Taking Better Pictures For Your Blog
Hi everyone – I’m Jann Newton from Newton Custom Interiors, where I recently started blogging about home decor, sewing and DIY projects, and a few other things. I’m thrilled to be guest posting for Deby about taking better pictures for your blog.
During the time I was doing research for my new blog, I started picking up a few photography tips along the way. I have always loved taking pictures for fun, but I wanted to make sure the pictures I took for my new blog were really good. What I blog about is very visual, so I knew that Pinterest would be an important part of building traffic to my site, and that clear, beautiful pictures were the key.
It is also important to take good pictures when you want to be featured by some of the big feature sites – like Craftgawker. They only want good, eye-catching pictures to feature on their site. If you participate in linky parties, good, clear pictures, that pop, are important so that your link will get a lot of clicks.
I am not a professional photographer, by any means, and I know I still have a lot to learn. I also don’t have an expensive camera, just a simple point and shoot camera, and my smart phone. The picture above, of my camera, was taken with my smart phone. I am not going to be giving you tips on what kind of camera to buy, but how to use the camera you already have to take better pictures. Also, be sure to read your camera manual too, it will give you a lot of good information about operating your camera.
1. Take your pictures in natural light
Your indoor pictures will look better if they are taken in natural light. Don’t use the flash on your camera. It will wash out the color in the photo. Find a good place in your home that gets a lot of natural light, and pick a good time of day to take your pictures.
We have a dining area in our kitchen that has two windows on the east side of the house, and a patio door on the south side of the room. So, it works best for me to take pictures in that room in the morning. In the pictures below you can see how I have set up my table to take pictures of a piece of pie. Very glamorous, right?
I set a piece of white foam board upright on the table, and it is supported by my kitchen canisters. The foam board helps to reflect the natural light back onto the piece of pie. Here is a side shot of my set up.
2. Avoid bright sunlight
Even though I said natural light is a good thing, try to avoid bright sunlight if you are taking your pictures outdoors. Full sunlight washes out the color in your photos too. I have not taken many of my blog pictures outdoors, but when I did, the pictures I took in full sunlight were not as good as the ones I took on a cloudy day. Not a dark cloudy day, but a light cloudy day.
When I took this picture for my smoothie recipe post, it was a partly sunny day, so I waited until a cloud went over the sun to take the picture.
3. Set up objects in an unusual way
When you are setting up the object that you are photographing try to display it in an unusual way. For instance, when I was taking pictures of these pillows, I found it made for a much more interesting picture to stack them instead of a straight on shot of the face of the pillow. Also, taking the picture slightly off-center can be more interesting too.
4. Set up a backdrop
When you are setting up your picture, use a piece of fabric or a roll of paper as a backdrop. A roll of wrapping paper or white freezer paper works well. Drape the fabric or roll of paper over the foam board and across the table so that there is not a visable line between the backdrop and the table. You can see how I did this using some green fabric while taking pictures of my pillow.
5. Try to avoid too much clutter
Try to avoid having to much going on in the picture. Clear, simple shots of the subject matter without a lot of extra visual clutter works best for eye-catching photos.
6. Edit, edit, edit
After all is said and done, it is the editing that can take your pictures from ho-hum to fabulous. Editing your pictures, by cropping, brightening, straightening and adding contrast, is easy with a photo editing site like Picasa or PicMonkey. Below is a picture I took of a plate of cookies – the picture on the left has not been edited and the one on the right has.
PicMonkey has become my favorite site to edit photos. As well as basic editing features, you can easily add text and overlays to your photos with PicMonkey. It is a free site, or you can upgrade for a small monthly fee. I did upgrade so that I could have more font options.
One important tip – try to save a copy of your picture before you start editing it. That way you can always go back to the original if you’re not happy with how the editing went. Picasa is good for saving a copy of your photo.
A word about cropping – I like to crop my “beauty” shot (first picture in post) into a square shape. I do this so that part of the image is not cut off in my truncated posts, linky party thumbnails, and on Pinterest. If you have a rectangular picture as your beauty shot then part of the picture will get cut off.
As you can see, you don’t have to have a lot of money or fancy equipment to take good pictures. You may already have everything you need in your home right now!
Jann Newton shares home decor, DIY and sewing tips on her blog, Newton Custom Interiors. You can find her at Google+, Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter.
August 11, 2013 @ 8:24 am
Thank for an excellent post! I keep on forgetting to take my photos in a good light and I am not good at editing. So I really need to improve my photos so your article really came in handy 🙂
August 11, 2013 @ 9:26 am
Thanks Trine! I’m glad it was helpful.
