6 Weeks: Take Better Outfit Photos

Today we’re talking about a blogger favorite…outfit photos! I love to post them, I love to check out what everyone else is wearing and where they’re shopping and now Amanda from Indie Jane Photography and Kelli Murray are sharing their tips to make your photos even better!

1. Get a tripod and remote!
I know some bloggers use their timers on their cameras, but if you want to nail the focus, you need a remote. I use a very basic one that sets off the shutter two seconds after you click the button, so I still have time to “hide” the remote. (Though I’m still not fast enough sometimes!)

2. Use AV mode on your camera
AV mode allows you to set your aperture and ISO and it sets the shutter speed for you based on the light provided. I don’t think taking outfit photos requires a ton of photography skill, but knowing your way around a camera helps a bit! I set mine to AV mode and set the aperture to f/4.0 and the ISO to 200 (if I’m outdoors), or the aperture to 2.8 and the ISO to 800-1600 (if I’m indoors and there’s little light). If you’re not sure how to find all these things, your camera manual will walk you through it! :)

3. Take advantage of The Golden Hour
Photographers are total dorks about “The Golden Hour”. It’s that glorious hour just before the sun sinks below the horizon every evening. (Or rises in the morning!) The sunlight at that time is soft, so you’re left with no crazy shadows on your face and you’ll be amazed at how much more colors pop. Plus everything is warm and glowy!

4. Can’t take pictures during The Golden Hour? Seek shade!
If you’re taking photos any other time during the day, look for a shaded area. The goal for great outfit photos is minimizing shadows as much as possible. Find a fun colored or textured wall somewhere out of the sun and try shooting there! The light will be even, the colors will be brighter, and your photos will be sharper.

5) Details!
Don’t forget to snap a few photos of your outfit details: shoes, jewelry, hair accessories, etc. I also like to take a few photos of my surroundings, just to add some more appeal. This usually just ends up being a lot of photos of my cat, but most people don’t mind that. ;)

3. Remember to photograph the details – Sometimes that is the best part! Zoom in and remember to capture your favorite details of your look. Like the stitching on your denim or the over-sized collar on your blouse.

4. Move around and pose naturally – I like to move around while photographing my looks instead of always standing still and sticking to set poses. It allows for a more natural and less contrived photograph.

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