If your idea of travel is leading you past an official border, you best remember to see if your passport is up to date. In the past, the rules regarding passport photos limited where you could have one taken. Now it’s possible to take them yourself. But don’t get too excited, there are still rules that must be followed for your photo to be accepted in your application. Winks, favorite hats, and smiles are still not allowed, but you don’t have to go anywhere to make a diy passport photo.  

This story will tell you all you need to know about how to take a passport photo from the comfort of your own home. 

Expert Tips for a DIY Passport Photo

Should you enjoy going to a copy center or passport photo studio, read no further. If you don’t, we have the essential tips to let you handle this serious travel item yourself. Before the end of this article you’ll have everything you need to know about taking a proper passport photo.  

Step 1: Choose the right camera

You might be asking yourself, “can I take a passport photo with my iPhone?” You sure can. In fact any device that captures photos, whether it’s a phone, digital camera, or tablet will do. Taking a selfie that will pass all the requirements of a passport photo can be very challenging. For this reason, a friend to take the picture is also recommended. If all your friends or family members are busy you might consider mastering the timer feature on your device or even employing a remote. A trusty tripod is also a great investment to ensure steady, sharp photography.  

Find a plain background and the right position

Due to the restrictions of passport photos, it’s important to use a plain, light grey or cream background. Tiled walls or patterned wallpaper should be avoided and make sure there are no objects in the frame.

Then, position yourself 3 to 5 feet away from the person taking the photo, and a foot or so from the wall.

Step three: Ensure there is space around your head and shoulders

Do not crop your photo closely. Why? Well, the Passport Office will crop your image once they’ve received your application. Check the space around your head and shoulders for sufficient room around them.

Step four: Check the lighting

Everyone knows the best lighting is natural lighting. So, if possible, position yourself facing towards a window – a great source of natural light. Position yourself so there are no shadows on your face or behind your head, and the light is even. Avoid standing too close to a lamp, as this will light one side of your face more than the other.

Step five: Remove headwear

Photos with favorite hats or bonnets will not make it through the passport processing. Take off any headwear unless it’s worn for religious or medical reasons. Anything that may obstruct your photo, like hair clips or glasses on the top of your head should be removed.

Step six: Make sure your face and eyes are visible

Make sure your entire face is visible in the photo, so tie your hair back if it covers your face or eyes in any way. If you have a longer fringe, it may be best to sweep it to the side.

Pose in a way that ensures there are no reflections in your glasses. These can obscure your eyes. The Passport Office recommends removing glasses but if you must wear them, take care to avoid glare on the lenses. It’s also worth noting that sunglasses and tinted lenses are not permitted.

Step seven: Don’t smile!

This isn’t a drivers license or vacation photo. Look straight at the camera with a neutral expression. Close your mouth and refrain from smiling. 

Once you’ve taken your photo, check that the image is clear and in focus. Look for a shot with no red-eye. You shouldn’t make any edits to your image using computer software.

And there you have it. How to take a good passport photo at home in seven easy steps. For more information about passport photography, visit your national passport office website. In the United States, click here.  

iPhone Passport Photo FAQs

Should your knowledge of passport photo taking be fairly strong, here’s a few FAQs to fill in a question or two you might want to know.  

Can I take a passport photo with my iPhone?

Short answer, yes. The quality of photos taken with newer iPhones rivals just about any camera. 

How do I take a passport photo at home without shadow?

If possible, situate yourself directly facing a window. Direct natural light provides the best passport photo lighting. Avoid the lamps as they’re often sources of shadows. 

What size should a passport photo be?

It’s helpful to know how to take passport size photo from iPhone. You should submit a high resolution photo that isn’t blurry or grainy. The correct size of a passport photo is 2 x 2 inches.
Within that size be sure your head is between 1 and 1 ⅜  inches from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head. 

Can I have a filter on my passport photo?

Putting a filter on your passport photo can cause it to be rejected. Avoid any filters in this type of photography. 

Can you smile for a passport photo?

It’s recommended that you don’t. Keep a neutral facial expression. This is not a “say cheese” photography moment. 

Travel Photos with Motif

Your passport is your key to traveling the world. A good passport photo will literally take you places. A bad photo will lead you back to the beginning of how to take a passport photo. Again. We hope this information will lead you to destinations unknown or favorite known places filled with friends and family. 

And while you’re visiting these places, don’t forget to take plenty of photos. Lots and lots of photos with interesting backgrounds, smiling faces, and as much or little natural light you prefer. The only pro tip we suggest is printing your favorite photos to remember and cherish.  

Bring your best photos to life with Motif.

Experience how easy creating personalized photo projects is with Motif. Our photo project app seamlessly works with Apple Photos in macOS and iOS. We do all the complicated stuff leaving the fun creative freedom to you.

The post How to Take a Passport Photo at Home appeared first on The Motif Blog.

How much time and effort do you put into framing up your photos? Do you simply point and shoot or is there some thought as to how your subject is captured? Are you aware that math can play an important part in photography composition? We’re not talking about algorithms or long division, but the rule of thirds is a simple way to improve your photo taking skills. 

If your photo results are falling flat or failing to earn more likes, more expensive photo gear doesn’t always change that. Instead, learn more about improving composition with the rule of thirds.   

What Is the Rule of Thirds?

The rule of thirds is one of the most useful composition techniques in photography. You can use it in all types of photography to produce more engaging and better balanced images. It involves breaking any image you want to photograph into thirds, horizontally and vertically, so that you have nine equal parts.

Interestingly enough, it wasn’t a photographer who invented the rule of thirds. It was discussed back in 1797 by painters. They were discussing the balance between warm to cold colors and how much of the painting should each of the elements occupy. They said that one third should be composed of land and water, and the other two thirds should remain for air and sky. This is where the idea for the name came from.

If you’re not a photographer and wondering how to use the rule of thirds in designs, the info here applies to most everything you aim to create regardless of the medium. 

How to Use the Rule of Thirds 

Within the grid, you’ll notice the lines intersect at four distinct points or points of interest. Imagine this grid when you peer through your viewfinder. Or, use the LCD that’s used to frame the shot you’re about to take.

This rule is so popular that most digital cameras come with a rule of thirds grid overlay. It’s right there in front of you to help better frame your shots. This grid will help you position the elements in your shot and frame the most important parts of your photo. 

Basically, the rule of thirds states that if you place the main subject of your photo in the top, bottom, left, or right sections of the grid, you’ll snap a perfect picture every time.

Rule of Thirds Landscape

Apply the rule of thirds to your landscape photography by following some simple guidelines.

To start, align the horizon of the shot with one of the horizontal lines on your rule of thirds grid (the bottom one is usually best). The horizon doesn’t have to line up precisely with the horizontal line. The key here is to use the rule of thirds grid to help you better frame the shot and avoid things like cutting your image in half by lining up the horizon across the center of the frame.

If there are other elements within the landscape photo, aim to place them near at least one of the four points of interest. Remember, that’s where your viewers will look first. Make a good impression by adding something interesting and exciting near the focal point.

This image is one of the better rule of thirds examples. Notice in the image above that the horizon is near the bottom line. Plus, the main subject of the image, the tree, is right on two of the four focal points.

Breaking Rule of Thirds

It is possible to break the rule of thirds and end up with beautiful photos. In fact, sometimes you can end up with an even stronger composition by ignoring the rule. So while it’s encouraged to learn and use the rule of thirds, experiment with breaking it.

One of the best instances to break the rule of thirds is when photographing symmetrical subjects. If you’re photographing a succulent or flower from above, the symmetry looks even more striking when perfectly centered in the frame.

The important thing is to first learn the rule of thirds. Then, pushing it to find ways of breaking the rule of thirds will only make your understanding of composition even better. The quality of your photography will show as a result. Before long you’ll find yourself looking at the world around you differently, even without a camera in your hand. 

Show Your Best Rule of Thirds Results

An excellent way to see improvement in your photo taking skills is via before and after comparisons. Photography is best appreciated when it’s printed. So assemble your favorite photos in your collection and print them in a photo book. It’s really easy with Motif. Then, spend some time practicing the rule of thirds. After several months or even a year, create another with your new photos. Having printed photo books to view side by side lets you see how your skills as a photographer have advanced. Plus, they’re so much easier to view and share than scrolling through your camera roll.

The post Using the Rule of Thirds in Your Photography appeared first on The Motif Blog.

One of the common iPhone photography misconceptions is that you cannot use an iPhone for serious photography. Can a phone with a camera that fits in your pocket measure up against traditional photography equipment? The answer is “yes”! iPhone photography has become increasingly popular as technology has improved. No matter how advanced the technology, the quality of any photo depends on the photographer’s creative vision. To help you better understand how iPhones have become an important part of the photography world, here’s everything you need to know about iPhone photography.

Can you use an iPhone for photography?

The iPhone has been steadily updated with new features added over the years, including regular improvements to camera quality. When the iPhone 8 Plus became available, photographers were finally ready to take photos they could be proud of editing and sharing. Many professional photographers are now using smartphone cameras to snap pictures during their travels or on assignments.

