• Understand The Major Events from the Culture
• Be Comprehensive with the Details of the Sofreh
• Watch Your Reflections in the Mirror
• Be Prepared for a Custom/Personalized Ceremony
• Maximize Use of the Ceremony Site

Understand The Major Events from the Culture

The first step in photographing Perisan weddings is to understand the basic structure and order of events for the ceremony.  While you don’t have to necessraily memorize each and every event, you should be familiar with them so that you don’t miss anything.  Here’s the typical structure:

Typical Structure of a Persian Wedding

1. Processional
2. Sofreh Aghd – Ceremony
3. Bale/Kelling – Consent
4. Asal – Honey & Kiss
5. Tala – Gifts of Gold
6. Kalleh Ghand – Sugar Cones Overhead
7. Family Blessings
8. Recessional

We detail each of these in our article on Wedding Maps about Persian Weddings.  Be sure to read those over prior to your first Persian Wedding.

Photograph the Details of the Sofreh

Capture every detail of the sofreh, from the smallest to the largest details, at wide, medium and tight angles.  Each item usually symbolizes some aspect of the bride and groom’s relationship and marriage, and some items, such as powdered sugar, will be incorporated into the ceremony.  Plan more time photographing these details than you might normally schedule for other types of weddings.

Watch Your Reflections!

Avoid catching yourself or any other distracting elements in the mirror reflection throughout the ceremony.  The good news is that the mirror is usually angled upwards, so as long as you’re not close or above the mirror, you should be fine.  While these are things you can fix in Photoshop, you ideally want to get it right in camera.

Be Prepared for a Custom or Blended Ceremony

Ask bride and groom during the pre wedding talk-through for any non-typical events/moments.  Some brides and grooms modify their ceremonies to incorporate non traditional or modern elements.  Some couples may also opt for a shortened version of the traditional ceremony.  Clear communication prior to the ceremony should reveal these modifications.

Maximize Use of the Ceremony Site

The Sofreh is a centerpiece of the wedding and a large portion of the wedding couples’ budget.  It also makes an interesting, beautiful backdrop for photos.  So maximize your time there and consider doing a large portion of your couples session and family formals right there at the ceremony site.

Use Your Intuition and Prior Experience

Rely on your intuition and stay aware the entire ceremony.  Remember to capture wide, medium, and tight shots for a complete set of storytelling images.

Designate where shooters will be for various parts of ceremony.  You may find yourself facing the audience to capture the bride and groom as they often sit together on a bench, facing away from the audience for part of the ceremony. Either way, find positions to catch the necessary angles and tell a complete and cohesive story.

Be Ready for Petal Tosses

While not necessarily a cultural tradition for Persian weddings, a petal toss if a common event at the reception.  Ask the coordinator or the bride/groom if this will be happening at the wedding so that you can be ready for this moment.

Read the Full Persian Wedding Photography Guide

If you’re looking for more guidance on Persian weddings, we created a full guide to help prepare photographers to successfully photograph Persian weddings. The guide, available exclusively for our SLR Lounge Premium Members, includes  information and tips on the following:

• Glossary of Persian wedding terms so you’re familiar with every aspect of the wedding.
• Sample wedding day timeline so you can anticipate and prepare for each moment.
• Overview of Persian wedding traditions, including the sofreh aghd,  kaleh ghand, jashn e aroosi, and more.
• Photography tips so you can anticipate moments and create artistic, story-driven wedding photographs.
• 80+ reference images for inspiration.
• Plus more!

Learn All of the Persian Wedding Traditions

More Persian Wedding Photography Tips

We have included insightful photography tips for covering Persian weddings, from the aghd (traditional Persian wedding ceremony) to the jashn e aroosi (reception party), using our experience photographing numerous Persian weddings over the years. With recommendations on where to position team members, which angles to capture, and which lenses work best to capture those angles, the tips in this photography guide will give you the knowledge to anticipate moments and create artistic story-driven wedding photographs that honor the respective religions, traditions, and cultures of your clients.

Visual Inspiration for Persian Weddings

In addition to the photography tips, the accompanying images featured in each section of this guide have been included for visual reference. Culled from the catalogs of Lin & Jirsa Photography, each image directly relates to the topic at hand and should serve to inspire you when you find yourself applying what you’ve learned under the constraints of a real working environment.

Maternity Poses and Ideas

Here are some classic and unique pose ideas, coupled with tips to ensure your maternity photos truly shine.

1. Both hands under the belly

A classic pose that emphasizes the mother’s connection to her baby. Have the mom-to-be stand with her feet shoulder-width apart and slightly bent inwards while cradling her bump gently from below. This position accentuates the belly’s roundness and creates a protective and nurturing vibe.

2. One hand above and one hand under the belly photographed from the side

This pose adds dimension by capturing the belly’s curvature.  This maternity pose works particularly well when the wardrobe is loose, as it pushes the clothing inwards and shows off the shape of the belly.

3. One hand above and one hand under the belly photographed from the front

A direct frontal shot can be very beautiful to add to your set of maternity poses. With the hands placed strategically, it’s a great way to capture facial expressions while also highlighting the belly.

4. Both hands above the belly

While not as common as other hand placement options, both hands above the belly can add some variety to your maternity poses.

5. One hand above the belly and one hand holding something

This can be a pair of baby shoes, an ultrasound photo, or fashion accessory like a hat or scarf. It’s a way to introduce elements, style, or story to the maternity pose.

6. Dress toss maternity photo

Photographing from the side, have the expectant mother toss her dress so it flows in the wind. This dynamic shot is all about movement and the beauty of the feminine form during pregnancy. Use a fast shutter speed to capture the dress in motion.

7. Maternity couples photos

Incorporate the partner for a loving and supportive shot. The partner can stand behind or beside, placing their hand on the belly or around the mother in an embrace. This pose underscores the shared joy and anticipation.  We have a full article on couples maternity photoshoot ideas for more inspiration.

8. Henna/Mehndi belly blessings

This cultural touchpoint involves painting the belly with intricate patterns using henna (i.e. Mehndi). The dark designs against the skin offer a beautiful contrast and pay homage to traditions celebrating motherhood.

10. All Hands In

A maternity pose that evokes the essence of family. Have all the family members place their hands on the mother’s belly. It can be especially touching with siblings involved, symbolizing the collective love and anticipation of the newest family member.

Video: Posing Tutorial – Maternity Portraits

In this video, we’re going to work through some of the nuances of maternity portraits in regards to lighting and posing. If you’re interested in learning more about how to capture maternity portraits, be sure to check out our full workshop, which is also part of our Premium subscription.

Maternity Posing Tips

Next, to complete your understanding of maternity poses and posing, let’s review some basic tips for posing for maternity photography that we covered in the video above.

