How I take my blog photos: from the devices and apps I use to tips I can share
◘ Lists last updated on June 2020.
I often get teased with sarcastic comments when I post “awra” or nicely-arranged product photos online, but I don’t usually mind them. Instead, I focus more on blog photo-related questions and comments I may learn something from.
When you ask me how did I take these photos, I’d probably say “you just point and shoot and don’t overthink it.” While it may be true that planned shoots are perfect, I still prefer candid photos when it comes to personal blogging. All my photos are not planned. I don’t usually crawl around just to get the best shot. For my portraits, I just usually ask a guide or someone I was with and just take the whatever shot. I even have a weird, awkward posing habit. My raw shots are not so good, I just spend time editing the photos.
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Cameras I use for my blog photos
Nikon D5300 (kit lens)
Many photography enthusiasts may disagree with me on this, but I prefer using kit lens than other types of lenses (or I haven’t found my soul mate among all lenses? Hmm.) because of its versatility.
One thing I learned in years of personal blogging is readers will get more interested to actually read your content if they see beautiful photos or forthright images that they can connect to. For example, wide shots of a nice beach for a travel experience post, or close-up photos of food that makes people crave for it. It’s also fun looking at party photos that has blurs which show movements and actions.
With my kit lens (18mm-55mm) I can capture nice landscapes, colorful scenes, detailed actions, and macro images (though I need to move in closer to my subject). One cheap lens (actually free because I got this as a package), thousands of nice shots for the blog. Learn more about its full feature here. >>
What I like most:
- Can produce quality photos
- Manual setting gives you control to your preferred output
- Long battery life. (I don’t have spare battery, but one can last for two to three days!)
- Wifi connection enables me to download and edit and share photos easier
Cons:
- SLRs are too heavy for non-pros like me especially when backpacking
- Difficulty on setting ISO, shutter speed, etc. for beginners like me. (So yeah, I rely heavily on post-process edits.)
- Not water resistant
Xiaomi Yi 1
As mentioned in the previous item, audience of travel blogs love wide angle shots of these wonderful places. One easy trick to score this shot is to have a good action cam.
Action cams usually have wide angle lenses which are the best feature if you need to level up your photography for your blogs. It’s much smaller than your usual camera, but can give you much better travel shots.
Xiaomi Yi is a cheaper alternative to Go Pro. Many tech reviews say Yi is the Go Pro killer as it sells waaaaaaaay cheaper than the oldest Go Pro, yet produces almost the same quality photos.
I bought mine for 7,000php as I got it within the week of it’s debut, but I think it’s already half the price now or even cheaper. If you can afford the Yi 4k, I suggest you get that instead. Learn more about its full feature here. >>
What I like most:
- Fits in my pocket
- Can produce quality photos
- Minimal edits bec shots are vibrant and normally bright
- Wifi connection enables me to download and edit and share photos easier
- Waterproof case is available
Cons:
- You’ll need spare batts or at least a powerbank. Mine lasts for only half a day
- No screen and shots are only viewable via app
Huawei P10
I got this as a free device from Globe postpaid, honestly because anything Apple was not available. Yep, Apple fan here. Not a bad decision to renew, though. Huawei, so far, is one of the cheapest mobile phones that could bring you great, vibrant photos on the spot, best for learning photography for blogging! Learn more about its full feature here. >>
What I like most:
- Fits in my pocket
- Can produce quality photos
- Minimal edits bec shots are vibrant and normally bright and vibrant
- Wifi connection enables me to download and edit and share photos easier
- Waterproof case is available
Cons:
- Bare device is not water resistant
- Indoor photos could be over contrasted
iPhone 6s
My 6s’ screen has been broken for almost 6 years already but it’s still working very well. Unlike other Android phones (based on experience, because broken LCDs is normal to me lol), iPhones are fragile, but even with cracks, they still do their job perfectly.