There are many things to consider when thinking about both an iPhone vs. DSLR camera for photography sources. Of course, the iPhone has its limitations and can’t provide all the features that a traditional DSLR can, with interchangeable lenses and various attachments. Some days, however, carrying bulky camera gear is inconvenient. The iPhone is your lightweight alternative. With the development of iPhone camera-sized accessories, such as lenses and tripods, taking amazing photos with an iPhone is easier than ever.  And, with endless iPhone camera apps to choose from, iPhone photography can be shot and edited as well as any DSLR camera.

An iPhone camera is a tool, just like any other camera. With the proper knowledge and the right techniques, you can use your iPhone to take great photos that may be hard to believe were taken with the iPhone.

iPhone Camera Modes and How to Use Them

iPhone camera modes are the creative support behind iPhone photography. While the iPhone Camera’s flash or timer might not always reach the photography effects you’re looking for, there are plenty of other features available. Within the Camera app, you’ll see features such as Live Photos, Camera Timer, HDR, Focus, and Exposure. Three important iPhone camera modes to learn are Portrait mode, Night mode, and Burst mode. Here’s how these features expand your photography creativity and allow you to feel more comfortable using an iPhone for quality photos:

• The iPhone Portrait mode is a photo effect that blurs the background of an image by adding a simulated bokeh. This background blur isolates the subject in a photo and gives it a more professional look. Portrait mode provides similar results to ones you get when using a DSLR camera. Switch to Portrait mode by swiping on the slider at the bottom until you land on Portrait mode. Once you’re in Portrait mode, follow the on-screen prompts that let you know if you’re too close or too far from your subject or if you need to add more light to the picture.

• To use Night Mode, you’ll need an iPhone 11 (including Pro and Pro Max) or iPhone 12 (including the Mini, Pro, and Pro Max). On earlier iPhones, night photography was difficult. Blurry photos, graininess, exposure problems, and unnatural colors were common issues. The iPhone 11 and iPhone 12 cameras use intelligent software to eliminate these problems. When you shoot with Night Mode, the camera takes multiple shots over several seconds and then automatically blends the images into a single, high-quality photo. Night mode turns on automatically when taking a picture in low-light environments. You’ll see the small moon symbol near the top left turn yellow when Night mode is activated. A time indication like “1s” or “5s” will show up near the moon symbol, which signifies the exposure time (or the length of time the camera lets light in before taking the picture). When Night mode is activated, press the round shutter button to take a photo as you usually would. Hold the camera as still as possible until the exposure completes. The camera takes time to take in light to take a quality picture in very low light.

• To activate Burst Mode, you don’t have to change any of your iPhone camera settings. All you have to do is press and hold the shutter button. With an iPhone camera 11 or higher, tap the shutter button and immediately slide it to the left for portrait-oriented photos or drag it up for landscape orientation. Your device will then keep taking pictures as long as your finger touches the screen. Burst Mode takes approximately ten photos per second. Burst Mode is best for action shots that include children, animals, people playing sports, or any constant movement. Those can often be difficult to capture with a single press of the camera shutter. You can also try it when taking candid photos. Once done, open the Photos app, tap on the “Burst” album to open it and choose the “Select” button at the top right of your screen. Choose the photos you want to keep, then tap on the Done button in the right upper corner.

iPhone Photography Tips

There are a lot of ways to dive right into iPhone photography. First, get to know iPhone camera settings to learn the ins and outs of the iPhone camera. This includes taking live photos with filters, using exposure to make pictures lighter or darker, and setting the timer for hands-free shooting, among others. Here are some useful and easy iPhone photography tips to quickly improve your iPhone photography:

• In photography, the bokeh effect is used when a person or other object in the foreground is focused while the background is blurry. It’s not just a general blur –  bokeh blur draws attention to the subject and creates images with backgrounds that look dreamy and eye-catching. Using bokeh is popular in portrait photography or macro photography when the subject is very close up, or there’s a lot of lighting in the background. When purposely photographed out of focus, harsh or bright lights become soft or diffused. On an iPhone, bokeh is achieved by using Portrait mode. In Portrait mode, the camera uses depth to instinctively zoom in and frame the subject, blurring the background. You can also create bokeh by editing depth after taking the photo. 

• Use the iPhone grid feature for photo composition. The iPhone camera grid divides your photos’ frame using four lines that run horizontally and vertically across the screen. The grid shows nine squares laid across the screen, like an empty tic tac toe grid when it’s turned on. Using the camera grid to match the subject up with lines on different screen sides draws more attention to the subject in more subtle, artistic ways. You get the most out of your pictures. The camera grid is handy for landscape shots. It shows you how to frame the horizon to get a more interesting picture. You can match up objects of interest in the foreground to the lines, making sure they complement your shot and draw the eye into the scene.

• If you’re looking to capture something at a lower angle, but you don’t want to lay down on the ground, turn your phone upside down. Flipping your phone upside down gets your camera several inches lower for photographing harder to reach spots. Your photo also ends up being upside down, but you can rotate it later to be right-side up.

• The flash is the main feature of both traditional and digital cameras. It functions to brighten up a room to take a beautiful and clear picture. An iPhone flash is a mildly powerful LED,  which means using the flash feature can be a disadvantage. Consider using an external flash that works wirelessly with an iPhone for more powerful flash abilities.

• Use the volume button for several photography tricks. For one, Camera shake is the main enemy of getting a sharp photo. If it happens, it’s bound to cause blurriness. Using the volume button can help you stabilize your shot while pressing the shutter. It’s also tough to tap the camera shutter button when taking a selfie with your hand outstretched. Squeezing the volume up button on the side of your iPhone is an easier way to snap the photo.

• Did you know that your earphones can also help you get candid photos? Hold your camera towards your subject, and hold the earphones in your other hand (or have them in your ears). Use the volume “up” button on the earphones to take candid photos.

• The iPhone camera app includes exposure and focus lock features that allow you to lock the parameters and frame your shot. This “AE/AF lock” is useful when taking a photo with variable light conditions. To activate the AE/AF lock, open the iOS Camera app and tap on the screen to focus on an area. Instead of tapping and releasing, tap and hold until the focus square flickers. When you lift your finger, you’ll see an “AE/AF Lock” indicator at the top of the screen. Once the AE/AF Lock is turned on, you can frame your photo without losing the exposure and focus controls that were just set. To undo the exposure and focus lock, just tap on the screen once, and it will remove it.

There are many other iPhone photography beginner tips that will start you on your way to learning about your iPhone camera’s abilities. They’ll also give you the confidence to take photos like a pro. 

Editing iPhone Pictures with the Motif Photo App

Photographers never stop looking for picture-perfect moments. With iPhone cameras now offering great optics to capture sharp, high-resolution results, many images are being taken on smartphones. There are many free and paid photo editing apps available in the App Store. They range from basic editing and sharing tools to full-featured photo editing apps, such as Photoshop and Lightroom, that let you edit, and organize images for professional-looking photos. 

Editing photos within the iPhone Photos app is an excellent place to start. To edit photos on your iPhone, find them in the Photos app. Once you’ve found an image, tap on it to view it, then tap “Edit” in the top-right corner of the screen. If you have iCloud Photos, you’ll need to wait a second for the full-sized image to download. You’ll then be able to edit your photos. Across the bottom of the screen are four buttons, each referring to a particular set of editing tools:

• Live Photos: Only visible if your image is a Live Photo (video recorded along with a still image).
• Adjust: Standard editing controls you’ll find in most image editing apps.
• Filters: Apply or remove iPhone photo filters.
• Crop/Straighten: For changing the aspect ratio, cropping, and more.

At any point while editing an image, you can tap on the photo to see the original. This provides a point of reference for any edits you’ve made. You can see whether your changes enhance the image or not. If you’re editing a Live Photo, which is a still image with three seconds of video for context, you can also tap and hold the image at any point to see how your edits affect the video.

There are also some specific edits you can make on photos that can require a third-party app. This includes how to flip, mirror, or rotate photos on an iPhone. One feature added in iOS 13 is that you can now flip any picture straight from your Photos app. It’s great if you need a picture’s mirror image, like if you’re trying to read backward text. Not every phone can download iOS 13, however. If you have an iPhone 6 or earlier, you’ll need a third-party app. 

If you’ve ever wanted to add text to photos, use the iPhone camera Markup editing tool.  Open Photos from your home screen. Tap the “Library” tab in the lower-left corner of the screen, then select the photo you want to edit and tap “Edit.” Then, tap the More button (the three dots), and then tap “Markup.” Once you’re in the Markup editor, you can choose a drawing tool along the bottom. Your options include a pen, a highlighter, a pencil, or an eraser. Tap the color picker circle to the right to choose a color for your drawing tool (except eraser). You can now add doodles, callouts, and text to your photos.

When you’re ready to move beyond iPhone’s own editing tools, the Motif app is an easy-to-use iPhone photo editing app that’s only used with iPhone and iOS programs. Motif is a unique app that gives you even more creativity with photo editing and combines it with the ability to create photo books of your treasured memories. You can use Motif both on your iPhone/iPad or Mac, which means you can start creating a vacation photo book while you’re still on vacation. Motif allows you to save projects, so you can add photos from wherever you are and not worry about losing your work. Motif’s image selection process makes it easy to select multiple images across Memories, Albums, and your Camera Roll. You can also edit photos in the main view, rather than a separate one for editing.