Bend One Leg and Ensure Good Posture

In maternity posing, ensure that the leg is bent to accentuate the curves and avoid a boxy look.  See the incorrect image on the left, with a refined version on the right.

Ask the subject to kick her hips to one side.  Which side doesn’t matter so do whatever is most comfortable for the subject.  However, it’s important to make sure the subject isn’t leaning with her hips away from the camera. This can de-emphasize the hips. Once the hips are kicked to one side, the subject’s feet should come together with one knee drawn in to hang over the other knee and create a tapered point in the dress. Next, ensure that the subject is standing up straight and check for details to make sure the dress is laid out nicely.

Use Hand Placement to Draw Attention

You can also bring those hands forward to direct our viewers’ eyes to our intended focus point. Here are a couple different examples.

Conclusion

Maternity photos are more than just images. They capture fleeting moments of anticipation, love, and transition. With the right poses and a touch of creativity, these portraits can become lifetime keepsakes. Whether you’re the photographer or the subject, consider these ideas and tips as a starting point, and let the beauty of maternity shine through.

Use a Fast Shutter Speed for Moving Subjects

Shutter speed is probably the first thing most of us think about when considering how to take sharp photos. Ensure that your shutter speed is fast enough to capture the motion and action.  The exact number will depend on the speed of movement, but in general, start with at least 1/250 for moving subjects and increase from there.  For fast moving objects, like flying birds or athletes running at full speed, try shutter speeds at 1/1000 and up.

Eliminate Camera Shake

Camera shake  is one of the biggest culprits for a lack of sharpness. This is when movement of the camera causes blur in the photo. A good general rule to adhere to the the reciprocal rule.  This means maintaining a shutter speed of at least the reciprocal of the focal length of your lens. For example, if you are shooting with a 400mm lens, then your shutter speed should be no slower than 1/400.

If you’re handholding your camera, make sure you switch on any vibration reduction that your lens may have built-in. Not all lenses come with this, but if you have it, use it when hand holding your camera.  See more in the video below:

Use a High Lens Quality

The quality of the “glass” (lens) contributes to image sharpness, contrast and saturation. The lens is what your camera is looking through to take the image after all. If you look through a dirty window, then the scene outside is less clear.

For the most part, professional series Nikon and Canon lenses produce sharper images than cheaper lens models or third party lens manufacturers. However, this generalization does not apply to all lenses, and some tests for select lenses have claimed better overall sharpness from third party manufacturers than their Nikon or Canon counterparts. Does this mean you should buy third party glass? Usage and budget are important factors; but keep in mind that cheap glass, in general, will put you at a disadvantage when trying to create tack-sharp images. You should almost always be prioritizing your lens over the camera. A flagship DSLR camera won’t take better quality images through a poor quality lens, but even an entry level camera will record higher quality images through a better lens.

Find the Ideal Aperture For Your Lens

Aperture is probably the last thing you would think of when it comes to obtaining tack-sharp images. However, it is one of the largest determining factors of shooting tack-sharp images. We all know that aperture controls your depth of field. However, did you know that shooting the exact same shot with the exact same focal point will yield different levels of sharpness at different apertures? For example, if you focus on the nose of a face at F1.4 and with the exact same exposure value and composition, shoot the same face at F4.0, the nose will actually be sharper in the image shot at F4.0. This is simply because each lens has a “sweet spot.”

Shooting at your lenses sweet spot will improve sharpness, contrast and saturation. Now you may be thinking, “well how do I find the sweet spot on my lens?” There are several rules of thumb, but the most prevalent is that your sweet spot is around 2 full stops above your lens’ minimum (widest) aperture. Depending on the lens, this will be in the range of F4-F11 or so. Keep in mind though, raising your aperture too high (small) will result in aperture diffraction, another phenomenon that will reduce overall clarity.

Find The Ideal Area of The Image

In composing your shots, keep in mind that different areas of the image will be softer (less sharp) than others. The center of your frame will almost always be your sharpest point, while the image will only get softer as you continue to the edge of the frame. While shooting your subject off-center for composition purposes is often necessary, it isn’t in your best interest to compose shots carelessly because you are relying on cropping the image down in post production. In general, areas away from the center will be less sharp relative to the center at wider apertures (F1.4, F2.8, etc), while areas away from the center will have similar sharpness as the center at smaller apertures (F8, F11, etc).

Ensure Proper Lens Calibration

Did you know that you can calibrate and fine-tune your lens, so the focus performs more accurately? For Nikon users, this will be under ‘AF Fine-Tune’ in your menu. This is particularly useful if you find that your photos are always just a little out of focus, but you are convinced that your technique is not flawed. There are pieces of equipment for calibration, such as the Spyder LensCal, which can help you to accurately fine-tune your lens.  For more information, see our article on how to calibrate your lenses.

Use a Tripod or Monopod If Necessary

If you don’t absolutely need to handhold your camera, then use a tripod. Not only does it eliminate camera shake, it helps you to compose your shots better. If you’re handholding (especially with heavy lenses), you may well find that you sway slightly.

Avoid The Focus Recompose Technique

When working with a shallow depth of field, you may have a very small amount actually in focus. Depending on the focal length of your lens, distance to your subject, and the aperture you have chosen, you may have anything from a few inches to a couple of millimeters in focus.

Focus recompose is a technique made popular by cameras that possess some focus points that, putting it kindly, are best avoided (think Canon 5D Mark II). When using cameras like that, photographers often stick to using the center focus point (normally the best) and then recomposing the frame once they have gained focus. The key point here is that by doing so, they have to move the camera. If your depth of field is only as wide as an eyelash, then you could very easily shift that focus with your movement.

Instead, try to select the focus point as near as possible to the point in your scene that you are focusing on, thereby reducing or removing altogether the possibility of losing your focus as you recompose your shot.

Choose Your Focus Points

When you’re focusing, make sure that you are using single-point focus. Cameras using multiple focus points to select the focus often choose the focus incorrectly. This is particularly true of modes like AF-area (Nikon cameras) and photographers often find the camera focusing in the wrong area. For example, when photographing an animal you want the focus to be on the eyes. But cameras often choose the largest area of the subject, and land the focus on the body. This leaves the head slightly out of focus in comparison to the focus point, and it can ruin a photo in an instant.

Try to Manual Focus (If needed)

Manual focus is not always appropriate, but it is mostly the friend of landscape photographers. Use the live view on your camera and zoom in digitally to achieve proper focus. Make sure that you have set the lens to manual focus mode, or when you press the shutter, you’ll just alter the focus automatically again.

