great close up or at a distance, and they can even be used as a storytelling element.

If you don’t have any trays at home, that’s okay. You can often find vintage trays for an affordable price at thrift or antique stores! But make sure you choose carefully; you want to avoid reflective surfaces that’ll produce lots of unwanted glare.

Check out the two images below, which both feature a vintage tray. Though I backlit my subjects, the tray doesn’t look overly shiny. It has a nice, subtle texture:

6. Colored paper

Colored or textured construction paper is pretty, cheap, and very easy to store. It’s an ideal background if you’re after simple, no-frills product or still life photos – and it also works great if you want to capture bright, punchy shots.

You can source large pieces of paper at your local craft supply store. Alternatively, you can look on sites like Amazon for packages of paper offering a variety of colors.

For the image below, I used a large piece of yellow construction paper as my background. The result is simple, elegant, and looks very modern:

To recreate this effect, make sure you move your paper away from your set. This will give you a blurry horizon line so your subject doesn’t look “stuck” to the background.

7. The wooden cutting board

Here’s my final DIY photo backdrop idea, and it works especially well in food images:

The wooden cutting board, which – depending on its size – can function as a nice backdrop or be used as a prop to add additional interest and tell a story.

Be careful about purchasing boards with an orange tinge. Since most food is quite warm in tone, compositions that are warm throughout can end up looking dated.

Also, I’ve found that the camera tends to exaggerate this orange tone. If I use a warm cutting board, I’m forced to decrease the saturation in all of my images, which isn’t ideal.

Instead, look for light pine boards (for brighter, airier shots) and deep espresso boards (for darker, moodier shots). If you own a board but don’t like the color, you can always paint it however you like! For the image above, I painted my board white and textured it using fine sandpaper.

Note: If you do paint a board, make sure you only use it for photography. It definitely won’t be food-safe!

DIY photo backdrop ideas: final words

There are many different ways to create stunning photography backdrops that don’t require tons of money and time.

So pick your favorite background ideas from this list and start creating! You might even have fun along the way.

Do you have other DIY photography backdrop ideas? Share them in the comments section below!

 

The post 7 DIY Photo Backdrop Ideas Everyone Should Try appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Darina Kopcok.

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[Photography] 9 Tips for Gorgeous Fall Photography

The post 9 Tips for Gorgeous Fall Photography appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Darren Rowse.

I love fall photography; what could be more beautiful than golden leaves lying on lush green grass or waving against a beautiful blue sky?

Unfortunately, capturing autumn colors can be a bit tricky. For the best photos, you must carefully choose your gear, your lighting, and your settings – and if you’re a beginner, it can all get pretty overwhelming.

But never fear! In this article, I share my top tips for stunning fall photography. I explain:

• How you can use a simple filter to bring out beautiful autumn colors
• How you can adjust your white balance setting for gorgeous warm images
• How you can create amazing shots by chasing the right light
• Much more!

Ready to become an autumn photography master? Then let’s dive right in!

1. Use a polarizing filter to enhance colors

First things first:

If you want to capture rich, bold fall colors, then you should start by purchasing a polarizing filter.

Polarizers go on the front of the lens and cut down on reflected light. Reflections on wet and/or waxy leaves reduce color intensity, so by blocking this unwanted light from reaching your camera sensor, your fall photos will look more saturated.

Make sure you purchase a high-quality filter, though; a cheap polarizer won’t do its job effectively and can introduce annoying color casts. So pay for a quality option, such as a circular polarizer offered by Hoya.

Note: The polarizer’s diameter must match the diameter of your lens. Pick the lens you plan to use most in the fall, figure out its diameter, then buy a corresponding polarizer.

Also, bear in mind that polarizers do reduce the total amount of light hitting the camera sensor. To compensate, your camera will be forced to lengthen its shutter speed, which can introduce camera shake. To prevent this, I recommend shooting with a good tripod!

2. Shoot during the golden hours

The hour or so after sunrise and the hour or so just before sunset are known as the golden hours. If you’ve ever spent time observing the evening light, you’ll know why: When the sun is low in the sky, it casts beautiful, soft, golden light across the land – light that looks amazing when illuminating fall subjects.

You see, golden-hour light offers several major benefits. It’s soft, so it helps you capture photos with lots of beautiful details. And it’s warm, so your images will have a stunning golden color cast.