Managing iPhone Photos & Technical “How-Tos”

iPhone photos can take up a lot of phone storage and fast. This can be frustrating for many reasons. You may be getting “Storage Almost Full” notifications pop up on your phone, indicating it may be time to sort and organize your photo library. Managing iPhone photos can also seem overwhelming, especially when you’ve been taking photos for years and keeping them all on your iPhone. Thankfully, there are great resources available to iPhone users to store, transfer, manage, and even print your valuable memories on the iPhone.  

You may already be familiar with iCloud, Apple’s cloud-based storage platform if you use it to back up your iPhone data. iCloud photo storage can be free, or you can upgrade (for a fee) for more storage in the cloud. It’s easy to manage photos in iCloud photo storage, including sorting and organizing photos or deleting one or more photos at once. iCloud Photo can also automatically backup and sync iPhone photos from your devices. There are various reasons as to why your photos may not be uploading to iCloud. Commonly, this is caused by iCloud Photo Library not being enabled, running out of iCloud Storage, experiencing a network issue, or a login problem with your iCloud account. 

Another cloud-based tool that manages iPhone photos is Google Photos for iPhone. Google Photos is a downloadable app for iPhone. After you’ve installed the app and logged in through a Google account, you can start syncing photos from your phone to Google Photos. The program will save all the photos you take on the iPhone. Every so often, Google will ask if you want to free up space on your phone by backing up the images to your Google Account, which is accessible through Gmail, as well.

Once you decide which photo storage service works best for you, it’s easy to transfer photos from your photo to your computer (and vice-versa). Cloud-based storage services such as iCloud and Google Photos can be installed on a desktop. This means they can be used interchangeably on a Mac and an iPhone. You can also transfer photos from a PC to an iPhone using the iCloud for Windows app (which you need to download separately on your desktop). Photos can also be transferred through iTunes (make sure you have the latest version downloaded), Airdrop (you’ll need an iPhone 5 or newer running iOS 7 or above), and Windows, by using File Explorer or Windows Explorer.

While it’s easy to keep vacation and family photos easily online, it’s also easy to print photos right from an iPhone. If you have a compatible AirPrint printer, then you can print your photos directly with AirPrint. Here’s how it works:

1. Launch Photos on your iPhone.
2. Find the photo that you want to print.
3. Tap the Share button.
4. Scroll down and tap Print. If you have a compatible printer, the Print Screen appears.
5. Tap Select Printer and select your printer.
6. Tap the + or – buttons to adjust the number of copies to print.
7. Tap Options to customize whether it’s in color or black & white and choose paper size.
8. Tap Print.

If your printer isn’t AirPrint compatible, you can still print directly from your device by downloading your printer’s accompanying app – the HP Smart app if you have an HP printer, for example. For high-quality printed photos, use heavier, glossy photo paper that can run through a printer.

iPhone Apps for Photos & Photography

As iPhone camera technology improves and develops each year, the amount of iPhone apps for photos and photography grows. Some of the best iPhone photo apps will take your photography to new creative heights. Editing apps like Lightroom and Photoshop (both of which have free and paid versions) have been the standard editing tools to bring out the best in iPhone photography. Pixlr, which offers a wide range of different photo effects, overlays, and filters, creates truly unique images. 

Then, there are unique and helpful photography apps such as Magic Hour, which tells you exactly when the “golden hour” will be outside for perfect outdoor photography, if the weather will be clear enough, and the approximate times of sunrise and sunset in your area. Nighttime and night sky photographers will find the Dark Skies night photography app useful for shooting photos of star formations without worrying about long star trails. By plugging in the type of camera and focal length of your lens into the app, Dark Skies will calculate how much exposure you will need to get the best picture. 

A long time ago, people took actual, non-digital photos and put them into big, bulky photo albums. These are great to flip through for nostalgic memories. But what if you want to share those memories with friends and family online? Chances are, you have to take a photo of the photo and post it online. If you’ve done this, you’d agree that it’s not the best solution. That’s where photo scanner apps come into play. Photo scanner apps are used right on the iPhone. Take a snap of physical photos to get a scanned copy. Scanner apps often have a unique feature to make corrections in auto-detected mistakes. This means the app can sharpen, contrast, and restore color to create digital images that are easy to share with friends and family. 

When you’re ready to put your favorite photos into their own photo book, finding the best photo book design right from your iPhone or Mac can be achieved with Motif. What sets Motif apart for its photo book creation process is it’s image curation and  Autoflow features. With image curation, the app considers lighting and composition, among other factors, to automatically select the best photos for your photo book. Autoflow then places the photos into professionally designed themes and layouts to bring your photos to life. You’ll always have a chance to edit and change any part of your photo book. Motif’s smart technology takes the guesswork out of which images to use when there are so many from which to choose.

There are over 80 personalized layouts with various themes and sizes to create the perfect photo book for your needs. Photo books are the perfect way to celebrate and share your favorite photographs from your iPhone photography journey with family and friends. Download our free app today and give your stories a home with Motif.

The post Everything You Need to Know About iPhone Photography appeared first on The Motif Blog.

In photography, dynamic range refers to the difference between the lightest and darkest tones in a photo. Stand outside during the twilight hour and notice the way shadows and light land on the street, homes, or in a cityscape. Then, try to take photos of the same scenes. 

It’s not always easy to capture what the naked eye sees accurately with a camera. That’s because the human eye can see a much greater dynamic range than a camera. Areas such as dynamic range and low light performance are where eyes genuinely shine. The difference between the darkest shadow detail and the brightest highlight detail is measured in lens T-stops. The best cameras on the market have a dynamic range of around 15 stops on average. However, the human eye can perceive 21 stops of dynamic range. Eyes can pick up details in deep shadow and significantly brighter areas from any given scene simultaneously. 

What is HDR Photography?

HDR (high dynamic range) photography is a technique that involves capturing multiple images of the same scene using different exposure values. Then the images are combined into a single image representing the full range of tonal values within the scene. 

Instead of just taking one photo, HDR photography uses three photos (or five, seven, or more) taken at different exposures. If colors and shadows in a scene seem too busy or difficult to capture in one photograph, HDR imaging is the solution. Multiple photos captured with varying exposure values is the best way to get the various tones in the scene. Then, special software processes those images, interpreting the result to create an image that contains far more detail than is possible with a single photograph with one exposure.

When Would You Use HDR Photography?

Use HDR Photography for any shooting situations with tricky lighting conditions. HDR is used outdoors with various degrees of light and shadow. Use HDR indoors when natural and artificial light competes to highlight an interior space. Here are some ways to try HDR photography:

Landscape Photography

HDR is perfect for landscape photography. Landscape scenes are often high contrast, with the foreground much darker than the sky. The best times for an HDR shoot are at dawn, early in the morning, or when the sun has set. The “golden hour” is also prime time to shoot HDR photography outside, when the sun is low on the horizon. The sun’s position creates an extreme contrast between the parts still hit by the light and the ones in the shadows. 

Silhouette Photography

If a subject is backlit (with the light source behind it), use HDR so the focus doesn’t appear as a dark silhouette against a bright background. HDR also works well when photographing a shaded subject against a bright sky. Rather than choosing between a subject that’s too dark or a sky that’s too bright, HDR provides clear views of both. If photographing an object in direct sunlight, dark shadows are likely to be cast within the scene. Using HDR brightens up the shadows while ensuring the highlights aren’t over-exposed. 

Interior Photography

HDR is popular for photographing buildings because it’s best used to capture a lot more detail, including architecture, cityscapes, and real estate. Real estate photographers often find themselves working in very challenging conditions. Property exterior or interior is easy to shoot because they are static subjects. However, photography can be challenging concerning what lighting looks best in a scene. HDR photography allows photographers to get details in both highlights and shadows by combining several images into one final image during post-production.

How to create an HDR image

Photographers can take HDR images with either a DSLR camera or an iPhone. While the mechanics of taking HDR photos is different for both an iPhone and digital camera, the results of several images merging into one HDR image are the same. Use a tripod for both an iPhone camera and digital camera when taking HDR photos, so there’s no camera movement. Blurred edges or images occur from movement. It causes the individual images that form an HDR picture not to line up correctly.

Creating an HDR image with an iPhone camera

Before you open the Camera app, check your HDR settings in the Settings app. Go to Settings > Camera. Make sure the Smart HDR (Auto HDR on older iPhones) toggle is switched off. If Smart HDR is on, the HDR option won’t be available in the Camera app. Make sure the Keep Normal Photo option is switched on. “Keep Normal Photo” tells the iPhone to save a non-HDR version of the photo too.

Open the Camera app, and ensure the HDR icon at the top of the screen is switched on (the icon appears without a line through it when it’s on). With HDR switched on, the iPhone automatically captures HDR photos when the shutter button is pressed. The individual images, which may be saved depending on the operating system and model, can take up storage space. Therefore, make sure to change the setting to discard the original photos and only keep the HDR image.

It takes slightly longer to capture an HDR photo than a regular one on an iPhone. The camera has to capture three images at different exposures and combine them into a single picture. Because of the extra time required to take an HDR photo, it’s more likely that the iPhone will move slightly. Movement results in a blurred image. For this reason, it’s essential to hold an iPhone still or mount your phone on a tripod while taking HDR pictures.