Sharpen in Post Production (As Needed)

All those super sharp photos you see online will definitely have had some sharpening work done to them during post processing. This is completely normal in the industry and, in fact, it is necessary, especially for showing photos off-online. When you reduce the size of a photo from 1000s of pixels wide, to, say, 800px wide to show online, the sharpness of the photo is reduced due to the compression. Image Sharpening is required just to bring it back to normal.  But the same goes for the high-resolution files, too – sharpening is necessary in most cases. Learn how to properly sharpen your photos in your editing software and watch your photos come to life. You can also try AI Sharpening software like Topaz Labs to sharpen blurry photos.

Watch for Graininess Caused by High ISO

While ISO speeds up the process in which your film/sensor absorbs light, it also adds grain to your image. Too much grain destroys detail/sharpness in the image. The higher your ISO setting, the more detail is destroyed. New professional DSLR cameras can shoot at much higher ISO settings while retaining much of the image detail. However, with the proper lighting, it is usually best practice to shoot at the lowest ISO setting possible.

Conclusion

We’re always aiming for an image that is as sharp as possible, but is it the end of the world if we’re a little off? The answer to this question will depend on what you are shooting. With product photography, yes it matters. Whereas, a portrait of a couple, family photo, and many other instances are a little less crucial. If you are already working with a very shallow depth of field, then your images will have a very soft quality to them anyhow. In my opinion (and some of you may disagree), we can extend our range of what we call “acceptably in focus.” In terms of what is acceptable, you must use your own judgement. But don’t simply discard an image if the focus is a little off.

6 Tips To Capture Creative Candid Family Photography Video

Candid family photos are guaranteed meaningful photos for a client. Sure, clients are typically satisfied with simple posed photos with good lighting, everyone smiling, and nobody blinking, but what if we take it an extra step forward? In the video below, I have 6 tips for you so you can capture creative family photography!

Tip 1: Incorporate Action for Candid Family Photos

When it comes to capturing candid family photos, incorporating action can be a great way to get everyone involved and create natural, organic moments. Rather than just having everyone stand together and smile for the camera, you can engage the whole family in fun little activities that can help bring out their personalities and natural reactions.

For example, you might have the family play a game of catch or tag, jump on a trampoline, or play with a pet. These activities can help everyone feel more relaxed and comfortable, and the genuine laughter and interactions that result can make for some of the most memorable and authentic photos.

You can also incorporate simple actions into your photo composition, such as having family members walk towards the camera, dance together, or hug each other. These actions can create a sense of movement and liveliness in your photos, making them more dynamic and engaging.

Ultimately, incorporating action into your family photo sessions can help you move beyond typical posed photos and capture candid family portraits that truly reflect the unique personality and spirit of your family. So don’t be afraid to get creative and have fun with it!

Examples:

• Have the kids play a game of tag
• Have a posing contest
• Run a small distance together
• Try a jumping shot
• Throw children into the air (and catch them, of course!)

Tip 2: Go With The Flow

Always have your camera up and ready for anything that may happen for spontaneous candid family photos. Be prepared to capture the unexpected. As strange as it may sound, some of our clients’ favorite candid family portraits include those in which their kids are having a meltdown. We try to avoid meltdowns, of course, but they do happen, and the parents appreciate having a record of even these authentic moments.

Examples:

• Water splashing the family
• Children melting down

Tip 3: Get Every Possible Combination

Be sure to capture the family in all possible group variations. Start with the largest group and remove or add family members as you go. Use cues like “Strike a pose!” and even demonstrate some unique poses yourself to encourage more creative and candid family photos.

Each member of the family has a unique relationship with every other member of the family.  The best candid family photos are often the ones that bring out nuances and interactions between the family members.

Examples of combinations:

• Everyone in
• Grandparents and Kids
• Parents and Kids
• Mom and Kids
• Dad and Kids
• Mom and Dad

Tip 4: Capture Candid In-Between Moments

As I mentioned up top, candid family photos make for the best images with genuine expressions. Simply direct their attention to one another, and capture their natural exchanges and interactions.

Tip 5: Have a Mini Couple Session

Let the kids take a break and get some shots of just the parents. Treat this like an engagement session and shoot both traditional and lifestyle poses.  The parents will appreciate these photos because they will likely have neglected couples photos for a long time.  Being so busy keeping their kids alive and fed, these photos can help them remember and celebrate their love and relationship.

Tip 6: Don’t Be Afraid to Get Silly

Get creative with your candid family photos and throw in some funny faces to help get the family in a lighter mood. Allow the family to goof off and play together, then capture the fun reactions and candid moments.   By allowing your family members to let loose and have some fun, you can create an atmosphere of laughter and joy that will shine through in your photos.

One way to get everyone in a silly mood is to throw in some funny faces or poses. Ask your family members to make their funniest faces or strike a silly pose, and capture the resulting laughter and reactions. You might also suggest that everyone wear goofy hats or glasses, or use props like balloons or bubbles to add a playful element to your photos.

Another way to get silly is to encourage your family members to play and goof off together. Whether it’s tickling each other, playing dress-up, or making funny sounds, allowing your family to act naturally and spontaneously can lead to some truly unique and candid moments.

By getting silly and playful with your family, you can create a relaxed and fun environment that will help you capture candid family photos that are full of laughter and joy. So don’t be afraid to let loose and have some fun!

Conclusion

Family portrait season often peaks in the fall, but in reality, it is always upon us! It is warming up outside here in California, and chances are your clients are looking to grab  creative family portraits for one occasion or another. Although Christmas cards are the most popular reason to gather the family in front of the camera, they’re not the only game in town.

Whether you’re posing one person, a couple, a small family or a family of 27, you need to know exactly what to do and how to do it. If you’d like to dive deeper into your posing repertoire, check out our Complete Posing Workshop.  For more family photography education, see our Family Photography Training System.  In the meantime, we hope you found these 6 tips to capture creative family portraits helpful.

When it comes to being a photographer, our overall mission is to create consistently incredible imagery. But to become a successful photographer, there are four key skills you must acquire. These four skills fall into two categories: hard skills and soft skills. The hard skills are the technical ones that come from being able to use your gear creatively, come up with new ideas, and know how to find and create light, post processing, etc.  The soft skills involve the ability to properly communicate with your clients and understand what they want and need.  If you’ve ever wondered “what skills do you need to be a photographer?” then this article is for you.

Many successful photographers you may come across in the industry aren’t necessarily the best artists, but they have fantastic technical skills. Or you may find some that are incredibly successful because they’ve mastered the soft skills of client relationships and communication, but are not necessarily as technical or artistic.

If you want to become a successful photographer, it’s important to have all four key skills, with a balance between the four.