August 11, 2013 @ 2:33 pm
Thanks so much for sharing! I think we have the same camera 🙂 It is so encouraging to read others share that they don’t have a fancy camera, yet they can still take some great pictures too. I really loved these tips. I have been looking for ways to improve my photos with my little camera so this came at the perfect time!
August 11, 2013 @ 7:47 pm
Thanks Victoria, it’s a good little camera isn’t it?
August 11, 2013 @ 5:14 pm
Thanks for this post and the really good information. i have to get a piece of poster board it would help me so much. I don’t have a fancy camera either and my biggest problem is the poor lighting in my house. You have some good tips that will help. Found this from Sew Many Ways linky party
August 11, 2013 @ 7:49 pm
Thanks Patricia! Hopefully the foam board should help with your lighting issues.
August 11, 2013 @ 6:05 pm
These are really helpful tips. Thanks for sharing!
August 11, 2013 @ 7:36 pm
Great suggestions! Will definately follow this advice in my blog photos – which do need help lol. New follower from the link up @ market yourself. 🙂
August 11, 2013 @ 9:07 pm
Thanks Kristina and Millie!
August 11, 2013 @ 7:50 pm
Thanks Sian!
August 12, 2013 @ 12:11 am
Very helpful tips. Thanks Jann! I am obsessed with Pic Monkey. Oh and I follow you on bloglovin too =)
August 12, 2013 @ 8:53 am
Thanks Elena! Yes, PicMonkey is great!
August 12, 2013 @ 10:02 am
Thank you so much for this blogpost. This is something I need to work on on my blog!
August 12, 2013 @ 11:32 am
Thanks Lisa!
August 12, 2013 @ 11:07 am
These are great ideas, Jann, thank you!
August 12, 2013 @ 11:32 am
Thanks Sarah!
August 12, 2013 @ 2:49 pm
Thanks for sharing these tips, Jann! I definitely need help when it comes to taking photos.
Katie @thecasualcraftlete.com
August 13, 2013 @ 8:08 am
Thanks Katie!
August 12, 2013 @ 9:41 pm
Thanks so much for such a great post! I’m a new blogger and new to this whole “pin-worthy” picture business. These are some great tips that are act actually quite doable for me! I can start implementing these tips right away! Thank you!
August 13, 2013 @ 8:10 am
Thanks Sarah! Yes, the whole “pinworthy” thing can be a little intimidating.
August 12, 2013 @ 11:59 pm
Thanks so much for the tips, I also have a point and shoot and find it hard to get good photos, these tips are really helpful! I found you over at Sugar Bee Crafts link party! Thanks for the help!!
Danielle
August 13, 2013 @ 8:11 am
Thanks Danielle, I’m glad it was helpful!
August 13, 2013 @ 10:03 am
Great photo tips. I think I need to try Picmonkey. I keep hearing good things about it.
August 13, 2013 @ 10:41 am
Thanks Tammy! Yes, try out PicMonkey, I think you’ll like it.
August 13, 2013 @ 11:48 am
Thank You for sharing this post. We do alot of our photos for our blog, and follow alot of theses rules. I didnt realise about the clutter though so learn something new every time.
August 13, 2013 @ 4:42 pm
These are great tips! I’m a beginner so I need all I can get lol have a nice evening 🙂
August 13, 2013 @ 5:22 pm
Thanks so much for sharing! I haven’t gotten the hang of taking great blog pictures yet, but your article will definitely help get me there!
I came over from Fluster’s Creative Muster link party!
August 13, 2013 @ 6:11 pm
Thanks for the tips! The visuals are really helpful, and now I want your pillow! Haha!
August 13, 2013 @ 8:42 pm
Fantastic tips! The cookie picture really says it all. I cannot remember which blogger turned me onto picmonkey but it really does make all the difference. THANK YOU for the advice! I look forward to working with them 🙂
XO
August 14, 2013 @ 6:45 am
Thank you! This is something I really need to work on!
August 14, 2013 @ 7:42 am
Thank you, these are great tips – Sharon stopping by from Works for Me Wednesday
August 14, 2013 @ 8:44 am
Awesome tips!! Thank you! And I love those chocolate crinkle cookies!
August 14, 2013 @ 9:02 am
Great tips! In addition to the headline I was pulled to the story by the photo of the camera because that is the kind of digital camera I have, except I find I take better photos with my iPhone.
August 14, 2013 @ 9:57 am
Thank you for the tips. Simple and logical but I didn’t think to do them!
August 14, 2013 @ 10:25 am
Great tips!! =) Thanks for sharing them at the Pinterest Power Party!