Exposure bracketing with a digital camera

Capturing a series of photos assembled into a final HDR image is called exposure bracketing. Bracketing means taking more than one photo while moving the camera’s range arrows around (setting different exposure levels). The more images in the bracket, the more professional an HDR photo will look.

Digital cameras allow you to set bracket exposures automatically. To set auto-exposure bracketing, look for a button labeled AEB (Automatic Exposure Bracketing) or BKT on the back of the camera, or search for it in the camera menu. Most cameras offer three-shot auto-exposure bracketing, though some models allow for five-shot and even seven-shot brackets. 

Set the bracketing to 2 exposure value (EV) increments. The first photo you take will be too dark, the second photo will be correctly exposed, and the third photo will be too light or over-exposed (the shutter has to be pressed three times for all exposures to complete). If your camera does not have a bracketing setting, you can manually adjust the aperture. You can also go into the menu settings and manually adjust the exposure value (EV) settings between shots.

Can you shoot HDR in RAW?

When shooting in HDR, set the capture file type to RAW (instead of jpg, etc.). RAW photos are like a film negative. RAW images are better to shoot in HDR than a jpg because there’s more data to use when editing images. RAW files contain much more light information than a jpg image. This allows many more adjustments to shadows and highlights. It helps fix errors in exposure that would never be possible with a jpg.

HDR software

The beauty of HDR photography comes together in post-processing. HDR software creates the dramatic colored and tonal effects of images after blending the several exposures. Be sure that the photos have the correct exposures, are not blurry, and capture the effect desired. HDR-specific software is used for the merging and tone-mapping stage of HDR sets. After merging the images in HDR software, finishing touches can be added to the HDR image in software like Lightroom or Capture One. 

Photoshop is also popular to use for final touch-ups of HDR images. Use a custom “Curves” adjustment or the brush tool on the Curves mask to adjust an image. Try the Shadow/Highlight tool to perfect shading, as well as the Spot Healing Brush to blend away something small. 

HDR photography is a unique way to capture subjects you’ve never tried before because of their difficulty to capture. Try HDR photography on your next sunset beach walk, hike, or even family event. Then, save the images in a photo book from Motif. Whether it’s a wedding photo book, ski vacation keepsake, or commemorating a great year, Motif makes it easy to pull all your memories together into one place.

The post A Beginner’s Guide to HDR Photography appeared first on The Motif Blog.

Photographers often pay close attention to the background of images, which gives a broad view behind a photo subject. Finding an interesting foreground is just as important. A well-planned foreground transforms a flat, one-dimensional composition into an engaging image that’s full of depth and dimension. Foreground creates a more true-to-life scene that makes the viewer want to jump in and become a part of it.

What is the Foreground?

In photography, the foreground is the part of the photography subject that’s closest to the camera. The foreground serves as the introduction to a larger image. It sets the stage for the rest of the photo. The foreground is the first element to grab a viewer’s attention, leading their eyes right into a scene.

The human eye distinguishes between elements and determines depth in a scene, but a camera flattens the background and foreground. Because a photograph is a 2D version of a 3D reality, a good picture should create the illusion of depth. Setting up the foreground well puts the subject into context. Use the foreground to add to the scene and highlight the subject of the image. Including more foreground enhances the subject and its environment.

Foreground, Middleground, Background 

Almost every photograph has a foreground and a background. Many compositions also have a middle-ground. The foreground is the section closest to the camera; the background is the section farthest away. The middle-ground falls somewhere between, connecting them.

In a well-composed photograph, the foreground transitions into the middle-ground, which then transitions into the background. The foreground can be sharp in focus compared to the middle ground and background. Alternatively, the foreground can be out of focus with the in-focus subject in the middle ground – the background used to support the main subject. 

A great way to connect the foreground, middle ground, and background of an image is to use leading lines. Leading lines direct the viewer’s eyes through the photograph. Look for elements like stones, flowing water, set structures (such as a row of buildings). Leading lines are anything that creates a defined direction. Use these to make a connection between the layers, which give the composition depth.

How to Use Foreground

In a composed photo, the foreground should never be empty. A point of interest should fill the foreground. Points of interest include flowers, a person, sculpture, or anything sitting close to the camera. Look to create interest in the subject by using what’s in front of it.  Negative space can also add to the image.

Color contrast is also used to set up the foreground. A dark foreground can frame a lighter subject and lead the viewer into the scene. When the foreground is darker than the main point of interest or has rich colors or tones, it draws the viewer’s attention and makes the subject pop. 

Foreground Subjects

Foreground techniques are frequently used with landscape or wildlife photography. Including a foreground in landscape shots creates depth by adding dimension. The foreground image can present the subject with a dramatic frame, color, or texture. With wildlife photography, the foreground draws the viewer’s eye toward the subject and minimizes distractions found in the background by making it out of focus. When everything is in focus, the viewer may not discern what is supposed to be the image’s focal point.

Foreground Framing

Foreground framing occurs when elements of the foreground are used to frame the central subject. Foreground framing helps create eye-catching portrait photography. A great way to try foreground framing is with photos in Portrait Mode on an iPhone camera. In Portrait Mode, the subject will be in sharp focus, while the frame and background will be out of focus. This blurred effect makes the subject stand out within the frame.

Try highlighting the foreground to take photos of subjects in ways you never thought you could capture. Whether taking your camera on a safari or familiar hiking trails, keep those memories well-organized with a photo book from Motif. 

The post What Is Foreground in Photography, and How It Impacts Your Shot appeared first on The Motif Blog.

Cloud-based storage has been a game-changer for photographers. Photos are precious memories that freeze moments in time and show off a vivid imagination. They must be kept in a secure and accessible place for whenever they’re needed. It’s important to note “cloud storage” and “cloud backup” aren’t the same service. It’s worth learning the difference when thinking about how and where you’re storing photos.

What is Cloud Storage?

Cloud storage is a storage system in which data is saved on remote servers accessed from the internet, or “cloud.” It’s maintained, operated, and managed by a cloud storage service provider. With cloud storage, uploaded photos are on servers instead of taking up space on a computer or mobile device. Examples of cloud storage systems like Dropbox, iCloud, and Google Photos, let users store and share files. 

There are significant differences between cloud storage services and cloud backup services. Using cloud storage as a backup solution isn’t as secure as an actual backup service. With cloud storage, photos can still become lost or deleted if the cloud system fails. Cloud backup may be the safest and best solution for photo storage – here’s why: 

Best Cloud Backup Services

Compared to basic cloud-based storage, cloud-based backup services are a more secure backup solution. Some of the best cloud backup services, such as Backblaze, IDrive,  Acronis, and Carbonite, offer more secure photo uploading and storage solutions. Here’s what makes a cloud backup service a good place for photos:

• Ease of use: You should never feel confused about how to back up photos to the cloud. It should run reliably in the background without overtaxing system resources or internet bandwidth. 
• Continuous backups: After the initial backup, future backups should run in the background, continuously uploading photos.
• Fast and straightforward restoration experience: Photos usually have to be restored if accidentally deleted or when an entire storage drive fails. Download (and upload) speeds depend on the time of day, internet speeds, the local network speeds, and your computer. 

Are online backup services secure?

Cloud-based backup services create a secure, complete backup of your entire system. Most online backup services encrypt files before sending them to servers over an encrypted connection. They also offer a personal encryption key option. This adds a security layer that helps prevent anyone but you from accessing your files. 

If you choose to manage your encryption keys (the “key” that decrypts your backup), write them down and store them in a secure place like a safe or in an online password manager. Make sure your online password manager is encrypted too. The online backup service itself will not help you reset the password if you forget it. This is ideal from a privacy and security standpoint. 

How much are online backup services?

Cost is an important factor to consider for online backup services. Many online cloud backup services are subscription-based.  They structure fees differently. Most have pricing tiers based on the amount of cloud backup storage included or the number of devices that can be used with an account. Free accounts are available, but they usually allow much smaller storage limits or restrict key features to paid versions. 

Benefits of Cloud Backup Services

Cloud backup services are highly beneficial for storing photos. Encryption keeps photos safe from deletion. Effective cloud backup solutions can back up to local, external, and network drives. They offer features such as automatic backups and make retrieval easy. Even if a photo is deleted from your computer, it can still be found and recovered from your backup. 

When photos are safely backed up, they’ll be easy to find and use in whatever photo book projects you can imagine. Secure images mean you don’t have to worry about losing vacation photos, new baby photos, or any photos for that matter. They’ll always be on hand to use however you want.

The post Everything You Need to Know When Choosing a Cloud Backup Service appeared first on The Motif Blog.

The human eye is amazingly agile for adjusting to lighting conditions. When a room gets dark, pupils in the eye expand to take in more light or shrink in a bright, well-lit room to adjust. The camera aperture works similarly in its mechanical realm. Aperture is an integral part of photography included in exposure settings, along with shutter speed and ISO. 

Aperture Definition

If you’re asking yourself, what is aperture? An easy way to define it is to picture the pupil of an eye.  Aperture expands and shrinks to allow more or less light to a camera’s sensor. The larger it is, the more light comes in, resulting in a brighter photo. If the aperture is smaller, less light enters, and the image captured will be darker.

Aperture is adjusted to control how much light is allowed in. It also controls the depth of field. Aperture is displayed in an “f/number” format.