25% Hard Skills

The hard skills needed to be a photographer can be referred to as internal skills because you can improve on these skills by simply studying and practicing on your own. These are very important but they’re not the sole means to success. Hard skills encompass the technical side and the artistic side, and should make up about 25% of a successful photographer.

1. Technical Hard Skills

As stated above, hard skills are easy to teach and learn. Our numerous workshops cover the many aspects of the technical side. On the technical side, there is camera, composition, and exposure control. This is all Photography 101 course content. Then there’s mastery of lighting and light modification from our Lighting workshops. You’ll need post production skills and for this we’ve created three entire courses on Lightroom editing in the Lightroom Workshop Collection. And then there’s posing, which is one part hard skill, one part soft skill, both of which is taught in the Natural Light Couples Photography Workshop.

2. Artistic Hard Skill

The artistic side covers artistic camera, composition, and exposure control which is, again, discussed in all of the courses listed above. Technical and artistic are two very different hard skills needed to be a photographer. Think about some of the photographers that you know, or even yourself. Would you classify yourself as a technical photographer or as an artistic photographer? There are so many incredible photographers who are absolutely amazing artistically; they can create images that are breathtaking, yet they don’t really know much about the technical components of what they’re doing.

On the flip side, do you know photographers that are incredibly technical? They know their lighting ratios, everything there is to know about aperture, maximum dynamic range, about optimal shutter speeds, etcetera, yet there’s always seems to be something missing from their photographs? These are technical photographers. Generally, most of us are going to have a balance between these two but it might be weighted on one side.

A  photographer strives to have a good balance of the technical and the artistic and this makes up what we call the skilled photographer. It is only a small fraction of what it takes to be a successful photographer. The bulk of comes from the soft skills side.

75% Soft Skills

The soft skills needed to be a photographer are labeled, “external skills” because these need to be practiced with people. These soft skills are a greater part of the process therefore these soft skills are more important and weighted more in the balance of being a successful photographer.

3. Communication Soft Skill

Communication is key to building a relationship. Being able to communicate with people and discuss their interests, backgrounds, and anything other than photography is an extremely important soft skill. It involves smiling, being genuine, and being interested in what others have to say. You’d be surprised how much this could do for you. It’s the ability to use positive and reinforcing words as well as provide positive solutions to your client’s sometimes random requests.

When it comes to posing, as we mentioned above, there’s a technical side but much of posing comes down to communication and how you guide and direct your clients. You can have the know-how of what makes a good pose, but you need to have the ability to communicate and guide your clients through it.

4. Understanding Soft Skill

Being able to ask targeted questions is part of communication, but a major component for the soft skill of understanding. While communication is about your words, how you speak them and how you communicate your vision to your clients is critical. And understanding involves talking less, listening more and asking targeted questions so you know what their vision is.

When you seek to understand your clients’ wants, needs, and concerns, as well as having the ability to address and resolve those concerns, it will show that you are present in the moment.

Having the ability to communicate clearly and understand people makes you an empathetic communicator, able to understand their vision and share your own vision effectively.

[REWIND: Tips on Client Satisfaction, Reviews and Testimonials]

External Soft Skills vs. Internal Hard Skills

The combination of skilled photographer and the empathic communicator is what makes a successful photographer.

Throughout the entire process, almost every touchpoint will draw on your external soft skills. From understanding the vision, tailoring expectations, proper planning, and exceeding expectations, communication and understanding are required. Only when you get to the shoot execution do you use those external hard skills, but even then on shoot day, both soft and hard skills are incorporated.

In the process of creating consistently incredible images with every single client, the vast majority of your interaction and the process itself relies on your soft skills and your ability to communicate and understand, versus your technical and artistic ability. You need both sides, and all four skill sets to succeed.

You can learn more on developing and using these skills in part 1 of the Wedding Workshop. Gain access to the workshop and so much more by becoming an SLR Lounge Premium Member here.

Jermaine Horton – Website | Instagram

“I’m a die-hard sports fan, so being able to shoot pro sports is an outlet of joy and eases my mind because I know the game. It’s so fun watching some of my favorite players make plays and celebrate with their emotions. I know some people love vacations, i.e. walks on the beach to clear their mind, and I do too, but sports is clarity for my mind. I enjoy seeing people passionate about their craft and living up to major moments. There is nothing predictable about sports which HELPS me with weddings because you never know what will happen and it keeps your mind and reactions sharp.”

Marlies Hartmann – Website | Instagram

“As a single parent, finding balance has always been my greatest struggle, and it can be incredibly difficult to stay inspired when you’re chained to your computer 24/7. For me to stay inspired, putting aside work 100% and focusing on my daughter lets me reset and see the world through her eyes. Exposing her to new places (like Tokyo in this instance), taking her to see an art exhibit, broadway show, or fun pop-up museum allows me to draw inspiration from an alternate artistic mediums while also giving her my undivided attention, and enhances her love of the arts/nature all at the same time. Those opportunities result in a full cup that’s ready to get back to work with a fresh outlook, renewed perspective, and a stronger relationship with my daughter.”

Thomas Ingersoll – Website | Instagram

“How people choose to spend their free time is always a huge inspiration to me. What skills have they cultivated? What do they do and how do they do it? There is something captivating about all the ways we choose to occupy our time. For this project, I wanted to show the vibration and rhythm that comes with playing the stand-up bass. The mood the artist created with her instrument inspired me to use colored gels, and the vibration of the strings inspired me to use a slow shutter.”

Kesha Lambert – Website | Instagram

“We frequently find ourselves working at the same venues. Familiarity with a venue is great in terms of logistics but it can be a creativity killer because it is so easy to default to doing what you know works well in that space. Then there is the challenge of the client’s “must-have” shots related to the venue. Many venues have popular areas or architectural structures that venue is known for, which are sometimes the reason that the couple chose the venue. Grand swirling stairs, an opulent archway, a view of the skyline, a rooftop; working in these must-have spaces can also throw a creative into default mode. So one thing that I like to do is just observe spaces. I will stand in a space and just look at it, look for textures and nooks that I may not have noticed before. When I enter a space find the thing that draws the viewer’s attention, find the thing that makes the room special, then turn my back to that part of the room and really observe. The first photograph shows the archway that was in this venue’s wedding brochure and enlarged in print on the walls of the venue’s lobby, the second photograph is what I captured when I turned my back to the brochure arch.”

Taylor Kinzie – Website | Instagram

“Whenever I’m starting to feel the familiar heaviness of burn out, I pack up the car and go on a road trip to somewhere beautiful and isolated. My go-to destinations are Yosemite, the Central Coast, and Montana. During this time, I unplug from social media so I can clear out the clutter of the comparison game in my head. I let myself do nothing but feel joy and awe. Taking time out of my schedule to get re-centered and reconnected with nature and myself helps me to feel inspired again and I always return feeling energized and ready to create.”

