Telling Your Story With Images

Add interest to your images with backdrops

One of the differences between a snapshot and a portrait is the use of a backdrop. To create a pleasing portrait the focus is on the person only and that is achieved by isolating them and having a clutter free background.

You can create a backdrop for your images by using a blank neutral painted wall like this image.

But if you are like me and don’t have any blank or plain walls you can also create a backdrop wall. Different fabrics and colors will give you different moods. Dark backdrops are more formal and are more forgiving with poor lighting and harsh shadows.

This backdrop is a piece of blue fleece for making blankets and has a great texture.

My studio space is in my office and I had my husband raise the closet pole up higher and I can hang drapes or fabric from the pole to use as my backdrop. This backdrop is a black canvas curtain.

For a lighter backdrop I used a piece of white fleece which I also put under the child.

I also love to use tan canvas curtains.

A new backdrop idea I am using right now is textured wallpaper,one roll of paper can easily cover a wall section big enough to use.

For a temporary backdrop for parties etc.,you can use a colorful plastic tablecloth taped to the wall.

When you are taking portraits outside you can also be creative and get an interesting background by using brick walls.

The chainlink fence at the ball field also makes a great backdrop.

Be creative and use what you have,colorful quilts and textured blankets make great backdrops.

Check out my pinterest board for other creative backdrop ideas and then post a comment and tell me your favorite thing to use as a backdrop.

Bridget

Creating Panoramic Images

Have you ever created a panoramic image? A panoramic image will basically show a wide view of a scene in one image. It creates an image that is closer to what you see with your eyes and not limited to the camera’s view range. To capture a large scene in one photo you would normally need a wide angle lens but you can also take a series of photos and merge them together in a photo editing program and create a panoramic image.

It is really quite simple to create a panorama. 1st step is to take your photos,I wanted to create a panorama of the view from my front porch,so I set up my tripod,took my 1st photo and then slightly moved the camera and took my 2nd photo with the edge of the 2nd photo close to where the 1st photo ended. Using a tripod will help you keep the images at the same level and make it easier to merge your photos.

I decided that 4 photos would cover enough of the view I wanted to capture. After I took the photos I let my photo editing program do it’s magic and this is the panoramic image I ended up with.

It’s not bad but the reason I have never really liked panoramic images is because they are so long and narrow,but I recently discovered a trick to making your panoramic wider. Instead of taking horizontal images to merge together,take them vertical.

I took another 4 images in vertical which was a little trickier to do with the tripod,and then created the panoramic.

This is a much nicer panoramic image,it still shows the same scene but I like the size better.

What about you,do you like the typical look of the long narrow image or do you like the wider one better?

Bridget

p.s I love photoshop elements
it is what I use to create my panorama

Decorating Your Home with Photos

I love to decorate my home (home decorating is one of the courses I have taken and never used) and I do love art paintings but I think it is important to decorate your home with your own photos.

People no longer hang large family photos above the fireplace or have generational photo gallery walls. The trend in decorating seems to be to remove all the personality and story of the family out of the home and replace it with commercial artwork that many times is not even very nice.

There are so many different ways to display family photos that tell your story and can blend with your decor. You can add family photos and keep existing artwork in a room by using coordinating frames and colors to blend them together.

When you choose your photos think about the decor in the room as well,if you have a more modern clutter free space you will not want a table display with lots of photos in different frames,instead choose simple black frames with large white mats,convert your photos to black and white and hang in a simple grouping.

Gold frames are more ornate and formal,chunky wood frames are more rustic and painted white frames are great for beach themes and shabby chic as well as kids rooms.

Large blown up photos will make a great statement in a room but you can also get a large collage frame for a group of small images. Photo frames around a bulletin board or a wall hung coat or key rack will add some personality to a functional piece. You can also put framed photos on a plate rack. Be creative.

Check out my pinterest board for some more cool photo display ideas.

Bridget

p.s for more information on decorating with photos check out these posts,photo art and photo display

Photographing your Life- 3 story telling mistakes to avoid when taking your photos

If you are telling your story with images it is important to be ready to capture all the little moments of life. Try to avoid making these 3 mistakes when taking your photos.

Mistake 1- Missing the moments because you left your camera at home. I use a DSLR camera and since it is too . . . →Read More:Photographing your Life- 3 story telling mistakes to avoid when taking your photos

Taking Photos with Available Light

Learning to see and use light is one of the hardest and most important parts of photography. The other day I was taking some snapshots of the grandkids while they were playing. I decided to experiment with light and using available light (truth be told I was too lazy to go find my . . . →Read More:Taking Photos with Available Light

Taking Kids School Photos

Going Back to School or starting school is a big event for a kid and their parent. When my kids were young I didn’t even think of having first day of school photos,I took photos at school plays,concerts etc. and I always bought the dreaded school mugshot photo on picture day. I would . . . →Read More:Taking Kids School Photos

Taking Pictures of Baby from Birth to 6 Months

My youngest Granddaughter just turned 6 months and is just getting to the fun age for taking pictures because she smiles and sits up which makes it so much easier. Most photography studios recommend a newborn picture, 6 months and 1 year but during that 6 months they change so drastically. Even if you aren’t . . . →Read More:Taking Pictures of Baby from Birth to 6 Months

Photographing beautiful Southern California

When you mention Southern California most people think of Hollywood,LA and Disneyland. For me Southern California is about my past. Hubby and I were married and lived in Southern California 27 years ago and we took our 1st trip back after moving to Tennessee 26 years ago. We lived in Anaheim and San Bernardino . . . →Read More:Photographing beautiful Southern California

Taking Photos of the Glitz of Las Vegas Nevada

When I lived in California I never visited Las Vegas Nevada. I recently took my 1st trip there and I loved and hated it.

The things I loved about it was the incredible architecture of the hotels and all the food and entertainment choices. The MGM Grand has a really fun lazy river pool and . . . →Read More:Taking Photos of the Glitz of Las Vegas Nevada

Best Light to Photograph the Grand Canyon Arizona

It is hard to find words to describe the Grand Canyon,it is not beautiful in the sense of a rose is beautiful,but it is grand and breathtaking and something everyone should see if they can. We spent 2 days there and it was not enough time to explore even . . . →Read More:Best Light to Photograph the Grand Canyon Arizona

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