• A low number = large aperture:
  • Lets in more light
  • It has a more shallow depth of field
    
• A high number = small aperture:
  • Lets in less light
  • Has a deeper depth of field

Aperture is defined by the size of the opening through which light can enter the camera. 

Aperture sizes range from the widest (f/1.4) to the smallest range (f/32). Between them are additional “stops” of f/2, f/2.8, f/4, f/5.6, f/8, f/11, f/16, and f/22. Each f-number represents one “stop” of light, a mathematical equation (the focal length of the lens divided by the diameter of the aperture opening) that determines how much light enters the lens regardless of its size. For example, an f/4 on a 50mm has a smaller opening than an f/4 on a 200mm. However, the same amount of light travels through both lenses to reach the image sensor, thus providing the same exposure.

Aperture Camera Components

Aperture blades

Like an eye, a camera lens has an “iris” that controls the aperture. Inside each lens is a set of blades that open or close making the aperture wider or smaller. The aperture size controls how much light gets in and how exposed the photo will be. The more light that comes through the lens, the brighter the image.

Lenses have varying numbers of aperture blades, depending on the price and quality of the lens. A basic lens has five or six blades on the aperture. More professional lenses may have nine or more blades on the aperture. Aperture blades can also be placed straight or rounded on the lens. The aperture shape is often a polygon or a hexagon rather than a perfect circle.

Image sensor

An image sensor is a photo-sensitive semiconductor that captures light rays and converts them to electronic signals. These signals transform into a color image based on a processor inside a camera. Larger cameras have larger sensors and smaller cameras have smaller sensors. A smaller sensor captures a smaller portion of the image. 

Aperture Settings

From largest aperture to lowest aperture, aperture can also changes how images look by controlling the depth of field. Depth of field refers to how much or how little of the scene is in focus. Photographs with a large depth of field have a larger focus area, while images with a shallow depth of field have a small area in focus.

What controls aperture?

Aperture is controlled by several important factors, including focal length, which controls the depth of field. Depth of field and the camera lens size, combined with the light source and the photographer’s need, controls aperture. Here’s how:

Focal length

The focal length is the distance from the lens’s center to the imaging point (focal plane) where the light for the image is collected. When a lens is described as a “50mm lens,” it refers to focal length. Different focal lengths create different levels of magnification and change the viewing angle of the resulting photograph. Camera lenses with short focal lengths have a wide-angle of view, while longer focal length lenses will have stronger magnification, such as a telephoto lens. 

The brightness of a lens is a combination of focal length and lens diameter. If the focal length of two lenses is the same, the larger diameter lens will be brighter. With a 50mm lens and a lens diameter of 17.8mm, focal length divided by lens diameter gives the lens a maximum f-stop of 2.8. The f-stop value is aperture, showing how much light will pass through it when the aperture is opened to its maximum. The smaller the aperture value, the brighter the lens.

Minimum and maximum aperture

All camera lenses have a maximum and minimum aperture. Knowing how these work helps photographers understand what lenses to use for different photography types. 

If a camera lens has an aperture range of f/4 to f/32, the minimum aperture is f/32, while the maximum is f/4. Since a lower f-number means the aperture is higher (more light), the maximum aperture is faster and lets in more light. Maximum aperture camera lenses are considered to be “fast” because of a higher shutter speed. With a maximum aperture of f/1.2, photos can be taken in places with little light. 

Minimum aperture is used for different purposes. Landscape and architecture photography is best suited to the minimum side of the aperture spectrum. This kind of photography frequently utilizes small apertures such as f/8 and f/11. The goal is to get both the foreground and the background elements in focus simultaneously and not lose any part of the shot.

Background blur

The photography effect used to produce a sharp subject and soft, out-of-focus background is called the bokeh effect (pronounced BO-cuh). It often results in soft light flares and reflections that add to the look of the photo. To create the bokeh effect in an image, use a fast lens. —the quicker, the better. Use a lens with at least an f/2.8 aperture or even apertures of f/2, f/1.8, or f/1.4. 

Using bokeh is popular in portrait photography or macro photography when a subject is very close up, or there’s a lot of lighting in the background. When purposely photographed out-of-focus, harsh or bright lights become soft or diffused. Bokeh can also add softness to an otherwise brightly lit photograph. 

Wide aperture

Wide apertures let in a lot of light and create a shallow depth of field for portraits. For example, photographers prefer an f/2.8 aperture since it’s wide and fast.  A wide aperture has a lot of uses for a wide range of photography. Examples of wide-aperture photography include:

• Subject Isolation
• Portrait Photography
• Sporting events
• Night Photography
• Close up (macro) photography

Smaller aperture

Aperture priority mode

Aperture Priority mode is a semi-automatic shooting mode in cameras. The user tells the camera which aperture and/or ISO setting to use, and the camera works out the correct exposure. It sets the remaining element, shutter speed, on its own. Some cameras label aperture priority as Av (Aperture value) or as A (Aperture) on the settings wheel.

Although only one or two settings are used manually, and the camera is doing all the balancing, it gives the photographer more control than shooting entirely automatically. After determining the subject of the photo, choose the aperture number (f-stop). When shooting a landscape, choose a larger f-number, such as f/9 or f/16.  For a blurred background on a portrait shot, choose a smaller f-number, such as f/2.8 or f/4.5. The camera adjusts the ISO and shutter speed before taking the photo.

Variable aperture

Variable aperture is specifically used with zoom camera lenses. Lenses with variable apertures change the aperture based on focal length. On an 18-55mm lens, an f/3.5 aperture occurs when zoomed out to 18mm. When zoomed in to 55mm, the widest aperture available is only f/5.6. It’s a smaller range of aperture choices and is more difficult to control exposure. However, lenses with variable aperture have a lighter weight, are more cost-effective, and have easier mobility. 

Aperture can be a simple yet exciting way to understand and practice photography. Use different settings anywhere photos are taken to experiment with the finishes you like. See the differences in background, focus, and the right amount of light for the perfect photograph.

Bring Your Photos to Life with a Personalized Photo Book.

Once you’ve mastered using aperture with your camera, create a beautiful photo book with Motif. Why not celebrate your aperture photography skills with something that showcases them wonderfully? Whether it’s your latest vacation snaps, candid everyday shots, or cherished family photos, creating a personalized photo book is easy with Motif.

There are over 80 personalized layouts, with various themes and sizes to help you create the perfect photo book. Photo books are a great way to celebrate and share your favorite photographs with family and friends. Download the free Motif app and get started today!

The post What is Aperture in Photography? appeared first on The Motif Blog.

Knowing photography terms helps improve photography skills. One skill every photographer starts learning as soon as they pick up a camera is composition in photography. Setting up a photograph before pressing the shutter button makes photography striking.

What is Composition in Photography?

Composition in photography centers around the subject’s placement in the frame to make it more pleasing to the eye. It depends on personal style and subject matter, but is built on rules and techniques that anyone can master. Photography composition applies to every type of photography. Wedding photographers, landscape photographers, or anyone snapping pictures in their backyard with their iPhones benefit from understanding composition and utilizing the rules. 

Photography Composition Rules

Composition consists of photography elements such as lines, texture, shapes, and colors. How these elements interact, blend, contrast, or “feel” around each other compose a photograph. The goal of photography composition is to set up the principal elements in the image to draw the viewer’s eye to your subject. 

Eye movement is crucial to photography composition. Effective composition attracts and moves the viewer’s eyes around a photograph providing impact and meaning to the subject. Here are a few photograph composition rules to make your photos pop.

Rule of thirds

It can sometimes be challenging to decide the best place to put a subject in the frame. You may wonder if a mountain looks better in the middle of the photo or off to the side, leaving room for the blue sky. Try the rule of thirds. The rule of thirds works by dividing the shot into nine equal sections of vertical and horizontal lines. The resulting grid helps you figure out the best place to position any subject. With the imaginary frame in place, place the most critical element(s) in the shot on one of the lines or where the lines meet. 

Place a subject on either of the vertical thirds, and the location feels more natural in the frame. The horizontal thirds give a good idea of where to place horizontal points of interest, such as sunset horizon lines or mountain tops. There are endless combinations to use this rule of composition in photography.

Symmetry

Good composition photography sometimes emphasizes symmetry rather than thirds. It all depends on what the photographer wants the focus to be. There’s natural and human-built symmetry all around, and it can be a fun challenge for a photographer to look for it. A fancy staircase or grand entrance to a park or home is more impressive when emphasizing symmetry.

Other symmetrical photo compositions that pop involve reflections. Memorable landscape photos are captured by composing reflections in a body of water symmetrically. In portraits, reflections in mirrors and other surfaces also provide a symmetrical composition that creates memorable photos. 

Leading lines

Leading lines is a photography composition rule that draws viewers’ attention to the image’s main subject through both subtle and obvious visual paths for the viewer to follow. Leading lines can be literal lines, like footprints in the sand leading to a sunset, a winding creek, or a fence lining a field of fully-grown corn. They can be less obvious, like a long shadow or curved space that catches the eye. 

Framing

Frames have various uses in photography composition. Frames can isolate a subject, draw the eye directly to it, hide unwanted items behind it, or give an image depth.  Frames can be human-made (such as bridges, arches, and fences), natural (tree branches and tree trunks), or from people themselves (hands framing a face or hugging another person). For urban photographers, a bridge is a perfect example of a framing element. When shooting in nature, trees are used as natural frames for people to stand within.