Personally, I’m a huge fan of how the low sun accentuates red and gold colors. You can capture breathtaking fall landscapes, close-up details, fall portraits, and so much more.

If you can get up early enough, morning can actually be a bit better than evening. For one, fewer people will be out, so you’ll often get forest paths all to yourself. And morning tends to come with less wind, which is ideal if you want to combine stunning fall colors with pond reflections.

3. Don’t ignore the overcast days

If you’re after rich, warm colors, golden-hour lighting is great…

…but you can also capture unique images on overcast days. The clouds act as giant diffusers, creating a soft, even light that brings out detail, adds atmosphere, and even saturates colors.

For instance, fall forest scenes look amazing under overcast lighting. Little details – fallen leaves, September flowers, and wilting plants – also look gorgeous.

One tip: If the sky is cloudy, make sure that you go out to shoot during the middle of the day. As the sun sinks lower in the sky (i.e., behind the clouds), the world gets dimmer and dimmer. Late in the afternoon, you may struggle to capture sharp handheld images. (Though you do always have the option to use a tripod!)

4. Look for color contrast

Fall is full of all sorts of beautiful color contrasts: red leaves on green (grass) backgrounds, orange leaves on blue (sky) backgrounds, purple flowers on yellow (leaf) backgrounds.

And if you can incorporate those many contrasts into your images, you’ll end up with some breathtaking results.

You see, color contrast adds three-dimensionality by creating a clear separation between the subject and the background. Plus, contrasting colors are just inherently striking!

If you’re struggling to see color contrasts, consider printing and carrying a color wheel. Opposite colors contrast beautifully, though neighboring colors do blend very nicely (and create a more muted palette).

Once you start to see color contrast with regularity, try experimenting with different color balances. You might include a lot of red and a little green for a more restrained look – or an equal amount of both for an intense result.

5. Consider the position of the sun

Some fall photographers prefer to avoid including the sun in the frame. Why? If the sun hits the camera sensor, it can create lens flare, which will wash out the scene and reduce the impact of autumn colors.

On the other hand, by incorporating the sun in the frame, you can create interesting sunstar effects that enhance rather than detract from your fall landscapes and even portraits. (You’ll need to stop down your aperture to around f/8 to get a nice sunstar!)

So I’d encourage you to experiment with both methods. Spend some time shooting away from the sun (so that you capture beautiful front-lit and side-lit subjects). Then turn around and shoot at the sun. See if you can deliberately create lens flare.

6. Play with your white balance settings

White balancing is the process of handling color casts in your images. Some forms of light – such as golden-hour light – produce very warm, orangish light, while other forms of light – such as artificial flash – produce very cold, bluish light. But when you dial in the correct white balance, you neutralize (i.e., remove) this warm or cold result. Successful neutralization helps the underlying colors shine through and ensures the photo more accurately represents its subject.

Generally speaking, it’s a good idea to neutralize color casts, so it can be helpful to work with your camera’s white balance presets or even set the white balance using a gray card. If you’re shooting in RAW, you can always adjust the white balance during post-processing without issue, but it saves time to get it right from the beginning.

Also, note that you don’t always need to use the white balance to correct image color. You can actually use a warm or a cool white balance setting to add mood to your fall files. For instance, if you want to enhance reds and oranges, you can use a warmer white balance preset to warm up the image!

7. Aim to portray the chaos

Fall scenes tend to be pretty chaotic. They often feature waving branches, fallen leaves, colorful shrubs…the list goes on.

And in photography, chaos is generally a bad thing. Many photographers spend long minutes working a scene so they can reduce the chaos. After all, chaos distracts the viewer and prevents them from looking toward the main subject, right?

Not always! If you can embrace the chaos, you can capture unique images that go beyond the standard fall landscapes or portraits. Try to carefully compose your shots so that all the elements fit together like a puzzle. And see if you can intersperse different colors throughout the frame – some reds here, some greens there.

In “chaos” shots, the goal is to think in terms of abstract geometry. Make sure that you carefully balance different colors and textures throughout the scene. And test out different apertures to see whether the images look good as deep depth of field shots or shallow depth of field files.

8. Bring out fall colors in post-processing

Most of the best fall photo effects are done in-camera, and you shouldn’t see editing software as a way to “fix” or “create” amazing images.

