How To Take Great Blog Photos Even If You Have No Idea What You’re Doing

When I started blogging, I had no idea what I was doing when it came to photography. Honestly, I’m happy that my old blogs are gone, just so you can’t see them! You don’t have to be a professional photographer to take great blog photos. I would never call myself a photographer, but I frequently get asked about my blog photos. If you’re ready to up your blog photography game, keep reading!

Lighting is the most important aspect

When it comes to taking great blog photos, it really boils down to the lighting of your photo. Lighting can be the difference in a high-quality photo, and a low-quality photo. While natural light is the best lighting for a great blog photo, you can use artificial lighting. As a matter of fact, the majority of my photos are shot in artificial lighting!

I purchased a really cheap umbrella kit off of Amazon, and it is what I use every day. To make my photos as close to natural light as I could, I found some daylight bulbs at Home Depot, and they are better for the environment too.

Create interesting backgrounds

I used to rely HEAVILY on my faux marble background that I picked up from Amazon. It still is something that I use, but felt the need to use more textures in my images. I found a large piece of foamboard at my local craft store, and it has become the base for all of my photo. On top of the basic board, I can add sweaters, scarves, paper, pretty much anything I want to create a new and interesting background. Taking great blog photos doesn’t have to be expensive, just use what you have.

I also have backgrounds that I don’t use for flat lay images. To create a tile background, I purchased a piece of wood, and literally just tiled it myself! On the opposite side of the wooden board, I placed some wallpaper to give me yet another option!

Your camera doesn’t really matter!

While it is great to have a high-quality camera, that is not dependent on taking great blog photos. When I started out, I just used my camera on my iPhone, and there was nothing wrong with that. If you have the extra money to invest in a camera, then I highly encourage you to do that! If you do invest in a camera, knowing what your camera can do is seriously one of the very first steps! Since I’m not a camera genius, I’ll leave that to the professionals. Pinterest has a ton of great articles about cameras!

Extra tools that are good to have

While I am not a photography expert, I have picked up a few tips and tricks along the way. One of my favorite tools is a wireless remote control. It helps me take photos with myself in them. Since I don’t have a photography assistant, this seriously helps me! I have this one which has been amazing. Another great tool to have is a tripod. This allows me to set up images just how I like them, and I can get the perfect flat lay camera position as well!

Get some great props

I’m not even going to begin on how many different props I have lurking in almost every corner of my house. Having props that you love not only keeps your creativity going, but it also can improve the appearance of your blog photos. I love using jewelry, makeup, fabrics, and plants to add dimension and interest to my photos. If you’re interested in more information about the aspect of taking blog photos, check out my flat lay tips!

Even if you don’t have a big budget for props, there are plenty of places where you can find great items. Majority of what I use are just things from around my house. I grab my notebook, a pen, my laptop and I start shooting. I also pick up a lot of great items from local craft stores, and TJ Maxx and Homegoods are actual goldmines!

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