Foreground depth

Using foreground depth in a photo puts a subject into context. Foreground depth works well in “busy” environments, like crowded city sidewalks or an amusement park. By taking a step back to include more of the foreground, the viewer will see and feel like they’re part of the environment. Contrast is also used in the foreground of an image. A dark foreground can frame the subject and lead the viewer into the scene. When the foreground is darker than the main point of interest or has rich colors, it can draw the viewer’s attention to the photo’s focal point.

Composition Techniques

There are no hard and fast rules for composition, but there are many techniques to try when learning your personal photography style. Here are some creative composition techniques to use in any photography scenario.

Contrast in photography

Areas of high color contrast draw the eye more than anything else. To attract viewers’ attention to a specific element of an image, find a way to add contrast to the component or the area surrounding it. Use contrasting colors with clothing or props to make a subject pop. Overexpose the background making it contrast with the foreground.  Or underexpose the foreground, creating a silhouette that contrasts with the background. Photo editing can also control contrast in an image to draw the eye. 

Selective focus

Selective focus is a composition technique where the photographer chooses a subject to stress while blurring out the rest of the scene. The subject is sharply focused in contrast to the rest of the image. The viewer’s eyes are drawn towards the isolated subject. Selective focus works best with portrait photography or close-up nature photography. Here, the photographer wants the viewer to see one, sharper image, rather than a busier subject with more than one focus. It’s the ultimate technique to make a subject stand out since it’s much more up close and personal to the viewing eye.

Negative space

Negative space is the space around the main subject in a photo. It creates a relationship between the focus point and the background. Negative space helps create a more dramatic image by attracting a viewer to it and then leading their eyes towards the smaller area of positive space. The contrast in size makes viewers more curious about the main subject. As a result, viewers take more time looking at it. In a way, the smaller the subject in the positive space is, the more noticeable it becomes.

Frame within the frame

In photography, a “frame within a frame” is like an open door within the photo. A viewer’s eyes automatically look through that opening. It’s a perfect place to put a subject that pops. There are frames all around, like windows, tree branches, alleyways, or buildings. This technique works with anything that creates a “box” for viewers to look through to find the subject. 

Rule of odds

The rule of odds is a simple and effective compositional rule to help guide shot choices.

Odd numbers work well in photography. Photographers can use a number of subjects in the foreground or objects in the background. An odd-numbered grouping tends to be more visually appealing than even numbers because odd numbers have a “middle.” With even numbers, the eye tends to fall on the empty space between them, even though the grouping is more balanced. In odd sets, the tendency to see the middle only emphasizes a pattern and even creates symmetry.

There are plenty of photography composition techniques to test. Take time to use one or two compositional rules or techniques at first. As you learn to utilize and gain experience in the various techniques, create a photo book of your best work. You’ll see how you’re evolving and where you can continue to grow.

The post 5 Photography Composition Techniques That Will Make Your Photos Pop appeared first on The Motif Blog.

For beginner photographers, there are many photography terms to learn. It takes time to master them all. Understanding terms such as aperture and shutter speed help you understand why photos look the way they do. Understanding lighting terms such as exposure and white balance open your eyes to subjects in exciting ways. Composition and shooting terms, such as focus, burst mode, and depth of field broaden your photography horizon. 

It can seem overwhelming at first. Ease into your photography journey by learning some photography basics and practicing them with your camera.

Photography Basics

Photography is all about light. To let the camera “see” what you want, you have tools controlling how much light reaches the camera sensor. These are the aperture and shutter speed controls. With too much or too little light, details are lost. When adjusting aperture and shutter speed to achieve the proper exposure, it’s important to account for potential side-effects.

There are many photography terms to learn, and it takes time to master everything. 

A great photograph encompasses several elements. When these elements work well together, they bring life and emotion to digital photography. Whether shooting insects, children, mountains, or a cityscape, these elements all play an essential role in creating a photograph worth admiring.

Photography elements of a great photograph include:

• Great use of light
• Great composition (how the subject is presented)
• Sense of timing
• A clear subject

In the end, your favorite photographs will be ones you’ve put the most thought and planning into, even if it takes time to get the “picture perfect” shot. It could be days or weeks before that sunset you’ve envisioned shooting occurs. To get that perfect picture, you’ll need to be ready at precisely the right moment, with the correct aperture and composition.

Types of Photography

A photography style is more than a photography technique or editing style. It’s a combination of every decision made as a photographer. One of the best ways to discover your style is to look for patterns in your likes and dislikes. This includes where you like to travel, taste in food, how you socialize and prefer to spend free time. Consider them all to help you define your style.

As you have more experiences, your unique style develops. Clothing, food, and travel all add to the characteristics of your personal photography style. You may even love weather so much that you take an interest in rain photography. 

Here are some photography styles to experiment with when taking photos:

• Portrait photography captures the character of a subject within a photograph. Using the correct camera settings, compositions, angles, lighting, backdrops, and poses, you can capture the subject’s expressions and emotions. It’s about creating a portrait that evokes feelings and captivates viewers’ attention.
• Landscape photography is the art of capturing images that embody the essence of nature and the outdoors. Incredible landscape photography transports the viewer and gives them a sense of “being there.” As a landscape photographer, the viewer needs to connect with the photographer’s emotions taking the photo.  
• Wedding photography is a mixture of many other photographic genres. It incorporates portraiture, family and group photography, documentary, event photography, and close-up images. Wedding photography requires various equipment and preparation, especially when switching from one photography style to another throughout an event. 
• Macro photography is a unique form of photography that involves photographing small objects to make them look larger, or even life-sized, in the photo. Macro photography subjects include flowers and small insects, which aren’t typically seen up close with the naked eye. This type of photography brings out details in jewelry and other inanimate objects. 
• Fashion photography focuses on clothing and other fashion items. It can show high-end fashion, commercial fashion, streetwear, or fashion-forward looks for more experimental photography subjects. 
• Taking pictures of food is a prevalent form of photography. With social media, the rise of food blogs, it’s easier than ever to show the world beautiful food that’s being cooked and eaten. 
• Commercial photography involves taking photographs of products or individuals used to sell products or services. This includes anything else that might appear on a business website, literature, or advertisement. It may consist of models or items. Commercial photography applies to advertising, catalog work, or website work.
• Street photography is the art of capturing life and culture candidly. It’s a personal way to photograph, even if the subjects are strangers in a big city. Street photography can occur anywhere. Take photos indoors, such as in coffee shops or unfamiliar places, like country roads or small towns. Street photography is about culture and life. 
• If drawn to faraway, exotic places, travel photography takes you to the ends of the earth. It includes many photography elements, such as landscape photography, portrait photography, even street photography. The goal of travel photography is to capture a new environment’s physical and cultural aspects – even underwater photography.

Photography Gear

The ability to shoot high-quality photographs is easier than ever. With each iOS update and new iPhone release, taking pictures with a phone’s digital camera is easier and more advanced. Some people love taking photos with a Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) camera. There are pros and cons to both camera options. 

With photography, the center of the universe is the camera bag and its contents. Cameras and lenses are the tools of the trade, but there are additional accessories to assist with your photography endeavors. Here’s an essential list of digital camera and phone camera accessories that benefit any photographer:

• Tripods and mounts: Phone mounts or phone/camera tripods prevent movement or vibration from blurring the shot. They keep the camera on a solid/steady surface instead of in your hands.
• Selfie Stick: This phone camera accessory positions the phone away from you while still giving precise control over the shutter. They’re typically used to take selfies. It is also usable with the higher-resolution rear camera on the phone. A steady hand can allow for excellent, hard-to-get shots.
• Remote shutter release: A remote trigger connects either wired or wirelessly to a digital camera. It allows you to release the shutter remotely without physically touching the camera. Pressing the shutter button on a remote does not move or shake the camera, keeping the lens and shutter steady.
• Snap-on Lenses: A snap-on or clip-on lens is a great way to expand an iPhone’s lens options.  These lenses provide an alternative to needing an additional camera and lenses for photos.  You can often buy a package of lenses together that include a telephoto lens, macro lens, and fisheye lens. These add-ons provide greater access to creative photography with a camera phone.
• Battery Banks: Camera phones drain a phone’s battery. More so when the flash is frequently used. Having portable batteries is extremely useful. Spare battery banks let you charge your phone between shots, so you’ll always have a photo-ready camera.
• External flash and flash remote: Different lighting modes and light colors exist with external iPhone camera flash options. Flash triggers are great for the power of a flash with full control over the light source’s angle.  An external flash trigger syncs with an iPhone via Bluetooth. It is enabled by the iPhone’s Camera app when pressing the shutter release button.
• Flashes can be battery-powered or rechargeable. They can be handheld, wireless, or can attach to an iPhone with a clip or mount.