However, you can enhance your autumn photography by bringing out colors, boosting depth, and increasing detail. It doesn’t require specialized knowledge, either; you can handle all your fall photo editing in an intuitive program such as Lightroom.

I’d recommend first adjusting the exposure to make sure you have the level of detail you’re after. If you notice any detailless shadows or highlights, use the tonal sliders (i.e., the highlights, shadows, blacks, and whites sliders) to recover the missing data.

Then make some contrast changes. This will often look nice and add plenty of punch, but don’t go overboard. Too much contrast will start to create unrealistic effects, which is absolutely not what you want.

Finally, experiment with different color intensity sliders. The Saturation slider, for instance, can boost the overall color intensity. The Vibrance slider, on the other hand, focuses on cooler colors. And if you’re feeling especially adventurous, you might even try tweaking individual colors (using Lightroom’s HSL panel or Photoshop’s Hue/Saturation adjustment layer.

9. Go out when the weather is bad

I know, I know:

Bad-weather days make you want to stay inside, not venture out with your camera.

But if you take the plunge, you’ll quickly see that fall colors combined with foggy, rainy, or even (if you’re lucky!) snowy afternoons can look incredible.

For one, bad weather can add lots of atmosphere. Rain is a great way to add a melancholy mood, while snow can create uplifting vibes or a sadder, lonelier look (depending on how you approach and edit your photos). And fog pretty much always looks great, though if you want really powerful photos, try to combine fog with repetition (such as lines of trees in a forest).

You do have to be careful, though. It’s easy to get lost in heavy fog or snow, so always carry a phone and tell someone where you’re going in advance. And bad weather can damage your camera, so make sure you carry a rain cover at all times (I’d encourage you to carry a second cover that wraps around your camera bag and keeps it dry).

Fall photography tips: final words

Now that you’ve finished this article, you’re ready to capture some beautiful autumn images.

So have plenty of fun photographing the fall colors. And make sure you shoot whenever you can. In many areas, peak autumn scenes only last for a few weeks. You don’t want to miss out!

Which of these tips do you plan to try first? What kind of fall photography do you plan to create?

The post 9 Tips for Gorgeous Fall Photography appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Darren Rowse.

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[Photography] Clothes for Photoshoots: How to Advise Clients on What to Wear

The post Clothes for Photoshoots: How to Advise Clients on What to Wear appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Lily Sawyer.

Clothing can make or break a photoshoot. No matter your portrait photography skills, if the outfits aren’t right, the images will just feel…off. I know this from experience.

That’s why you must take steps to ensure the clothes your clients wear fit with the photoshoot theme, the environment, the client’s personality, and more.

In this article, I share several key tips for choosing the right clothes for photoshoots. I also offer a handful of ideas and examples; that way, if you’re struggling to pick the perfect clothing, you can always refer back to my list for inspiration.

Note: The client plays the most important role in any photoshoots – so while I offer advice on what to wear, I like to ensure the outfits match their preferences. I always ask my clients to send me some of their outfit ideas before the big day, and I’ll offer comments and suggestions. But I never force them to dress in a way that makes them uncomfortable!

How to choose photoshoot clothing: quick tips

In this section, I offer my best tips for advising clients on clothing choices.

1. Tailor the clothing to the type of photoshoot

Every type of photoshoot is different. And different photoshoots call for different outfits! A corporate photoshoot may require formal clothing, but an engagement photoshoot is often far more informal, and a sibling photoshoot is more casual still.

So make sure that you always keep in mind the type of session when advising clients on outfits. If you’re unfamiliar with the different types of photoshoots, here’s a relatively comprehensive list:

• Family (immediate family, perhaps with a couple of grandparents added)
• Children (just the kids, sometimes with cousins included)
• Siblings (brothers and sisters)
• Three generations (e.g. grandmother, mother, daughter)
• Engagement, love shoot, or couple shoot
• Newborn or baby
• Valentine, anniversary
• Activity-based (sports, event, themed)
• Clan (bigger family shoots to include extended family or several families together)
• Birthday
• Lifestyle (usually more informal)
• Portrait (usually more formal)
• Corporate

Once you book your session and determine the type of photoshoot your client is seeking, it can help to do some Googling. Look at images taken by other photographers, and ask yourself: How does the clothing affect the mood? How does it fit with the client’s goals?