Most of my travel and tours experiences for 5 years has been witnessed by this phone. And almost all my travel blog photos are shot using this device. Learn more about its full feature here. >>
What I like most:
- Fits in my pocket
- Can produce quality photos
- Minimal edits bec shots are vibrant and normally bright and vibrant
- Wifi connection enables me to download and edit and share photos easier
- Can edit right after each shot
- Colors are more natural compared to Huawei’s
Cons:
- Bare device is not water resistant
iPhone Pro Max
The newest member of the fam! It’s my newest favorite camera, that I didn’t even bother to bring the other ones on my recent travels since I got it.
Since November 2019, I think 90% of my blog photos are taken with iPhone Pro Max. Though it’s kind of heavy and big because of its shock proof case, it’s still the most productive phone I ever had. Learn more about its full feature here. >>
What I like most:
- Fits in my pocket
- Can produce quality photos
- Minimal edits bec shots are vibrant and normally bright and vibrant
- Wifi connection enables me to download and edit and share photos easier
- Can edit right after each shot
- Colors are more natural compared to Huawei’s
- Water resistant (!!!)
Cons:
- It’s 3x heavier than 6s because of the anti-shock case, but better heavy than broken, right
Mobile apps I use for photo editing
I rarely edit my photos because: 1) I like the photos as they are; and 2) I’m too lazy to click and tap and adjust. What’s important for me (which I just realized recently) is to sign my shots using watermarks. In this section, you’ll notice I don’t use Photoshop or other photo editing programs for desktops. I, 100%, edit my shots using my phone/s with free and/or paid apps. Listed below are the apps I usually use.
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom
My super-used app for social media and blog photos. My favorite feature is it allows you to upload, share, and create presents that fits your blog theme. I also like that I can put simple watermarks on my shots as well. Lightroom, basically, is the upgraded (not related though) version of Snapseed. More technical functions are equiped to the app even for the free version. Download the app here: IOS | Android
Adobe Photoshop Express
If I got the time and courage to do so, I only modify four essential factors: Brightness, Contrast, Saturation, and Structure. With these essentials, I am able to make my blog photos more lively and pretty. From Snapseed, I now use PS Express as it offers a lot more features especially with the premium version. Download the app here: IOS | Android
Phonto
Inserting texts is also one way to make your photos look better, especially for blogs. It also makes your blog photos unique especially those pictures of super “famous” places. Plus, you can download your desired fonts from external sites and upload them to the app in case you find the pre-loaded ones boring. Download the app here: IOS | Android
VSCO
I also like retro or film effects for certain blog photos like what I got for our previous Las Casas shoot. VSCO does the job very well. With its free presets and little grain adjustments, you can actually achieve more dramatic shots. I also use VSCO as my online gallery where I curate favorite shots from my travels. Download the app here: IOS | Android
Stock Photos for your blog
If you don’t have the time to take shots, there are sites where you can download free stock photos for your blog. Their photography are so great, you’ll get inspired to do something for your blog.
What is a stock photo?
What is a stock photo, anyway? Stock photos are made available for license by paying a fee to both the artists and the agency managing them. Also, there are free images that are up for grabs across the internet. They are a great resource to get high quality and cheap to free photos that you can use in your blog, just make sure to read the terms and conditions on using them.
Free stock photo resources
Gratisography | Jay Mantri | Magdeleine | Negative Space | Pexels | Pixabay | Unsplash
While you can get beautiful stock photos online for free, it’s still best to post pictures you took yourself specially when you are writing for reviews and experience. As mentioned earlier, stock photos are not just something you can use when you’re out of photos to post. But it’s also a great source of inspiration and ideas if you need to improve your photography skills for your blog.
Simple tips on taking blog photos
Nowadays, almost everyone is already familiar with the basics of photography – point and shoot. You pull out your phone from your pocket, open the camera app, tap the screen, and voila, you now have a nice photo for the blog! But if we want to document a memory and share them, we want them to look better and inspiring.
Below are some tips and tricks I learned from the internet (yep, references cited!). I know these all sound very technical and boring, but when you learn to put them in mind (and heart), your hands will naturally do what they should do.
Use natural light
I know it’s a bit tricky. It took me years to understand how natural light works and how to play with it. My travel blog photos are all achieved with natural light. And what I love most about them is that they look almost exactly as they seem in person.
