11 Home Photography Ideas for Beginners
Are you a budding photographer, and looking for things to take photos of? Perhaps you are in COVID-19 lockdown, or you are just at home for the evening or weekend, and need subjects that are nearby? Fret not! We have a great list of home photography ideas for you to try.
The pandemic is still raging, and whilst some cities and countries are out and about, many people across the globe are being told to stay at home. That's why, in this article, we will talk about only those ideas which can be tried at home, thus minimising your effort and expenditure.
The 11 ideas we will discuss in this article, are;
- Find the best spots for photography
- Use suitable camera gear
- Self-portraits
- Flowers and house plants are amazing things to capture
- Shoot products like jewellery
- Taking pictures of your family members
- Your pets can play some nice roles here
- Try to figure out the overall effect of the flash
- Take shots of your meals
- Visualise the space without the camera
- Embrace using leading lines
Go ahead and try these following ideas mentioned below.
Find the best spots for photography
When we are talking about indoor photography, there can never be common spots for everyone. This is because people have different homes. In such a situation, you have to find the best spot by yourself. However, here are some points that you should keep in mind while choosing the best spots.
- Proper backgrounds
- Vivid colors
- Some special features
- Ambience of light
- Abundance of natural light when required
- Proper size suitable for your subject
Use suitable camera gear
Even having the best subjects can’t ensure the best photos if you don’t have the right gear. If you are outdoors or you are looking for home photography ideas, gears are very important.
Once you have learned about finding the best place, you should now look for the proper gear to use in different situations. Here is some essential information about different types of camera lenses to consider.
Wide angle lenses
The range of these lenses lies between 16mm to 35mm. These lenses have the most practical utility in the field of photography. You can use them indoors when you want to shoot something considerably wide.
Ultra wide angle lenses
These lenses have a focal length of about 6 mm. You can use them if you want to capture a photo of your house from outside.
Macro lenses
These are some of the most important lenses that can be used indoors. The focal lengths of these lenses may vary but you can use them when shooting small objects like flowers, jewellery, insects, etc.
Self-portraits
We are mentioning this idea in the first place because it seems to be the simplest. You can try this one with minimal effort and believe me, you can produce one of the most spectacular photos. This can be tried in some natural shade (your backyard would be the best place for it). A proper pose is very important in creating the best portraits. Taking portraits is one of the simplest of home photography ideas.
Photos are always meant to tell a story. You can do it very precisely in portraits. Here are some points that you should keep in mind while capturing portrait photos at home.
- Get a nice tripod to mount your camera on it.
- If you are taking your photo, use a timer in the camera or you can also release the remote shutter.
- Always review your photos before making your final decision.
- If you find any fault in the photo while reviewing it, repeat the same process unless you get the perfect shot.
Flowers and house plants are amazing things to capture
Nothing can be more poetic than a flower. Flowers have always been the centre points of poets in almost all situations like pain, sorrow, happiness, etc. There is such a strong perception about the flowers that using a flower for telling a story can always give you the best results. This is one of the most popular home photography ideas around the world.
If you are looking at it for photographic purposes alone, there are still various reasons to capture flowers. The vibrant colours and spectacular beauty of a flower is enough to change anyone’s mind.
You can use small house plants for the same purpose. People often have plants like basal and several other such plants in their homes. Such plants can also be used to take nice photos.
Jewellery
Jewellery has been one of the most beautiful things that have been used by women for a long time. These are the items that are primarily meant for beauty. When you have such an amazing thing in your homes, there is no need to go anywhere else.
Stunning photos can be captured if you manage the light a little bit and have the proper gear. Keep in mind that you have to use a 100mm f2.8 lens for the best results here.
Architecture
When I talk architecture, I don't mean just a shot of the side of your house. I mean close ups of door handles, angle shots of your solar panels, silhouette of your chimney, the windows emitting light in the middle of the night. Different views.
Taking pictures of your family members
Family is not just a group of people living together. It holds tremendous emotions in it. If you want to convey a message through your photo, a family can be one of the best options. The best thing here is that it is super easy to get photos of family members.
When you take a photo of multiple family members, you are describing a moment, you are telling a story. This is one of the best ways to start when you are a beginner. Using an 85 mm lens with f1.2 will be the best option here.
You can make these photos even more beautiful by taking candid photos. Such shots feel even more pleasing.
Your pets can play some nice roles here
If you have tried taking photos of family members and other people, you should go to the next level. Almost everyone has pets in their homes. This is even more simple. In this case, you don’t have to worry about the pose too.
All you have to do is to manage the background. Once you have set the light and other things right, just get your pets(cat, dogs, etc.) in here. You can shoot one of the best candid photos.
Try to figure out the overall effect of the flash
Flash can very important in a photograph. The flash has the potential ability to avoid the slight shadows on the subject. But the flash can be equally unimportant in certain situations. When you are experimenting with flash, you will know more about these things.
Generally, when the natural light is in abundance, you should avoid using flash.
Take shots of your meals
Whilst you are at home, try taking shots of the different food and drinks that you consume. It's amazing how even a simple meal can look fantastic when staged correctly. Bright fruits, dark liquids, they can all play a role in an interesting photograph.
Try photographing food while using different textures as backgrounds, such as chopping boards, kitchen benches, tables and plates.
Visualise the space without the camera
This is another great feature of the photographer. As a beginner, you should try to develop this habit. Before you take out your camera, you should always create a picture of that place in your mind. If you think that this task is over after you have captured the photo, you are wrong.
There are various precious after-effects that can be added to the raw image. In fact, any photo is incomplete without such effects. Knowing how to use Lightroom, or Adobe Photoshop is another great skill of a photographer.
Embrace using leading lines
Leading lines are very important components of a photo. Leading lines have tremendous abilities to create some nice effects in the photo. Every line that is visible in a photo like a furniture, walls, tables, etc. is leading lines of a photograph. All you have to do is to put the camera and subject in a proper place for the best results.
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Final thoughts
We've shared with you eleven home photography ideas in this article. All these above ideas are interchangeable, and suitable for beginners and experts alike.
Those 11 home photography ideas again, are;
- Find the best spots for photography
- Use suitable camera gear
- Self-portraits
- Flowers and house plants are amazing things to capture
- Shoot products like jewellery
- Taking pictures of your family members
- Your pets can play some nice roles here
- Try to figure out the overall effect of the flash
- Take shots of your meals
- Visualise the space without the camera
- Embrace using leading lines
One thing that you should keep in mind is these are not the only ideas for home photography. There are literally hundreds of objects and topics you can try at home. Hopefully these ideas will spark your creativity, and help you build on your experience and portfolio.
About the Author
Miles Burke is a photographer, marketer and all round geek. Miles can be found blogging on his personal blog, or as the main editor, here on the Create blog.