And if you’re not completely sure what your client wants, ask them – or at least have a discussion about it. Are they interested in a formal session? Or do they want the images to look more informal? Clients can have different ideas about the seriousness of a portrait session, so it’s best to clarify any confusion from the get-go.

2. Think about the type of client

In my experience, clients generally fall into one of two categories: styled or casual.

Styled clients like to think about every detail of their shoot, including:

• The look and feel they want
• The color scheme, location, and props they want to use
• Makeup and accessories
• The final outcome of their shoot (i.e., products and prints)

Casual clients, on the other hand, just want to capture some memories. They generally hope to wear their standard outfits and showcase what they do as a family. They’re not too worried about location or clothing; they just want lovely photos of their family or themselves, and they plan to simply take the digital files and store them safely (so they can print them as needed).

Now, it’s important that you discuss photoshoot clothing with both types of clients. Styled clients tend to have strong preferences, but unless they’re portrait photographers, they may not realize what works and what doesn’t. To capture the best images, you must work with them and guide them in the right direction.

And while casual clients may wish to wear their everyday clothing, it’s still important that you help them decide which everyday clothing. If the photoshoot includes multiple people, you don’t want them all to clash. And if you’re doing a solo photoshoot, the clothing should complement the subject and the environment (and definitely shouldn’t distract!).

3. Pick a specific theme

Some clients like doing themed photoshoots, whereas others don’t – but if you do have a client hoping to keep things themed, then you should make sure it’s specific, then tailor your outfit suggestions accordingly.

I always encourage my clients to keep the theme detailed. A “glamour” theme is pretty broad, whereas “moody forest” is a lot more workable. It’s also important to keep things simple within the chosen theme; don’t go overboard with complex clothing and makeup, elaborate settings, props, and so on.

For me, a theme just provides context. The focus of the photoshoot is still about ensuring the client looks good, looks natural, and loves the way they look.

Keeping it simple is best!

4. Consider the location

When you’re choosing photoshoot clothing, it’s important to think about the location – because different locations offer different colors, textures, and lighting that can complement (or clash with) the subjects’ outfits.

If your clients have serious outfit preferences, it’s best to pick the outfits first, then choose the location afterward. When you’re dealing with more complex clothing choices, a location that provides a simple but effective background will work best.

However, if your clients are less interested in picking outfits, it can make sense to start with a location and only then determine outfit options.

If you’re shooting in a busy location (e.g., a city or a market) where you can’t avoid being surrounded by people, I’d suggest choosing plain, non-printed outfits. This will help your clients stand out despite the busy setting. (When I shoot in these locations, I sometimes use a wide aperture or drag the shutter to blur everything but the client.)

On the other hand, if the location is a park where you can find a quiet spot with trees, foliage, or sky as the background, then your clients can wear florals and even busy patterns. For an even more refined look, widen the aperture so you get a beautiful shallow depth of field effect (with creamy bokeh!).

If you’re shooting in an empty area, you can also create silhouettes. This works well if your clients are wearing outfits that are similar (e.g. simple jackets).

Here are some other locations that can work well as backgrounds:

• A brick wall (or any textured surface)
• Large murals
• Alcoves
• Corners
• An old building
• A row of pillars

And remember: It’s important to maximize contrast between the outfits and the location. In other words, encourage plain clothing in busy locations and busy clothing in plain locations. Make sense?

5. Don’t forget the time of year

This tip is pretty obvious: Make sure that the photoshoot clothing matches the season! You don’t want your clients to spend the entire session shivering (or, conversely, sweating!).

I do encourage my clients to bring a change of outfits in case they want a different look. Some take me up on the offer, while others don’t. Depending on your location, the weather can change quite dramatically. In autumn and spring, you can sometimes have all four seasons in one day, so it can be helpful to have several clothing options on hand.

I also encourage my clients to dress in layers. If the sun comes out, they may want to take a layer off, and if it becomes windy, they may want to put some layers back on. You can also bring handy props in case of interesting weather such as rain or snow; photos under an umbrella pretty much always look great!

6. Consider your own style

Do you have a consistent style? For instance, do you capture dark, moody portraits? Bright, airy photos? Glamorous, bold shots?