Jason & Joanne Marino – Website | Instagram

“Spending a few weeks in our RV is always our way of recharging and finding inspiration. Not only do new locales allow us to see the world differently, but the food we eat, people we meet, and adventures we have really get us geared up to dive back into work once we’re back home. This photo is of our three teens from our summer RV road trip in 2018, taken at sunset, just outside Monterey, CA, at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca RV Campground. It says it all for us.”

Vanessa Joy – Website | Instagram

“I love trying a new photographic technique outside of my typical brand. I tend to have a light and bright image style to my photography, so going the opposite I’ve tried doing silhouettes with a fun colorful twist. This technique is great for hiding ugly locations, creating an epic image, and surprising them with something they can’t see on their own.”

Citlalli Rico – Website | Instagram

“I’ve always loved plants and finding a way to incorporate them in my photography work. My favorite is to frame my couples with any kind of leaves that are bright and beautiful. Plants have also helped me tremendously to understand natural light and how to see it and use it in the portraits I create.”

Jay Cassario – Website | Instagram

“Every year around August and September, I start to feel burnt out and feel like everything I do is repetitive. It’s a mental game that kicks in each and every year. I used to switch to shooting film, which helped because it challenged me and made shooting fun again. The problem with that is is that it becomes expensive and the inspiration from it quickly fades away. A few years ago I decided to switch it up and being that my son was 3 years old, I took him and my wife to Bar Harbor, Maine for vacation. I spent the week documenting his new experiences without asking him to look at the camera a single time. Since a good amount of my wedding photography is done in a documentary style, I fell in love with photographing my son the same way as he explored the world. My wife and I now plan a vacay every year around the end of August or early September for this exact reason now. I bring one camera and one lens, which is normally my Leica M and either a 24mm or 35mm lens. It provides us a little break during the busy season and no matter how burnt out I am from photography I find the love all over again photographing my son as he grows older and older each year.”

Lanny Mann – Website | Instagram

“Nature. Exercise. Music. Meditation. & Yoga. And most importantly, our kids!”

Justin Haugen – Website | Instagram | Wedding Maps Profile

“Self-care is a big part of helping me stay creatively refreshed and excited about the work I do. Lately, I’ve been getting into an exercise routine and rekindling interest in Yoga through the kind mentorship of a wonderful woman who I’ve photographed through her journey of growth. She’s helping me find my flow in life and I’m showing her the beauty and strength I see in her. Exercise, get massages, take some personal time. Disrupt your daily routines and treat your body and mind better, and the photography you do will reflect the growth you experience.”

Jared Gant – Website | Instagram | Wedding Maps Profile

“Simply breaking up my daily grind and routine helps me stay refreshed and increases my creativity. Typically, we as a family break up our routine by traveling somewhere new with each other a few times a year. Both my wife and I own individual businesses and this can be challenging, but always worth the effort. While traveling, we will turn off phones and other electronics and try to be fully present with each other. Recently we traveled to southern California and took our kiddos to several beaches. Seeing the excitement in their eyes as they got to experience the Pacific Ocean for the very first time caused me to pause and self-reflect on how much I take for granted the beauty all around.”

Ralf Czogallik – Website | Instagram

“First of all, it’s very hard to keep me motivated but on the other hand, it’s not. For example, last weekend I had a long Saturday with 19+ hours. The next day I had to shoot another wedding so I was tired as f**k and was not looking forward to shooting this one. But the minute I walked in the bride welcomed me with a big hug and I was on track again. We had so much fun that I completely forgot how tired I was. I stopped looking at other wedding photographers to get inspired. The less time I invest in doing that the better my images get. I only do what I love to do it even if that means I am losing a client or two in the process. The most important thing for me is to keep myself focused all the time. Doing the thing I am good at and instead of looking at other photographers I try to get in touch with them, have lunch, have dinner or meet for drinks. Just to talk and listen.”

Tanya Parada – Website | Instagram

“Something that refreshes me creatively is exploring LA with just my iPhone. I’ll leave my professional camera at home and look for interesting pockets of light, shapes, and compositions with fresh eyes and zero pressure! It helps me to relax, hone in on being present in the moment and really study light.”

Megan Allen – Website | Instagram

“This is about the time that I start to feel that I’m running out of creativity in the year, which used to induce a panic. Now, I try to remind myself that every wedding is fresh and new to that couple, and it’s my job to remember and honor that, and kick tail no matter what! One of the ways I keep things fresh is to step outside of the wedding photography and work with fellow creatives to create content for their personal branding and social media presences. Working with many of the cast members of Hamilton, Aladdin, Mean Girls, and others have invited me to see things differently and take risks in the creative process. Branching out of the wedding world and creating for other creatives in a more fluid and creative space has helped me come back to wedding days with a curious, creative spirit, and I’m thankful for that.”

Christian Cardona – Website | Instagram

“I always find peace when I’m with these guys. More than inspiration, I find time to take a break from the everyday rush. I think we get stuck just because we don’t take time for ourselves, our families, and our personal projects. We are always in a rush and this is something I struggle with and I’ve always had a hard time balancing. I find ideas, think better and find creativity when I stop and breathe, so here’s to hoping I can do that more often.

Geeta Randery – Website | Instagram

“Work on yourself before you go-to-work for someone else…” is a quote that’s always stuck with me. Something that I enjoy that helps me remain refreshed and maintain creativity is ‘working on myself.’ Making the time to do the things that I need/enjoy FIRST, before my kids & husband; I can’t do justice to my business/family if I’m not 100 first. I learned this the very hard way after struggling through depression a couple of years back, as I was prioritizing the care of everyone & everything else first, before my own. My kids, husband, chores, business, clients… always came first; self-care didn’t exist in my daily routine. Once I began “working on myself before I went to work for someone else” I changed the trajectory of my happiness and took control back. I now prioritize taking care of myself from the inside out, which means eating wholistic & clean, going to yoga classes at least 3 times a week, and taking a mandatory vacation once a quarter – away from my camera, computer, chores, etc. Since then, my business has flourished, I’m incredibly happy, able to remain refreshed, and draw creativity because my mind, body, & soul are in a constant state of abundance.”

Tanya Smith – Website | Instagram

“I’m totally inspired by each of my individual clients. Since I work with brands, they each have a different story to tell, which means I can get creative with lighting, posing, colors, backgrounds, props, etc. and every shoot is so different! In this particular case, the client wanted something urban and a little grungy. We chose a rooftop location at golden hour and I brought a Lens Baby and some tulle to play with in front of the lens for some cool effects.”