Camera Settings

Digital camera modes, also known as camera settings, allow photographers to control the camera’s exposure, shutter speed, aperture, and ISO. Exposure settings are crucial when learning photography. The type of exposure settings used will set the tone for the final photograph. Each of these affects exposure differently: 

• ISO is adjusted to change the camera’s light sensitivity. It determines how much light is required to expose an image properly. Increasing the ISO makes the digital sensor more sensitive to light and causes it to expose faster. Decreasing the ISO makes the sensor less sensitive and causes it to expose slower.
• Shutter speed is the speed at which the lens shutter opens and closes. The period during which the shutter is open is the time during which the image is exposed. A faster shutter speed receives less exposure, while a slower shutter speed receives more.
• Aperture is the actual hole through which light enters the lens. It is expressed in f-numbers (called “f-stop”) like f/1.4, f/2, f/2.8, etc. They represent the lens opening’s size. By adjusting the aperture’s size, more or less light enters the lens and can reach the film or sensor. A more open aperture allows in more light, while a nearly-closed aperture lets in very little light.

While specific camera modes fully automate camera exposure, other modes let the photographer manually control some or all of the exposure. These are pre-programmed settings that allow you to choose the optimum shutter speed and aperture (f-stop) value for the photograph.

• Automatic mode is when the camera chooses the optimum shutter speed, aperture, ISO, and flash settings. All you need to do is point and shoot. This can be good if you have no idea of what settings to choose or need to shoot quickly. 
• Portrait mode finds a subject in the foreground of the frame. It chooses a shallow depth of field to keep the subject in focus. The background is blurred and out of focus. If the camera reads the scene as dark, it will add a fill-in flash. Portrait mode generally works best in well-lit conditions.
• Macro mode is useful for taking photographs of subjects smaller than your hand. Macro mode will not give you super close-up images. You will need a macro lens for this. Macro mode works best in bright conditions and will choose a shallow depth of field to focus on the subject.
• Landscape mode uses a small aperture (high f-stop number) to create a well-focused image from the foreground into the distance. Landscape mode needs a wide lens and works well if the scene is well lit. 

On most DSLR camera settings, there will also be the standard letter modes – M (Manual), AV (Aperture-Priority), TV or S (Shutter-Priority), and P (Programmed Auto).

• Manual mode requires the photographer to set every setting.
• Aperture-Priority allows the photographer to set the aperture value. The camera automatically sets the correct shutter speed.
• TV lets the photographer choose the shutter speed first (for example, when shooting sports), and the camera automatically sets the correct aperture.
• Programmed Auto mode is similar to the Auto mode in that the camera determines the shutter and aperture settings, but the photographer can adjust other settings manually.

iPhone cameras have settings similar to a DSLR camera. The camera features available on an iPhone depend on the individual model. Even older models have multiple camera settings to try. Access the settings when opening the Camera app on the iPhone. On newer iPhone models, camera settings are found by toggling the row of options below the camera screen:

• The ultra-wide camera lets users capture a greater field of view and is equivalent to a focal length of 13mm. This lens is useful for shooting landscapes and urban streetscapes, architecture, and building interiors. 
• Night mode is excellent for shooting in low-light settings where most cameras would produce blurry or dark photos. It will automatically take a series of pictures at different exposures for a set amount of time and then pull elements from all frames to create one image.
• iPhone Camera Live is a feature that allows photographers to take a short three-second video that captures movement, sound, and still frames. Live Photos are great for capturing photos with movement or group photos.   It allows you to ensure that everyone is looking at the camera.
• iPhone Portrait mode is used to take portraits, selfies, and photos of objects that stand out from the background. It gently blurs the background and keeps the subject matter clear.
• Optical zoom allows you to zoom in on an object without a loss of quality. It’s a better way to zoom than using digital zoom (when you spread your pinched fingers outward to zoom in).
• The iPhone camera timer is useful for capturing selfies or group photos where the photographer is included. The timer helps to reduce shake when taking photos in low-light settings.
• Burst photos capture and save multiple images of fast-moving subjects. It allows the photographer to choose the best one later. In Burst mode, your camera captures images at ten frames per second. 

Photography Composition

Photography composition highlights the arrangement of elements in a photo. It also showcases the subject within a frame. It ensures a photograph is interesting to the viewer. A good picture takes different parts and combines them into a visually pleasing whole. 

Photography composition techniques create a story told within a single frame. There are several composition techniques to learn and practice when looking for the perfect shot:

• Golden Triangle/Golden Rule: The golden triangle, also known as the golden rule, is a composition technique that photographers use to break up a scene. It emphasizes certain areas within the picture. It involves drawing a diagonal line from one corner to the other of the image, and then from that line, two more lines come from the remaining corners to connect them. The shorter lines touch the larger middle line where the most interesting parts of the composition should be. 
• The Rule of Thirds is a photography composition technique that can help you take better images. Using a grid of two horizontal and two vertical lines, place your subject slightly off-center to create a better-composed photograph. The gridlines are also useful for making sure images are straight. According to the rule of thirds, the points at which the lines intersect are the ideal places for points of interest.
• White balance is a color composition technique that adjusts a digital photograph to make colors appear more realistic. Whenever a photographic composition or course of light is changed, the white balance must also be adjusted. It’s a way to set a picture to neutral or make sure the white looks white. This is counteracted through post-production software, such as Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, or similar photo editing programs that provide more control over compositional color.
• The focal length is the distance between the center of the lens and the camera sensor. It determines the angle of view and magnification of the subject. The focal length is measured in millimeters and is used to categorize different types of lenses.
  • Wide-angle lens: smaller than 35 mm
  • Standard lens: 35 – 70 mm
  • Medium telephoto lens: 70 – 135 mm
  • Telephoto lens: greater than 135 mm

Color Theory in Photography

The perception of different colors is an intensely personal experience. Color theory is essential. How color interacts with the light as the shutter clicks have an impact on the photo. 

Color is described in terms of three properties: hue, value, and saturation. Hue describes a color (e.g., red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet) in its natural state. It’s often categorized into warm (red, orange, yellow) and cool (green, blue, violet). Value describes the relative lightness or darkness of a color. 

Every color system consists of primary, secondary, and tertiary colors (hues). A primary color can’t be made by mixing together other hues in its respective system. A secondary color is the result of mixing two primary hues equally. A tertiary color is the result of mixing a primary color with an adjacent secondary hue. Using a color wheel helps keep track of these relationships for additive and subtractive systems.

“True color” is the specification of a pixel’s color on a screen using a 24-bit value, which allows the possibility of up to 16,777,216 possible colors. The human eye can only perceive about 10 million colors. Images rendered in True Color appear to be incredibly realistic. For true colors that can’t be seen as vividly, there are a few things to try and bring those colors to life. This includes mastering lighting, focusing on a single color, or using photo editing software to manipulate colors to your taste.

Color contrast in photography with color schemes is another way to use the color wheel. An analogous color scheme is pleasing to the eye because it utilizes three colors side by side on the color wheel. They’re the dominant color (usually a primary or secondary color), a supporting color (a secondary or tertiary color), and a third color that is either a mix of the two first colors or an accent color that pops. 

Photography Lighting

Lighting is one of the most critical elements of any photo. Light in photography refers to how the light source, either natural or artificial, is positioned in relationship to the subject. By paying attention to how light plays off the angles and curves of your subject and which parts of the subject are illuminated and in darkness, you can become a stronger photographer. Whether doing portrait photography, still life, or landscape shots, lighting choices depend on the subject’s features and how it is to be portrayed in photos. 

Light sources occur in three different ways: – natural light, studio or artificial light, or a combination of natural and artificial. Lighting techniques will always be different depending on photography goals. For example, bright photography uses more natural light to gain the right kind of brightness in subjects. In contrast, hard light is more severe and emphasizes angles and surfaces that aren’t perfectly flat—for example, waves at a beach or a model with wrinkles. Soft light smoothes over these features.

The right photography lighting equipment is key to getting great shots. A lighting kit contains tools that help create shadow, illuminate, and highlight photography subjects in flattering and interesting ways. Different lighting options give you different results. A good lighting kit usually has two types of lighting equipment: a source of lighting and a lighting modifier. A lighting modifier is a dampener like an umbrella or a softbox. Flash and strobe lighting will give fully lit results, while softboxes and umbrellas soften lighting while still illuminating key features. 

Photo Editing?

The most important part of capturing photos is the work that happens after photographs are taken. Post-processing and editing can both create effects not captured during the shoot and enhance the captured beautiful features. 

In photography, a photo editor refers to one of two things. The first is a tool that edits images. It can also refer to a person who edits images. A photo editor’s duties depend on the company and industry. Photo editors can work at a major brand to prep product photos to list on their site and manipulate lifestyle shots for use throughout the website. Portrait photo editors often work with light-softening and skin correction editing tools. 

There are many different types of photo editing techniques and plenty of photo editing tips to help a photographer at any level. Some photo-editing techniques can be done from a digital camera, while others require photo editing software.  The way photos are shot and edited can also come from photography trends of the time. As technology advances and the way people live changes, so does the way pictures are captured. 

Some photo-editing techniques include:

• Noise reduction: Smoothing the picture out, typically by reducing pixel size.
• White balance: Adjusting the color of the light in the image.
• Contrast: Contrast is the difference between light and dark or colors. Higher contrast makes an image more punchy, while lower contrast flattens color.
• Exposure: Adjusting the brightness of the photo.
• Lens correction: Addressing issues with the camera lens.
• Color adjustments: Changing the color of an item or element in the photo.
• Resizing and cropping: Adjusting the dimensions of the image.
• Background removal: Deleting the background from the image, isolating the subject (this is often used for white background product photography).