While I don’t think you should be hyper-focused on maintaining a specific style, it can be helpful to encourage your client to dress in a way that matches your preferences. Obviously, don’t push, and at the end of the day, it’s up to the client, not you – but if you get the opportunity to capture images that fit your creative vision, go for it!

If your client is resistant to your ideas, that’s okay. Let them make the final decisions. You could always turn them down, but even if a person isn’t your ideal client, they clearly like your photos and are willing to pay. Do you really want to say no?

What to wear: general outfit advice

Now that you’re familiar with the various elements to consider when advising clients on outfits, here is my general advice:

• Classic is good. It’s tough to go wrong with timeless outfits and colors: chinos, khakis, beige and blues, nature hues, pastels, shirts, and simple dresses.
• Florals and prints are nice. If you’re working with a simple background, try going for just florals or even an eclectic mix of prints and patterns. Pairing prints with stripes can also work sometimes.
• Use a mix of matching colors. Keep the colors harmonious, but avoid perfect matches from subject to subject (i.e., don’t have an entire family dress in white shirts and blue jeans). Avoid stark contrasts such as green and red or yellow and purple. Instead, aim to put warm tones (yellows, oranges, pinks, red, and even warm greens) together and cool tones (blues, purples, and standard greens) together. An explosion of bright colors could also work, although you should shoot it against a plain background or setting.
• Keep clothing consistent. If you’re shooting couples or group portraits, avoid extreme differences from subject to subject. You don’t want to capture one person with a casual knitted sweater and the other with a silky dress. Such significant contrast can be jarring! Black and white is another combination that’s intense unless done intentionally.
• Combine darks and lights. If you’re photographing adults and kids, make sure the adults wear dark clothes while the kids dress in light or bright clothing. Do it the other way around and the adults will dominate the scene while the kids will disappear.

Clothes for photoshoots: final words

We all have our own personal preferences and styles, but I hope that you found this article helpful! Determining the perfect photoshoot clothing can be tough, but with a bit of practice, you’ll become an expert.

Now over to you:

What type of clothing do you plan to use for your next photoshoot? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

The post Clothes for Photoshoots: How to Advise Clients on What to Wear appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Lily Sawyer.

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[Photography] Tamron Announces First Z-Mount Lens for Nikon, the 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3

The post Tamron Announces First Z-Mount Lens for Nikon, the 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3 appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.

August was a big month for Tamron. First, the company unveiled the innovative 20-40mm f/2.8 Di III VXD; then, following a July development announcement, Tamron launched the 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD.

Both of the above models – like most of Tamron’s recent third-party lenses – are designed for Sony E-mount cameras. Yet Tamron had one more surprise in store: a final August announcement that hints at a new direction for the company and should excite Canon and Nikon mirrorless users alike.

Earlier this week, Tamron unveiled a third lens, the 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD – for Nikon mirrorless. While Tamron already offers a handful of Nikon F-mount options, the 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3 is the company’s first Z-mount lens (and indeed, one of the only third-party Z-mount lenses in existence).

The lens itself isn’t wildly innovative, and that’s okay. It’s a new version of the popular 70-300mm focal length; according to Tamron, it “combines the world’s smallest size and lightest weight together with high image quality.” Given the lens’s unique portability, you should be able to comfortably carry it in a bag or even on your camera for hours – when hiking, walking through the city, or while on a travel adventure. And the impressive optical quality in addition to the “very fast and accurate autofocus” make the 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3 suitable for plenty of purposes, including telephoto landscape photography, portraiture, wildlife photography, sports photography, and bird photography.

While the new lens is undoubtedly suitable for hobbyists, the narrow (and variable) maximum aperture won’t impress advanced users and professionals, especially those who regularly work in low-light conditions and require an ultra-wide maximum aperture to ensure fast shutter speeds.

But as I suggested above, the excitement surrounding Tamron’s 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3 announcement isn’t due to the lens’s effectiveness. Rather, the launch of a Nikon mirrorless model suggests the existence of more lenses in the Tamron pipeline – additional Nikon Z-mount and likely Canon RF-mount products that would substantially expand the two companies’ growing mirrorless lineups.

At present, Nikon and Canon both offer dozens of outstanding mirrorless lenses. But many of these products are a little too good; they offer pro-level optics and feature price tags that are unpalatable for beginners, hobbyists, and even advanced shooters.