Natural light photography uses the sun as it’s main light source. The challenge is, the available light from the sun varies with the time of the day. Some photographers take advantage of this to better show stories that words can never explain. Below are some tips from Masterclass1 for playing with natural light.
◘◘ Sunlight changes color over the course of the day. Use this as natural “filters” according to your theme. For example, the soft light of dawn and dusk is dominated by oranges and yellows, so it’s best for warm, peaceful scene.
◘◘ Use a reflector. You’ve probably seen someone holding a large, floppy, silver-coated screen. This is a reflector. It bounces sunlight toward the camera’s subject and makes sure they’re always more lit from the front than from the back. This allows photographers to produce detailed, high contrast photos of their subjects.
◘◘ Embrace side lighting. One way to harness sunlight is to limit its direction. By placing your subject indoors, beside a window with an open shade, you can control the flow of light and prevent undesirable backlighting or washouts.
◘◘ Use a mixture of natural and artificial lighting. A camera flash can enhance an outdoor photo if it’s coming from an effective distance. Films may use a few stationary lighting instruments to augment the sunlight—again with the goal of having more light in front of the subject than behind it. At the end of the day, having great photographs is more important than having the purest technique.
Taking advantage of focus points
You don’t have any problem on adjusting focus when using an SLR or a mirrorless cam. It’s also easy to do the same with newly-released phone cameras.
Focus points give the photographer options in composition. All you need to do is place any of the AF points over your subject, make sure that the AF point is active, then press the shutter release halfway down to activate the autofocus.2
Each camera model has a different way of moving the selected AF point, but the basics are the same. There will be a control on the back of the camera that will allow you to change which AF point is active. To be a better photographer, you must be able to select the focus point you want, so you need to practice controlling which AF point is active.2
Rule of Thirds
The rule of thirds is probably the most famous “rule” in photography, yet, one of the things that takes time to learn and practice. #ForTheBlogPhotos
The basic principle behind the rule of thirds is to imagine breaking an image down into thirds (both horizontally and vertically) so that you have 9 parts. In most cameras now, there already are these guide lines in their viewfinder and/or LCD display.3
The theory is that if you place points of interest in the intersections or along the lines that your photo becomes more balanced and will enable a viewer of the image to interact with it more naturally. Studies have shown that when viewing images that people’s eyes usually go to one of the intersection points most naturally rather than the center of the shot – using the rule of thirds works with this natural way of viewing an image rather than working against it.3 This is very helpful for blogs as our main goal is to connect with our audience.
Permissions, permissions
I love portraits, but I don’t get to practice portrait photography so much. Maybe because I am a shy person, and I don’t want to be rude just taking photos of random people without asking for permission.
Everyone agrees photos with people in it speaks louder stories which is very good for blog photos. Some may think it’s common sense that when you’re at a tourist spot or in a crowded place, some camera would definitely catch you. Plus, we have to be sensitive that there are some that feels uneasy when they’re captured in photos.
Here’s an easy tip that could save you from unexpected troubles: do ask if it’s okay you’re taking someone’s photo. If you’re at a distance and your subject appears unfazed, snap and carry on. But if you’re pointing a lens straight at someone’s face, be polite about it and ask permission. If language is a barrier, even smiling and gesturing to the camera goes a long way. 4
Taking fun and candid shots
Unscripted poses and unplanned shots are still the best when capturing a memory – I’d always recommend this for blogs where you want to share your personal experiences just like mine. DO NOT worry to much on how “great” your shot is. I still believe practice makes perfect, so stop overthinking. Here’s some tips to nail those candid shots specially for when you are capturing fun parts of your experience:
◘◘ Using your kit/primary lenses.
Most photographers and bloggers would def disagree with me on this, so be reminded this is just a tip from meself, a low-key personal blogger. Why I love kit lenses? They’re inexpensive. It usually comes with your camera’s body when purchased or it just sells very cheap separately. They’re basic yet versatile. They can give you good landscape shots as well as close-up shots. I usually stand an inch away from the food I am taking pictures of, but still, it gives me the final photo I love. Kit lenses allows you to explore photography while not spending a lot. Anyway, I hate to break it to you, but most “good to great” images were produced during post-processing, not during photo-taking.