More complex, advanced photo editing techniques include:

• Portrait corrections: fix the complexion of people in images.
• Drop and reflection shadow: create or adjust shadows.
• Special effects: this can be anything from animation to adding weather conditions like fog or snow.
• Adjusting text and visuals: add overlays or manipulate what’s already in the photograph.
• Photo stitching: Seamlessly blending two images to make it look like they were shot together.
• Photo masking and Layers: the process of hiding and revealing specified portions of an image.

Photo-editing software is a tool used to manipulate and enhance images. Photo-editing software varies in costs, features, and pros/cons. Popular photo-editing software and programs include Adobe Photoshop, Pixlr, and Canva. Popular photo-editing mobile apps include Snapseed, VSCO, or Afterlight. Some of these apps and programs are free for limited use, while others cost money to access the software.

As you find what you love to photograph and become more comfortable with photography basics, camera modes, and editing tools, organize your work to see how your skills progress over time. This includes creating photo books with Motif to highlight your favorite photo memories, to cherish for years to come.

The post Learning Photography Basics appeared first on The Motif Blog.

A situation has arisen. One that you’ve checked once, twice, possibly even three times. In several months, a baby will be making “its” debut. A joyous moment, of course. A moment that requires careful planning, attentive health oversight, and announcements to friends and family alike. In recent years, pregnancy reveals have become not the exception, but the norm. Pregnancy reveal ideas can be silly, serious, or anywhere in between. Unique pregnancy announcements should really reflect the character of the parents-to-be. 

If you’re expecting, here are a few ideas to help your special announcement really deliver. 

First Things First: When’s The Best Time to Announce?

There are basically two camps in announcement timing. One suggests right away. The other camp says anywhere from 12 to 20 weeks into the pregnancy. The latter, for the most part, takes into consideration medical concerns. Miscarriage risk is higher in the first trimester so you might wait until that milestone is reached. Waiting to announce also gives the couple time to receive an ultrasound. The, “It’s a _____!,” is easier to announce once the ultrasound is available. 

Some couples announce early, even with the possibilities of medical complications. Should anything happen, they can rely on the immediate support of friends and family. And sometimes, couples are simply too excited to wait any length of time. The result is a person with a positive home pregnancy test in one hand and a cell phone in the other. 

Pregnancy Reveal Ideas to Husband 

This reveal idea is traditionally the first to go out for obvious reasons. He might be the 2nd or 3rd to know if very close friends and family are going to be in on the reveal. Yet, with news this big, it’s probably best he’s the first to know. 

One of the simplest pregnancy reveal ideas to husband requires a little laundry. Print some “Mommy” and “Daddy” t-shirts. Leave a stack of t-shirts on his side of the bed with the “Daddy” version on top. Wear your version as you walk in while he tries to put that part of the puzzle together. And if the two of you are puzzle fans, incorporating that message into a custom made puzzle can be one of many creative pregnancy reveal ideas. 

Is daddy a fishing fan? Create a custom fishing lure with the words, “New Fishing Buddy Coming Soon” etched into it. Or give a kid-sized tool or sports equipment with a, “Little Helper or Teammate Coming Soon,” tag attached to it.  Does he have a favorite pair of shoes? Slip an infant pair into his go-to shoes for a cute pregnancy reveal idea. 

Pregnancy Reveal Ideas to Parents 

If there’s anyone, besides yourself, who is more excited to learn about a pregnancy, it’s the people who brought you into this world. They’ve spent the last few years or so going through a sort of withdrawal as you’ve moved out, and created a life of your own. Most may admit they miss the pitter-patter of little feet in the house. And soon, they’ll get to experience that sound again without all the 4am diaper changings. These pregnancy reveal ideas to parents make great announcements for the grandparents-to-be. 

When the baby arrives, parents automatically become grandparents. It’s a promotion they’ve been waiting for. So pick up your device to create some online pregnancy reveal ideas with that message. Custom Grandma and Grandpa coffee cups are easy to make. T-shirts with a, “You’re being promoted to Grandma/Grandpa,” are easy as well. A simple onesie with “No Means Ask Grandma” printed on it will surely be a welcome surprise. If you have something thoughtful to say in a card but can’t find the card in stores, easily create one with a photo project app. 

Pregnancy Reveal Ideas to Child 

If the child is not your first, there are people in your household who will need to know they’re going to be a brother or sister. If it’s your second child, the first will soon be promoted from only child to oldest. A, “Big Brother In Training,” t-shirt or a, “Promoted To Big Sister,” t-shirt are great ways to announce a pregnancy. Use a medium they can relate to by creating a Big Brother/Sister balloon chalk drawing on the driveway or sidewalk. 

Are you handy with your oven? Make your child some cookies or a cake and write the message using some frosting and icing. It’s the most delicious pregnancy reveal ideas to child of all. Even if they’re not excited about the idea of having to share things, the message will be softened by some sweets. If you’re not the baking type, any local bakery can print just about anything on a cake these days.  

Pregnancy Reveal Ideas to Family 

Telling your family your first or another child is on the way can be a fun exercise. If you have two children – one boy and one girl – the tie-breaker is on the way. Posing your kids for a photo with respective signs and a “tie-breaker” sign in between can be a great card to mail to family and friends. 

Additions to the family are moments to celebrate. An opportunity to raise a glass. It’s fairly simple to have a pregnancy announcement printed on an actual bottle of wine these days. Imagine a family member picking up a wine bottle with that news on the label?  Pregnancy reveal ideas to family you can drink are always a big hit.

One of the more creative pregnancy reveal ideas is also one of the simplest. All it takes is a few safety pins and something to indicate boy or girl on them. Arrange them so the two larger pins are next to each other representing mom and dad. Put the smaller pins beside them to represent the kid or kids. Then, put a smaller pin inside the pin representing mom. Put that photo on an announcement card to share with friends and family. 

Pregnancy Reveal Ideas For Grandparents 

It’s quite a moment when four generations can sit in the same house. Being promoted from grandparent to great grandparent is an event too important to pass up. Put a fun message like, “Only the best grandparents become great grandparents,” on a coffee mug, a little onesie, or a custom photo card. Just the saying, “great grandparents,” can be a play on words if this is their first great grandchild. Either way it’s a special moment to commemorate for the family. Pregnancy reveal ideas for grandparents help them celebrate this moment.   

Pregnancy Reveal Ideas To Friends

Once your family is informed about the little bundle of joy that’s on it’s way, friends must be invited into the know. They’ll also be the ones helping out with meals and errands. Some fun ways to announce pregnancy to friends can be achieved by picking up your camera. If one or both of you are into a specific sport like golf, cycling, or hiking, find the miniature or kids size equipment. Pose with a little plastic putter, a tricycle, or infant hiking boots. Print that photo on a custom card with a simple due date. Or, email, text or share the image on social media. 

As mentioned earlier in this story, a gift of wine with a custom label announcing the arrival is always a great way to inform friends. If you’re lucky and they have patience, they’ll bring it back to share and toast the new arrival. These pregnancy reveal ideas to friends may pay off when it comes time for a babysitter.   

Surprise Pregnancy Announcement Ideas

There are coffee cups with “Hello Daddy” written on the bottom. The difficult part of this pregnancy reveal idea is keeping your composure until he reaches the bottom of his coffee. Remain calm. Have your camera handy for one of the simplest surprise pregnancy announcement ideas. To be on the safer side, be sure expensive electronics are not in front of the dad-to-be learning this pregnancy information.  

Sometimes a pregnancy happens when you’re not really expecting one. A, “Best Mistake Ever” sign paired with an ultrasound is a cute way of delivering the message. If he happens to help out with any of the grocery shopping, add diapers to the list. Be sure to capture the expression as he peruses the list and stops at the diapers item.  

Pregnancy Test Reveal Ideas

Since most couples find out they’re pregnant by way of a home pregnancy test, the shopping list approach could also be employed. Adding one to the list is an easy way to pull the reveal off. Pregnancy test reveal ideas are fairly basic but certainly effective. That “+” symbol can be so powerful and produce so much emotion. Leaving a positive home pregnancy test for your partner to see is sometimes all they need to see.  

Pregnancy Reveal Ideas Are Just The Beginning

Once the cat is out of the bag and congratulations have subsided, your 9 month journey is already underway. You have an opportunity to document this important moment in your life. It’s time to take pictures along the way and once the baby arrives, create a pregnancy memory book. Years from now you’ll be glad you did. This family keepsake houses every important moment in your pregnancy all in one place. Pick it up and enjoy it with your newly expanded family. Pick it up years from now when they’re about to move away for college. Show it to your grandchildren someday. The key is documenting your pregnancy. 

Creating a photo book is easy. From your iPad and iPhone, simply download and open the Motif Photos app and choose the photo project you want to create. On your Mac, simply download and install Motif. In the Photos app, select a photo, album, or memory then choose File then select Create then choose either Book, then select Motif. Motif helps place your best photos into a layout of your choosing. Add your own pregnancy story information, then sit back and relax. Motif prints and ships your project to your door.  

The post 7 Pregnancy Reveal Ideas to Share Your Excitement With the World! appeared first on The Motif Blog.