Dave Shay – Website | Instagram

“Keeping myself at the top of my creative game used to mean reading a ton of books or catching up on the latest blog posts from photographers I love. Lately, I’ve noticed that the best way for me to stay creative while I shoot is to make sure that I go into every shoot well-rested and in solid physical shape. This means going to the gym regularly, and intentionally planning in vacations and time off in my busiest seasons. I’ve become willing to lose a lead or two while I escape for 2-3 days with no computer, and nothing but my iPhone to make sure that I serve the clients I do have to the best of my ability. This image is from an iPhone X edited with Lightroom Mobile.”

Pye Jirsa – Website | Instagram

“I have the challenge of going last after so many wonderful tips and insights have been given. My insight and tip is a summation of what’s been said. When trying to keep oneself creatively refreshed, go back to the things that have and continue to sustain your interest in photography. This isn’t shooting what your clients want, it’s not planing shoots that will get you more business, nor is it even taking pictures of things that you think will help grow your social media presence. This is taking pictures that you would take regardless of the outcome, taking pictures simply for you. In my case, this is taking my family out on road trips and shoots where I can document moments that matter to me (like this picture of my children during a trip to the Bonneville Salt Flats). In your case, it could look completely different. The important thing here is dropping all-purpose beyond one simple thing, capturing photographs that make you happy.”

Vanessa Joy – Website | Instagram

“Staying creative can be tough because burnout is fairly rampant with photographers. I found that you have to find new things to fall in love with throughout your career that keep you interested and motivated. Recently, for me, it’s been about getting to know my clients more and becoming more connected to them so I’m even more excited about telling their love story. I find the more emotionally invested I am a couple the more creatively motivated I’ve become.”

Anna Nguyen Stratton – Website | Instagram

“Burnout is a real thing, and with everyone glorifying the hustle it’s hard to not feel guilty when you want to take a break. Soon you’ll get into a rut of not wanting to document your own family or create for yourself because you don’t want to see a camera. This is a good time to use something else to create. When I’m feeling like it’s become “work” I pull out my iPhone and get creative. That’s how I got into underwater photography. It was my release, and it all started with an Otterbox and an iPhone. Now I have a full underwater kit and shoot commissioned work. Being underwater has its own challenges that you don’t deal with on the daily so it’s exciting, fun, and very much freeing because you’re not fighting against what is expected and what is creative.”

Trevor Dayley – Instagram | Website

“I like to think of my creative brain like a computer. Whenever it’s lagging, running slow, or just seems bogged down, often times what it needs is a reboot. The way I do this is by giving myself a small challenge to force me to use something that is not part of my standard process (a light, a lens, a technique.) For instance, I might say to myself, “for the next ten minutes you are going to shoot at f8, instead of the typical “wide open” f1.2 that you’ve been doing.” Or I might say, “Alright, Trevor go grab the 90mm Tilt-Shift lens out of your bag because it’s now the only lens you’ll be using for the next 15 minutes.” These challenges help to reboot my creative side and get outside that box of doing the same thing over and over again.”

Rob Hall – YouTube | Instagram

“Get back to whatever excited you about photography in the first place. Often times we learn photography playfully in our immediate environment, but the career takes it into a completely different direction. For me, taking extended travel breaks and photographing the new experience takes me back to the feeling I had when I first discovered photography. I always come back to work with a clear mind to create.”

Citlalli Rico – Website | Instagram

“I started 13 years ago shooting 100 weddings per year. The burnout was real after every high season. To stay creative and inspired, I found out doing art projects outside wedding photography kept me going. Right now I’m working on lino prints and I love it.”

Eric Talerico – Website | Instagram

“How to keep that creative spark burning is something I think about a lot in my career, and in life. I’ve learned to push myself outside my comfort zones whenever I can by avoiding patterns and routines. I find this keeps me on my toes and allows me to pull ideas from myself and the environment around me rather than doing the same thing over and over. If I am photographing at a venue that I’ve shot at before my goal is to never shoot in the same spot twice. There are more times than I can count where I’ve said to myself “How did I get myself in this situation? What was I thinking? I should have just taken the safe shot.” But when the dust settles I am usually amazed at the end result. It makes me feel like a true creative and keeps me inspired to push myself outside my comfort zone again the next time.”

Dave & Abby Moss – Website | Instagram

“Travel has been my biggest inspiration. Exploring the world and connecting with cultures that have different wisdom, perspectives, and ways of being has helped me open my mind and heart to all kinds of new experiences. When I travel I’m outside of my normal life and my normal self. I see the world with fresh eyes and it helps me to love people and our natural world even more. I’m also passionate about exploring my inner world. When I’m continually growing and changing I feel fulfilled and creative. Everything in life can help me understand myself better; running a business, unpacking why something triggered me, reading a book, taking a course, meditating, etc. If I start to feel disconnected I reach out to my community of open-hearted healers and creatives. Simply being around them helps me to reconnect and remember who I am. When I’m filled up inside I can let creativity spill out.”

Justin Haugen – Instagram | Website | Awards Profile

“We are creatures of habit and prone to a routine that keeps our minds in the same creative space. I do my best to disrupt patterns in my life and open myself up to new experiences. On a whim, I went to a friend’s cafe on a Monday night to randomly see a visiting musician who was touring the country from Japan. I was one of five people in the room that night and it ended up being one of my favorite musical experiences. Afterward, I invited the musician to shoot with me the next day and I was so fortunate to happen upon such a creative and interesting subject. Get out into your city and try something different for a change. You never know what opportunities will present themselves or how inspiration will strike you.”

Lanny & Erika Mann – Website | Instagram

“Jesh de Rox says it best, “If you want to make interesting work, live an interesting life.” That, and learn from our kids (the most creative, imaginative humans on Earth).”

Jay Cassario – Website | Instagram

“Ever since I began shooting 35-45 weddings per year, I always find myself hitting a hard creative rut right around the 3/4 mark of the wedding season. I feel like everything I do is repetitive. Everything is similar to some other shot I took earlier. I start to feel like my creativity that came so easily in the first half of the year, after a couple months of downtime, really becomes difficult to pull out. It was about 4 years ago that I started really feeling it, so I started shooting film at weddings. Shooting a different medium seemed to really help. Shooting film is a lot different than shooting digital, so it really forced me to switch things up. I did the same thing the following year. Due to the price of film and getting it scanned, it wasn’t the best move financially so I needed to try something else a couple years ago. Being that I’m an ambassador for Leica Camera USA, they often ask for new work so I decided to use that as an excuse to start giving them something other than just wedding photos. I began doing a lot more shoots with local models, something I still do today but more-so throughout the year now. When I photograph a model my approach is very different then it is on a wedding day. Obviously, for the fact that there’s only one subject but I’m not shooting in a photojournalistic style. I’m not anticipating moments. I’m working in a completely different style and it really helps avoid creative burnout. Burnout can really affect you as a wedding photographer and the end product that you deliver to a client. Try to switch things up, use lenses you don’t typically use that often, try different lighting techniques, or start to really push yourself in areas that you may struggle in. The other idea I would offer is what I’ve been doing the past couple of years which is to find something else to shoot besides wedding photography. It can also open up other doors to help financially as well.”