If Tamron does develop an array of Z-mount and RF-mount lenses, it’ll be a win for consumers; the new glass will no doubt offer Tamron’s signature quality and portability but at a very reasonable price. 

The post Tamron Announces First Z-Mount Lens for Nikon, the 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3 appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.

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[Photography] 9 Tips for Perfect Product Photography Compositions

The post 9 Tips for Perfect Product Photography Compositions appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Ana Mireles.

If you’re struggling with your product photography compositions, you’ve come to the right place! Below, I share tips and guidelines to help you arrange products more effectively.

In product photography, the goal is to make the item desirable. Composition is a great way to direct the attention of the viewer, highlight the main subject, and add context to the image – all of which can contribute to the product’s appeal.

Note that the composition rules and guidelines that I mention in this article apply to any type of product. So regardless of what you’re photographing, you’re bound to find them useful.

Let’s get started!

1. Use the rule of thirds for powerful product compositions

The rule of thirds is one of the most famous composition rules out there. Pretty much everyone with an interest in photography has heard of the rule, from landscape and nature photographers to food and product shooters.

In fact, even people who have never studied photography use the rule of thirds without knowing it. Why? The rule of thirds grid is offered as a default overlay by many smartphones and cameras!

Now, the rule of thirds says that you should divide the frame into nine equal segments, which you can do by tracing two vertical lines and two horizontal lines across a frame, like this:

Redmi Note 8 | Camera App | Auto Mode

The intersection points are the most important, and you can use them to position your main product. That way, your composition feels well-balanced and dynamic. When arranging additional items throughout your composition, go ahead and place them along the gridlines.

Since the grid is included on most smartphones and cameras, you can practice without much effort. Simply enable the grid overlay. Then, when you’re doing a product shoot, position your main items along the rule of thirds grid!

2. Use the rule of odds to group your products

Canon 70D | 55mm | f/5.6 | 1/200s | ISO 100

The rule of odds states that a group of objects is more appealing when it’s formed by an odd number of elements. It’s a composition guideline that’s used in art, interior design, graphic design, and of course, photography.

Why does the rule work? There’s no real consensus. Some say it’s because odd numbers force the eye to wander through the composition. Others say that it’s because our brain groups things in pairs, so having an extra element attracts our attention.

Whatever the reason, an “odd” composition usually looks great. So the next time you create a product photo, try distributing elements in groups three, five, or seven. You’ll likely end up with more interesting images!

By the way, a three-item composition is the easiest way to satisfy the rule of odds, but seven is the favored number across cultures, genders, and age groups.

3. Use composition planes to add depth

Another way to create an interesting and pleasing product composition is by creating planes. This will add depth, and it’ll offer valuable context to the viewer.

For instance, look at the image below. The memory card sits in the foreground, while the camera is blurry but recognizable in the background. The image has plenty of depth, and it tells a story, too: the memory card is an essential item when using your camera!

Canon 70D | 55mm | f/5.6 | 1/200s | ISO 100

When creating a composition, you can work with the front plane, the middle plane, and the background. That said, some photographs only have two planes: the foreground and the background. Neither option is better than the other, and both can work well; just choose between two or three planes depending on the story you want to tell.

You can create planes while using a narrow aperture for a deep depth of field – but a good way to separate the planes and emphasize one item over the others is by keeping the depth of field shallow. To achieve this, you’ll need to balance the aperture, the focal length, and the distance between the camera and the subject. You can use a DOF calculator to find the perfect combination, or you can spend time testing out different apertures and focal lengths.

Pro tip: If you’re using a smartphone, set it to Portrait mode. It’ll blur the background and give you a similar effect.

4. Use patterns for eye-catching compositions

Incorporating patterns into your product photos is a very versatile technique; you can create all sorts of interest using shapes, colors, or textures. You can also add variety by arranging regular or irregular patterns. And you can start with a regular pattern but break it to add a point of interest. That’s how I created this paperclip composition:

Canon 70D | 55mm | f/2.8 | 1/200s | ISO 400

Flat lay is a type of product photography that can really benefit from using patterns. You have the entire surface of the frame to arrange your products, which means you can produce plenty of obvious (or not so obvious) patterned compositions.

Also, patterning is a very effective technique when you’re photographing a product that comes in many flavors or colors (e.g., lipstick or lollipops).

