• Adults | Virtual Classes
    • Classes – Live Virtual
    • Private Lessons – Live Virtual
  • Kids & Teens
    • Summer Camps (Virtual)
    • Private Lessons (Virtual)
  • Corporate
  • About
    • Our Locations
    • Student Reviews
  • Contact

10 Creative Photography Techniques

5 years ago
gtapcnew
Adult Classes, Digital Photography Tips

Photography, like all other art forms, can sometimes get monotonous. The best way to change up the kinds of pictures you’re taking is just change the technique. This can be as simple as using a new lens or changing up your stance or using a new mode on your camera. We’ve compiled our top ten favourite creative photography ideas to help break your routine and help you take some great images.

#10 Camera Movement

As photographers, the objective is generally to keep the camera still but sometimes you need the dramatic flair that movement can provide. Creative movement techniques can include motion blur. This is particularly good for capturing events when the subject is often on the move and allows for you to capture that movement organically. You can also spin with the camera to show what you see mid twirl.  Another way to get this kind of image blur is to zoom mid shot. 

TTC blur motion

Photo by @_wcsun

#9 Shoot from your boots or a bird’s eye view

You plan to tell a story with your shot but you want it to be unique. Try to shoot from another vantage point. Lay on the ground and shoot up. Or get to a high place and shoot down. These are great ways to shoot an ordinary subject but tell an extraordinary story.

Birds eye view forest

Photo by @samoetiker

Looking up

Photo by @kristofobry

#8 Add some noise

Often, we want to achieve a sharp, clean image but noise can add extra drama to an image. Amp up your ISO to increase the graininess of your image. Extra noise won’t look good in every picture but can enhance the mood of a black and white photo in no time.

High iso

Photo by @muratbey_

#7 Macro photography

Growing in popularity, macro photography allows for photographers to close in on their subjects. Macro’s primary goal is to show a super close version of the subject that is rarely seen. This can be achieved through macro or telephoto lenses and is generally used to show another side of natural things such as insects and flowers.

Macro flower

Photo by @cynthiayolland

Dog macro

Photo by @cinst45

#6 Customizable bokeh

Bokeh is the blurriness of a background. When left alone it forms circles, but those shapes can be changed with a bit of customization. Cut your desired shape into a piece of Bristol board and attach it to your lens. When your lens attempts to take in light, it will only take in light in that shape. This will cause the background of your image to be flooded with shapes of your choosing.

Heart bokeh

Photo by @sharoon.mohammed

#5 High speed photography

These types of shots definitely require a fast shutter speed and an even quicker trigger finger but the results are often breath taking. High speed photography works best with liquid splashes and other fast-moving instances that create beautiful imagery. Gymnastics, ballet, and figure skating photos also look best when captured at high speed.

Photo by @mariamsorourphotography

Jump shot, travel

Photo by @mikepayne

#4 Lens Flare

Don’t shoot into the sun is often a photography mantra but there are times when the sun’s rays can provide an artistic flare that can improve an image. Lens flares are perfect to enhance how summery and sunny an image is. You can manipulate this flare to correspond to what you need in the photo by controlling the amount of light that comes into your camera and shooting at different angles.

Photo by @max.m.schneider

#3 Silhouettes

This is a unique way to create a portrait and often conveys a specific mood. They are very dramatic images that echo the 1800s and early 1900s when they were most popular. They are still a popular style with entertainers and anyone trying to capture a Victorian feel. Silhouettes can be used on non-human subjects too for a dramatic feel.

Sun silhouette

Photo by @alex_wilcock

Bird silhouette

Photo by @metragnome_images

#2 Panorama

Most cell phones have a built-in panorama mode but DSLRS aren’t that specific. Panoromas created out of images from DSLRS are often higher quality however. The easiest way to make a panorama from DSLR images is to take pictures of every element of the landscape you’re trying to stitch together and then stitch them together like a quilt in Photoshop. Stand still while taking the pictures and try to overlap the beginning of each new picture to make the stitching easier. It can be hard to create a side by side image but once you nail it, the results can be breath taking.

CItyscape Panorama

Photo from @pixabay.com

#1 Forced Perspective

And for number 1, it’s for fans of an optical illusions, because forced perspective is a must try. It’s a great way to play with sizes of objects and object placement. Forced perspective is a great way to add some comedy elements to your shot as well.

Forced perspective cloud

Photo by @mimzzzymo

Baby Forced Perspective

Photo by @hamilelik_annelik_

Interested in learning more photography tips and tricks?

Check out our Photo 101 class to learn all about photography from our award-winning instructors.

