Still Life Photography Tips Every Beginner Needs To Know



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Still life photography is a great exercise for new photographers to practice because it teaches us how to create a photograph rather than capturing a moment. Still life provides photographers with full creative control from concept to completion, which means it gets us thinking about all sorts of things such as the subject material, composition, and how to light everything to best establish the mood we are trying to capture.

Fuji X100S

What To Photograph

It’s easy to get hung up on the idea that still life is nothing but fruit on a table or a vase filled with flowers. While those things do make great still life subjects, try not to limit yourself to shooting only those things.  Think about all of the things you have around the house that don’t move–they are still objects. It can be anything from your collection of seashells to a set of art pens. Your favorite coffee mug or the items that call your desk home. The best way to choose a subject is to find something that inspires you. Is there something in particular that strikes your interest or captivates you?
Chardin

Setting The Scene

Once you have an object in mind that naturally gets your creativity flowing, it’s time to start thinking about an interesting way to photograph it. For example, what else do you want to include in the photo–do you have other still objects that might complement it if photographed together? Another important factor to take into consideration is the mood that best represents it. Are you photographing something that is colorful and lends itself to a bright and cheery setting, or is your subject matter best photographed in a more subdued, moody setting?
Still Life wine
The next step is to arrange your subject matter and any other objects that are to be included in the scene. In some cases, you may want to photograph the setup just as you found it, which certainly makes things easier. But, it never hurts to experiment with a few different arrangements–not only will you have the opportunity to potentially make a better photo, but you’ll also be building your composition skills. So don’t be afraid to move things around a bit! Organize and place everything in a way that has looks pleasing to the eye and provides a balanced composition that draws the eye in.

Don’t Forget The Background

A major part of any still portrait is something that’s too commonly overlooked–the background. You want to select a background that makes sense in relation to the subject matter and doesn’t distract they eye from the subject. You can use an existing wall or window, or you can try out different backgrounds by testing out pieces of fabric, posterboard, or other natural materials such as planks of wood. Again, now is the perfect time to experiment.

If you can’t find the perfect background, consider composing your shot so there is very little background actually showing in the final shot. Or, keep it simple and solid like Frank Lindecke has done in this photo of a tomato, below.
Tomato and Knife

The Importance Of Lighting

You’ll also want to take the lighting into consideration. There a many different ways to light a still life photograph, so again, don’t limit yourself! One of the most common ways to light a still life portrait is by using window light. Window light is easily accessible and generally has great quality. But, that’s not to say you shouldn’t consider bringing in lighting such as a strobe, or try setting up your still life scene inside a light tent. Candles are a great way to create moody and subtle lighting. Using lighting modifiers, such as a reflector, are a great way to fine tune the lighting. When you’re deciding on your lighting, try to stick with something that matches the subject matter and overall feel of the photo.

Extra Practice

Paul Cézanne French, 1839-1906 The Basket of Apples, c. 1893
If you’re struggling with creating a unique still life, you can get some more practice in by choosing one of your favorite still life paintings and seeing if you can recreate it as a photograph. When you’re taking this route, add your own personal touch to the still life to help you get the hang of things. Then, as you get more comfortable with the style, you can take everything we’ve covered here and start making your own masterpieces!