◘◘ Playing with action and burst modes.
When I am on a roadtrip, the action mode or burst mode is my most-used. I like taking pictures of the road, a farm, the mountains, the trees. Work with what you have. Don’t overthink it. One friend also use the same technique for self-portraits – she asks (and trusts) some stranger to hold her phone and take a a burst shot while she’s playing her “mood” pose. This way, she has a lot of options in just one trial and it’s impossible there’s no frame she’ll love.
◘◘ Shoot with confidence.
You need to bend a little for a nicer shot? You need to go up the stairs to capture a wider scene? Go on, don’t be shy. If you want to capture those great moments, you must be bold and willing to put yourself wherever you need to be to get those shots at the right time.
I used to be super shy when it comes to shooting and asking feedback from colleagues and even friends. But it won’t help. What made me grow (and still making me grow) are friends’ and viewers’ comments on how I take my photos. You have something to comment about my shots? Leave a message in the comment box below or chat with me on Facebook!
Embrace your natural playground
This actually is a part of the “fun shots” I was talking about in the previous item. You probably haven’t realized it yet, but the world is a huge studio for aspiring photographers like us. Okay, sometimes you’ll need an actual studio for commercial shots, but for blogging and travel and food experience you can play with your surroundings and get a great shot. Below are some of what I do when I’m outside, exploring the world:
◘◘ Making use of natural frames. There are sooo many natural frames you can play with outside or even inside your home. Put your subject behind a window, or ask your person subject to stand in the middle of an arc, then take the shot. Draw attention to your subject by using this technique.
◘◘ Play with reflections. This is often done by travel bloggers documenting a portrait along the edge of a pool of water or along beautiful mirrors. Some also play with light reflections and it’s even more than beautiful. Being honest, this is not an easy trick. But I am practicing. Another trick? Always carry one small bottle of water – you can make use of this by creating small pool of water on the ground (make sure it’s okay to just splash water there!) and use it as a mirror of the landscape you’re taking pictures of.
Get inspired
You love photography but you are lacking motivation? Yeah, I feel you. Sometimes, I just want to take 1 or 2 shots just to get things done. But you know what it cost me? Troubles during post-process. I super rarely edit my photos but sometimes, I need to especially for brightness, contrast, and hue. Back to the root cause – not feeling inspired. My tips on where and how to get inspirations?
- Take a walk and/or explore new places.
- Browse works of other bloggers.
- Try new style and technique.
- Remind yourself why you’re doing this. What is your goal?
Most of my inspirations come from Pinterest. I’m still in the middle of my own journey from good to great, but I’m sure to share all my learnings as I go along!
Wrap-up
Don’t get me wrong, I am a big fan of upgraded gadgets. It’s just that spending a lot for those is not in my list of priorities right now. But that doesn’t mean I cannot do photography for the blog, eh?
I shared this to let you know blogging isn’t impossible to do even if you don’t have the latest gadgets to work with. I hope this article inspired you to pursue writing without getting intimidated by others who are already able to upgrade their stuff. Because at the end, we all just have one purpose: to share stories, share knowledge, and share inspirations.
How about you? Are you also a blogger? What cameras do you use for your blog articles?
Are you also a blogger or vlogger? How do you do your post process? Do you have some more tips to help me and my readers to improve? Let us know your thoughts and leave a comment below!
Resources:
1. Photography 101: What Is Natural Light? Learn About Natural Light in Photography and 4 Tips for Using Natural Light in Your Photography by Annie Leibovitz of Masterclass
2. Changing Focus Points by Alan Hess of Peachpit
3. Rule of Thirds by Darren Rowse of Digital Photography School
4. Travel photography etiquette: Do’s and don’ts of taking good photos by Saru Krishnasamy of Stuff
5. 9 Smart Tips for Taking Great Candid Photographs You’ll Love by Joel Lee of Make Use Of.
6. Stock Photos by Burak K. and Aron Visuals of Pexels.
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