Register Now
creative photography, photo techniques, photography tips
Previous Post
5 Photo Composition Tips & Techniques You Need To Know
Next Post
Photographer Spotlight: Sean Sicard

Related Posts

Photography Apps we Can’t Go Without (and you shouldn’t either)
April 18, 2016
Buying a New Camera?
April 28, 2014
Top Ten Landscape Photography Tips
April 5, 2018

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Fill out this field
Fill out this field
Please enter a valid email address.

GTA Photography Classes
GTA Photography Classes
5.0
Based on 71 reviews
powered by Google
review us on
Katherine Seatree
Katherine Seatree
23:10 24 Feb 20
I recently did the Photo 101 class with Lauren and it exceeded my expectations! Lauren was a great teacher - very knowledgeable and clearly passionate about photography which definitely helped boost my own enthusiasm. The class also benefited from being small, think it was just 6 of us and the content felt appropriate for a beginner. I now have a good understanding of things like aperture, shutter speed, ISO, composition etc. What I really loved was that there were practical exercises and steps explained that made it so much easier to understand and master what we learnt. My photos have already massively improved, and I can now say I feel confident shooting in manual mode! I would definitely recommend this course.
Samantha Peck
Samantha Peck
18:23 10 Feb 20
I took Photo 101, knowing very little about manual photography and left knowing the basics- and more! I'm feeling much more confident in my skills and interested in pursuing more classes. The small class size, knowledgeable instructor and hands-on learning all helped me get more familiar with my camera. I highly recommend taking classes at GTA Photography!
Fazeela Jahangir
Fazeela Jahangir
08:50 28 Jan 20
I was very keen to end up at the right place to brush up my photography because I wanted to learn from the best. GTA Photography exceeded my expectations at that. The location is conveniently located one stop from Kings Station with lots of places to eat and practice photography around. The best part I would say are undoubtedly the instructors who are some of the top in their various fields of photography. They were very patient with students asking questions as and when they wanted, which meant by the time we got to the end of the class and QnA session all queries had already been dealt with and everyone was happy with the instruction. We got lots of opportunities to practice as well. I am so happy I found this place to connect with other photographers- I have taken 3 courses already and am planning to take 3 more. I think that speaks for itself!
Melany Tiago
Melany Tiago
04:54 20 Jan 20
I spent my time at GTA photography Classes as a Co-op Student and really enjoyed my time here! Great kind hearted Staff & 5 star classes!
Anna Medvedev
Anna Medvedev
19:24 10 Jan 20
If you want to learn photography, this is the school you should go to. Knowledgeable instructors, interactive classes and very practical instruction.
Yve Benz
Yve Benz
17:42 10 Jan 20
Best photography school in the GTA and beyond. Amazing management, nice and professional staff, great camps and adult classes. Can highly recommend it!!!
Mark Buck
Mark Buck
15:09 14 Dec 19
As a photography and digital arts teacher with both the TDSB and YRDSB I highly recommend GTA Photography (Toronto). They teach us (students and adults) how to capture the special memorial moments of our lives.Dorothy Lange once remarked:"Photography takes an instant out of time, altering life by holding it still."-
Josh Kim
Josh Kim
19:07 12 Dec 19
I spent time as both a counsellor at GTA over the summer as well as a co-op student during the school year. Super friendly staff that love teaching and helping people. Sitting in on different workshops and camp sessions, their instructors are always available to help and seeing how they teach, I'm not surprised when I see the other glowing reviews here. Would highly recommend both their camps and adult classes for anyone with an interest in photography!
Pam Robertson
Pam Robertson
00:58 10 Dec 19
The kid camps are amazing! They had very informative instructors, interactive teaching, and a so many fun field trips in a great location! The staff were very friendly and you could tell that they loved what they do and were so great with the kids!
shepherd Huang
shepherd Huang
17:05 09 Dec 19
Very knowledgeable instructors, interactive teaching and fun field trips. Lauren is so patient and I have a great time.
Candice Pollack
Candice Pollack
15:56 15 Oct 19
Our organization rented this space for a two day meeting. The team at GTA Photography was incredibly helpful and the space was clean, well-kept, and made for a great workshop space.
stephanie grace
stephanie grace
16:15 16 Sep 19
Great location and clean and light filled rooms for smaller groups. We came here for a management meeting and it was perfect for our needs.
Senthuran Kopalakrishnan
Senthuran Kopalakrishnan
15:14 09 Sep 19
Learned so much in a short period of time. Knowledgeable friendly instructor. Highly recommended for anyone interested in photography.
Sandra Nagy
Sandra Nagy
02:21 25 Aug 19