5. Use diagonal lines to add movement

Diagonal lines are a powerful way to create movement in your product photography compositions. Here, I’m not talking about physical movement, but visual movement – that is, movement of the eye through the frame. Visual movement helps engage the viewer and encourages them to examine the entire scene.

Now, there are different ways to incorporate diagonal lines into your images. You can arrange your products (or your products plus props) in a diagonal line. Alternatively, you can create a diagonal by tilting your product, which makes for a powerfully dynamic composition:

Canon 50D | 58mm | f/20 | 1/125s | ISO 100

Finally, you can use diagonals as leading lines to guide the viewer’s eye toward the product. Try placing props around the product, and make sure they point the viewer in the desired direction.

6. Use the golden triangle for balanced compositions

The golden triangle can help you arrange elements in a pleasing way.

You’ve probably heard of the golden ratio, which is commonly used in art (it’s often discussed in relation to the Fibonacci spiral). Well, the golden ratio is used to create a golden triangle overlay, which looks like this:

Canon 50D | 68mm | f/11 | 1/125s | ISO 100

Fortunately, determining golden triangle positions doesn’t require mathematical calculations; most camera apps and photo-editing software (including Lightroom) come with this overlay. So when you’re arranging your products, use the overlay to position key elements along triangle sides or vertices. Notice how the roses tend to fall along the overlay in the image above?

Using this technique, you can create compositions that convey stability but that also remain dynamic thanks to the diagonal lines.

7. Use light and shadow to tell a story

Learning to manipulate light to tell the perfect story is the fundamental skill possessed by a professional product photographer.

For instance, you can use light and shadow to draw the attention of the viewer toward the product. The eye will automatically be drawn to the area of the image with the highest contrast, so by lighting your product and letting its surroundings fall into shadow, you can easily guide the viewer. For this next shot, I used light and shadow to emphasize the can:

Canon 70D | 38mm | f/5.6 | 1/200s | ISO 100

Keep in mind that you can’t just light your product, let shadows fall everywhere else, and call it a day. You need to balance the light and shadow areas for a pleasing result. Through a careful combination of light and dark, you can add depth to your compositions and pull focus toward the product.

Remember that light also contributes to the general mood of the picture, so use it carefully. For example, high-contrast lighting is useful to highlight the product, but it can be very dramatic. It might not be the most appropriate form of lighting if the product is, say, a baby item.

And don’t just think about the direction of the light; also carefully select the lighting temperature and the lighting quality for the perfect result.

8. Use composition overlays with live shooting

When you’re just starting out, applying the composition rules and guidelines can be quite challenging. Everything may sound good in theory, but once you’re looking through the viewfinder, it’s difficult to know where you should place your objects.

That’s one of the reasons why tethered shooting is helpful when doing product photography. Using programs such as Capture One Pro, you can add composition overlays to your live view of the scene, and you can arrange your compositions along the overlay before taking the picture.

If you use a smartphone, you can download camera apps with overlays, such as Wise Camera. There are also apps that allow you to superimpose other images as guides when shooting, such as Dittoed.

After some practice, you’ll realize that you don’t need the overlays anymore, and you’ll be able to create powerful compositions instinctively.

9. Improve your compositions with the Crop tool

Capturing the perfect composition in-camera isn’t always possible. You might forget to account for a distraction at the edge of the scene, or you might keep your composition a little too loose and want to tighten it up later on.

Fortunately, there are simple ways to improve the composition in post-processing! For instance, pretty much every editing program has a crop tool and many offer composition overlays (Photoshop and Lightroom, for instance, offer plenty of overlays and easy-to-use Crop tools). So don’t be afraid to experiment with different crops, and cycle through your different overlay options for additional inspiration.

That said, while cropping is certainly useful, it’s never ideal. Every time you crop, you lose pixels. So I encourage you to get the best possible composition when shooting, only make small tweaks with editing software. Make sense?

Product photography composition tips: final words

Product photography composition doesn’t have to be difficult. Hopefully, these tips have given you plenty of easy ways to build and enhance your compositions – though these are actually only a few of the product photography composition guidelines that I like to use, so always experiment and push yourself to learn more.

And remember that you can combine different composition guidelines to create even more interesting, attention-grabbing images.

Which of these product photography composition techniques do you plan to use? Which are your favorites? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

The post 9 Tips for Perfect Product Photography Compositions appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Ana Mireles.

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