Megan Allen – Website | Instagram

“To keep my creative spark going, I really enjoy going outside of my usual genre of wedding photography, and doing creative portraiture for actors and musicians. The organic, creative vibes they come to their shoots with always fuels my soul, and I come away energized and inspired by their creativity that they lend me on the shoots.

It’s a different vibe when you get to work with fellow creatives, and the ability to bounce concepts off one another — as well as knowing when you say, “Hey, I have an idea…” — is a beautiful thing, and the collaboration always comes out looking a little different. I love it, and I hope I can continue to create for creatives in the future.”

Jared Gant – Instagram | Website | Wedding Maps Profile

“I stay creative by staying curious, by always learning and improving, and then by acting on that curiosity by playing outside the lines. I find that maintaining creativity is particularly difficult when I’m not pushing myself to learn or when I get too complacent with what I have already learned. The more I know the more I realize what I don’t know, and that motivates me to explore further and try harder. Then, once I’ve explored, I can leave the path, and that’s when things get really fun. Put another way, each time I learn something new, it’s like adding a new color to my paint palette. Once I’ve mastered that new color, it’s time to paint outside the lines.”

Sean LeBlanc – Website | Instagram

“I stay creative by saying “YES” to work outside of photographing weddings and will often seek out new opportunities that get me out of my comfort zone. In the early days, I would turn down non-wedding related work because I was only focused on weddings and engagements. This was great for a few years however over time I began to hit some creative roadblocks. Over the last two years, I have been saying “YES” to a wide range of portrait work and I have been blown away by not only the amazing stories I discover about my clients but also how far I can push my creativity to showcase their story with bold creative artwork.”

Lyndah Wells – Website | Instagram

“I try and combine my love of travel and photography to break out of my creative rut because sometimes it gets bad. Hanging with a group of friends, exploring somewhere I’ve never been and shooting with my small discreet Fuji making photos that please only me, meeting new people on my travels gets me revved up to get back to work and takes the pressure off.”

Dave Paek – Website | Instagram

“Sometimes you need to step back and not give a sh*t what other photographers or award societies will think of your work. You need to look introspectively and ask yourself what’s important to you and how your emotions color (for the lack of a better word) the people you photograph. I sometimes have a very emo way of looking at things and my photos can sometimes be on the moody or dark side. I am obsessed with themes related to inner struggle/conflict, deliverance, and redemption. I like shooting underwater to draw out these themes and emotions.”

Cropping and Straightening

Impossible Things has introduced two new editing features – Perceptive Cropping and Perceptive Straightening. These can be used separately or together.

The cropping will avoid cropping out key people or objects, while the straightening option will work towards proper straightening without forcing an image level against the intended artistic composition. These options are available now and will respect the photos original aspect ratio.

Consistency Algorithm Called the “Nest Engine”

Impossible Things has also designed a consistency algorithm that they call “Nest Engine.” This engine will be at the core of their predictions and aims to solve the primary feedback they received during early access: consistency. The Nest Engine has a visual memory and will recognize images that are shot in sequence, in the same lighting scenario or in the same setting. It will group like images into “Nests” and treat them as similar with a little bit of mathematical magic. The results are that similar images will be given nearly the same visual treatment while still allowing for the individual needs of the image to be met.

Better Predictive Algorithm for Better Results

Along with the incorporation of the Nest Engine, Impossible Things has overhauled the predictive and training methods. The new, next generation version results in fewer edge cases or editing anomalies, and the predictions are significantly improved across the board. If you weren’t getting the results you wanted before, these new changes make it worth giving another shot.

Plugin Auto Updating Released

The plug-in itself will now look for new versions and update itself. This will be the last time you will have to run the DVLOP & THINGS installer to keep up to date with the latest features. It will check for updates when Lightroom starts. If there is an update, with your permission, the plug-in will update itself in 1-2 seconds.

Lightroom Crash Detection

Impossible Things has also integrated a smart system to identify Lightroom malfunctions. Depending upon system resources, Lightroom may crash whenever it gets overworked. Upon restart, Impossible Things will now report the number of images successfully edited before the crash, ensuring that those are added to the free re-edit list (for subscribers), and automatically return the unused credits after a few short minutes.

Unlimited Re-edits

Since launch, Impossible Things also added “unlimited re-edits,” the ability to re-edit any image originally edited using Impossible Things without any additional fees within a 24 hour time period.  This feature gives users the ability to test out different Lightroom Presets and Cloud Styles to find the perfect match for the shoot or scene.

The re-edit feature is not only meant for fixing, but also for enhancing creative abilities of an artist.  Experiment with your own presets or try a cloud style to find the perfect match for your image.

Additional Cloud Styles

Since launch, Impossible Things has also introduced new Cloud Styles.   Cloud Styles are the different looks and styles that come built in to Impossible Things.  You don’t need to purchase any preset packs, and they are available for everyone to use.  The cloud styles currently available include:

• A Fist Full Of Bolts – Myage
• Chrisman Studios – Columbia
• Eric Floberg – Ravenswood
• Jeff Newsom – Razzle Dazzzle and Shenanigans B+W
• Jose Villa – 400 Hybrid
• Nirav Patel – Lotus Remix
• The Kitcheners – Reemotive
• Two Mann Studios – Mannhattan

How to get started

To get started, go to things.co where you can try it out with 500 free credits. For more information on the core features of Impossible Things, such as Cloud Styles, Custom Tuning, and more, see our previous post.

Light Painting Photography Video Tutorial

In this video, we’re going to show you how to capture a light painted portrait with both a DSLR and an iPhone using string lights to create motion in this quick 4-minute tutorial. This video is an excerpt from our course Creative Photography 101 that dives deep into a whole new world of unique and ingenious photo techniques that will set you apart no matter what camera you prefer to use.

Step-by-Step Tutorial for Lighting Painting Photography

Light painting photography is a fun and creative way to capture unique and stunning images. Whether you’re a professional photographer or a beginner, you can create incredible light paintings with any camera.   Let’s discuss the basic steps to light painting photography.