Happy Wednesday!
August 14, 2013 @ 1:42 pm
I always need reminding and some good basic tips. Thanks.
August 14, 2013 @ 2:31 pm
Thanks for sharing these great tips! My photo skills could always use improvement. After reading this list, I am going to work on finding great lighting in our home, and more creative composition. Thanks again!
August 14, 2013 @ 2:52 pm
Thanks for some great tips.
August 14, 2013 @ 6:51 pm
thanks for these tips,they are really helpful!
I specially like the tip 1 and the tip about square shape cropping….
August 14, 2013 @ 9:12 pm
I really love that you’re using a point and shoot and smart phone, I do too and these are fab tips thank you for sharing them, I really need help with my pics.
August 14, 2013 @ 9:15 pm
Hi Jann
This is a wonderful post. Photos are not my strong point. Thanks for sharing this information.
Thanks for sharing with us at our Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop.
Angel
August 14, 2013 @ 11:01 pm
Fabulous tips! I always forget about making the first picture a square – I need to remember that more often! Thanks for linking up at Whatever Goes Wednesday!
August 15, 2013 @ 2:14 pm
Thank you for this. This post is so timely. One of my favorite parts of my blog is the pictures. I am getting better with each post but I can use all of the advice I can get. Thanks again. 🙂
Katie
August 15, 2013 @ 2:15 pm
Oh, and Picmonkey is so much fun!!
August 15, 2013 @ 11:17 pm
I love these tips!! Makes so much sense! Thank you!
August 16, 2013 @ 6:43 am
Thanks for the tips! Call me silly, but I couldn’t for the life of me figure out how to use foam board with a fabric background. “Do I staple it on? Do I clip it?” Dur….I drape it and have the folded side against the table.
This is why we need people like you who can explain the simple things to those of us who are trying to over-complicate it 😉 Sanity can be had again!
August 16, 2013 @ 8:45 pm
Great tips! Pinning this! Hopping from A creative princess link up. Thank you!
August 16, 2013 @ 9:27 pm
I just invested in a good camera, and my family is headed to the beach for a week. Lots of time to practice taking beautiful pictures. Thanks for the tips. I hadn’t heard some of them before 🙂
August 17, 2013 @ 10:28 am
Thanks for your ideas. Reading them in a clear, easy to use way like this is great!
August 17, 2013 @ 8:05 pm
Great tips! From now on, I’ll make my photos square, do they don’t get chopped up for linky parties. Good tips!
August 17, 2013 @ 8:54 pm
What great tips! Good photos are definitely part of a successful post and we’re always trying to increase our photo quality. Thanks for sharing at the Project Stash
August 19, 2013 @ 7:09 pm
What a helpful tips !! I have a hard time to take a good pictures. I will definitely try your tips 🙂 thank you so much for sharing this !
August 23, 2013 @ 7:56 am
I loved this so much, I picked it as a feature for our Top 10 from the Monday Pin It Hop #21 at Pursuit of Functional Home. Check it out at tammypstafford.blogspot.com. Great tips! Thanks for pinning with us.
August 24, 2013 @ 4:26 pm
Thank you so much for sharing the awesome post with us at A Bouquet of Talent!! It has another top view tonight at the party!! 🙂
Hugs
Kathy
August 24, 2013 @ 4:51 pm
That’s great Kathy. Its been one of my most popular posts – perhaps because someone else wrote it 🙂
August 24, 2013 @ 5:23 pm
Wow, I am overwhelmed from all of your kind comments! I’m so glad I could share this post with all of you. Deby, thanks again for the opputunity. By the way, I LOVE your posts!
August 24, 2013 @ 7:23 pm
This was excellent information! I especially liked the visuals as to how you set up the shots. Thanks!
August 24, 2013 @ 8:41 pm
Awesome post Jann…thank you somuch for these amazing tips on photography! I specially liked how one’s got to set up a pic and the natural light part, as I do tend to put the flash on no matter what light, LOL! You were featured at Bouquet of Talent, is where I saw you! Thanks tons!!!
FABBY
September 18, 2013 @ 8:55 am
Great info! New to blogging and I was wondering why everyone’s photos look so fab!!! THANKS!
July 3, 2014 @ 7:40 am
Thank you for the great tips! I am new to blogging and was looking for this exact info to help make my pictures that much better!
October 4, 2015 @ 2:42 pm
Just ran across this on Pinterest after spending the better part of this afternoon experimenting with a new setup for my blog photos. There are a few tips here I didn’t think of and can’t wait to try!