Get the Right Light Painting Gear

While you can create light paintings with just a camera and a light source, there are a few pieces of equipment that can make the process easier and more enjoyable. A tripod is essential for keeping your camera stable during long exposures, and a remote shutter release will prevent camera shake when taking the photo. Additionally, a flashlight or headlamp can be helpful for finding your way around in the dark.

Before we dive into the actual tutorial, let’s discuss what we used to create this technique:

• Cameras and Lenses – Canon 5D Mark IV paired with a Sigma 50mm Art f/1.4 and an iPhone 11 Pro Max to show you that light painting can be done on pretty much any camera, even your phone.
• Tripod – Peak Design Travel Tripod: This has become a staple in our collection, especially when it comes to mobile phone photography. With different mount options available, this tripod helps to stabilize phones for creative mobile photography like you’ll see in this video. For light painting, it is required to have a tripod to stabilize your shot.
• Light Painting Source – When it comes to choosing light sources, there are many options available. Some popular choices include flashlights, glow sticks, sparklers, LED Hybrid Light, amazon String Lightsand even fireworks. Each type of light source produces a different effect, so it’s worth experimenting with different options to find the look that best suits your style.•
• Colored Film Gels or colored tissue paper – If you don’t have a light source that can change colors, use gels to change the color of the light source.
• Wireless Shutter Remote Control Release – A wireless shutter remote will allow you to capture the photos without touching the camera.  This will be helpful to prevent camera shake.
• Editing Tools – Both images you’ll see as the final products in the tutorial were edited in Lightroom & Lightroom Mobile using Visual Flow Presets.

Determine Your Light Painting Location

Light painting photography often requires a controlled dark environment to achieve the desired results, and various light sources, such as flashlights, LED lights, or even fire, can be utilized to add a diverse range of colors and shapes to the final photograph.  Here are a few things to consider when choosing a light painting location:

• Dark Location – Whether you are shooting in a studio or your home, find a dark space where you can cut away most of the ambient light. Since we are slowing down our shutter speed, we will be opening up the light coming into the camera which means our ambient light exposure needs to be pitch black.
• Interesting Background – Choose a location that will provide interesting backgrounds and surfaces for your light paintings.
• Permission – Make sure you have permission to be in the location and that it’s safe to shoot at night.

It’s also a good idea to prepare your light sources ahead of time. For example, if you’re using glow sticks, activate them and attach them to your light source so they’re ready to go when you start shooting.

Place Your Camera on a Tripod

We mentioned above that the Peak Design Travel Tripod is one of our favorites in our kit; and it’s largely in part because of the multiple mounts that you can get for when you don’t want to lug around your DSLR or mirrorless camera everywhere. A tripod is crucial for this technique because we want to prevent camera shake since our shutter speed is so slow.

Dial-in Ambient Light Exposure

In terms of camera settings, you’ll want to use a low ISO setting to reduce noise in your images, and a small aperture to create a greater depth of field. Additionally, shooting in manual mode will give you full control over your camera’s settings, allowing you to make adjustments as needed. Use an an exposure that doesn’t blow out, i.e. overexpose your light source and retains the highlights.

The key to light painting is using a long exposure time, typically between 5 and 30 seconds, to capture the light trails and patterns created by your light sources. The longer the exposure time, the more time you have to create intricate and detailed light paintings. Start with a shutter speed of 5 to 10 seconds when light painting and then dial your Aperture and ISO to black out the room.  Then shorten or extend the shutter speed time to taste as you play around.

Bulb Mode – You can also turn your camera to the B or Bulb Mode, a setting that keeps the shutter open for as long as you need to paint your picture. You’ll control that with your wireless shutter.

iPhone – If you’re on an iPhone, newer models such as the one we used in this video, have Night Mode which allows you to slow your shutter speed down in the native camera app. Fret not – if you own an older model or a different phone altogether you can download the Pro Camera App by Moment which has become one of my must-have photography apps.

Instruct Your Subject to Hold Still

Another crucial element to nailing focus in a shot like this is to advise your subject to remain as still as possible. Since we are creating movement with the string lights, we want our subject to be still throughout the shutter drag. You can even explain to them what you are attempting to do so that they have a clearer understanding of how to pose.

Get Creative with Light Painting

There are many different techniques you can use to create unique and interesting light paintings. One popular approach is to paint light around your subject’s face or body, creating a dramatic and dynamic effect.

All that’s left is to step behind the subject, set your camera on a timer and press the shutter. Once the shutter opens start spinning the lights to create a pattern. For this tutorial, we kept it simple and just had the lights spinning in a circle but you can try different shapes, outline the subject’s body, or even change your positioning. Play around and see which one you like best but make sure to take a couple of shots to ensure that your subject is in fact still and there is no blur of their face or body parts. Here are the final images with Shiv’s shot on the Canon 5D Mark IV and Jae’s shot on an iPhone 11 Pro Max.

Creative Light Painting Photography Ideas

To solidify your understanding of these concepts, here is another Light Painting Video Tutorial. In this video, we’re going to walk through more creative light painting photography effects featuring our lovely model Renee.

These three photos were taken consecutively, as you’ll see in the video. It just goes to show what kind of variety in the imagery you can get with light painting photography.

Creative Idea 1 | Circular Motion Light Painting

To achieve this look swipe the light in a semi-circle or circular motion, depending on how far around your hand can rotate. Keep the light close to the subject to fill more of the frame, or back up and create a circular frame surrounding the subject’s body. With all of these light painting photography ideas, make sure you take multiple shots to ensure that they are sharp and your subject isn’t moving.

Creative Idea 2 | Waves in Light Painting

Adding a bit more motion, swipe the light from left to right in windshield wiper-like motion. This allows you to see the tiny LED light streaks across the frame and adds a bit more interest to the light. Test out a few different wave patterns and make sure they are pleasing to the eye rather than being a distraction for the viewer. You can use these as leading lines as well.

Creative Idea 3 | Highlight with Light Painting

Use the light to paint out the subject and chisel them from the background. You can see that this is a much tighter composition, however, it still shows great detail and graphically interesting.

Bonus Light Painting Tips

To create more than one letter or shape without having them run together, simply turn the flashlight off after you finish one word, then move over a bit and turn the flashlight on for your next letter. You can get some funky effects if you have some light spill onto the person doing the painting.

Conclusion

Light painting photography is a fun and creative way to explore your artistic side and capture stunning images. With the right equipment, techniques, and post-processing, you can create amazing light paintings with any camera. Remember to be patient, persistent, and creative, and don’t be afraid to experiment with different approaches and techniques to find the ones that work best for you.

If you enjoyed this tutorial, make sure you check out our Tik Tok where we’ve been sharing fun mobile photography tutorials just like this one! Be sure to sign up to be the first to know when our Creative Photography 101 course releases to learn more fun tips & tricks to level up your creativity game.