My 9 year old son had an unbelievable week of camp at GTA photography. He went on amazing field trips, had amazingly passionate counsellors and raves about every day. He also learned a ton and gained tremendous skills and confidence. There were tons of older kids as well, up to 15-16 year olds and they all seemed to love it as much as him. A unique and fun experience. I highly recommend it.
Agnes Roter
Agnes Roter
19:10 06 Jul 19
My daughter absolutely loved this camp. It was her first intro to photography and she quoted techniques and instructions from day one. She also quite enjoyed exploring downtown Toronto with the crew. That was a great part of the program. Highly recommend GTA Photography camp.
Anson Wong
Anson Wong
05:20 27 May 19
I received a nice camera for Christmas but did not know how to use it properly while on vacation. Decided to take an introductory course and it provides me with the tools to understand my camera. Alex is a great instructor. Not only is she very knowledgeable but her class was very well structured. She provided me with the confidence to use my camera and highly recommend this to anyone who finds cameras intimidating.
Culham Anderson-Brodie
Culham Anderson-Brodie
15:41 12 Mar 19
I took the photo 101 course through gta photography and i must say my experience was amazing. My instructor Donovan was extremely knowledgeable and I left with all the skills necessary to properly operate my camera in manual mode. Since taking this course my photography skills have continued to improve and I will MOST DEFINITELY be back for more classes!
Greg Leung
Greg Leung
19:56 11 Feb 19
Very professional, patient instructors. Perfect balance between fun & informative. I've taken Photo 101 & 201 and will definitely be enrolling in future courses! GTA Photography has ignited my passion for photography.
Tricia Anderson
Tricia Anderson
16:37 11 Feb 19
I took a couple of weekend sessions (Photography 101 and 201) to get me going with my new Digital SLR camera. They provided a great foundation to help me progress with my photography. The small class size and enthusiastic instructor made for a great learning environment. Tricia A.
A Woods
A Woods
22:07 17 Dec 18
Took the Portraiture 101 class. The Instructor was very informative and had some really great tips for making my photos better. She clearly is very experienced and has a great eye. It was part function and part art course and I loved that! The school was well designed and felt very warm and inviting. I loved that they took us outdoors to practice in real life conditions. I would definitely recommend this course and am looking forward to taking another!
troy bacchus
troy bacchus
16:00 26 Nov 18
UPDATE: Took the Photo301 lighting class this past weekend with Shayne and it was fantastic. Shayne was an excellent instructor and gave us a good grounding in lighting techniques and tips and tricks that really save a lot of time. I highly recommend this class to anyone looking to advance their skills working with natural, and artificial light.Just finished the photo201 class this past weekend and it was great. The instructor Neil made the class enjoyable while conveying all the necessary information. Material is good, they may want to consider having it printed for note taking. Overall a great class and I have already registered for photo301.
Danial Mirzakhani
Danial Mirzakhani
21:42 17 Jul 17
I haven't ever gon ther..but I think it's so good
Kristen Valente
Kristen Valente
19:00 14 Jun 17
Yesterday I took the Travel Photography workshop and it was awesome! It was such a small class that we really got to fire off questions whenever needed. Neil was a very extremely knowledgeable, engaging and patient teacher. He is clearly passionate about his craft and he did an excellent job of preparing us for future travel endeavours.
Jason Hopkins
Jason Hopkins
19:30 24 May 17
I took the Lightroom class which is a 4 week class every Thursday for 2 hours. The class was taught methodically and left me feeling confident using Lightroom. The teacher was very friendly and kept the learning environment fun and relaxing. I highly recommend gta photography, I've been around the owners and other people who work there. They all really care about their job and the students who come to learn.
Tess Vardy
Tess Vardy
13:10 20 May 17
I took classes last year in the fall and winter, and I learned so much!!!! I really feel like I have gained a lot of skill and confidence with a camera that I will carry with my for the rest of my life. I definitely missed having the classes once they were done because they were just SO much fun and the instructors really know what they're doing. I would recommend to anyone!!!
Jennifer Qu
Jennifer Qu
20:25 19 May 17
GTA Photography Classes is a really amazing camp for kids of all ages. I was 15 when I took teen camp 1 and teen camp 2 in the fall and winter. The instructors are amazing and I learned so much. The classes were really informative plus the instructors did a really good job making everything as clear as possible. I had Laura and Kylie as my instructors. They were amazing and really knew what they were talking about. Each class was accompanied by a field trip every other week. Because the camps location is in the centre of Downtown Toronto, the field trips were pretty cool if I do say so myself. We went to Kensington Market, ROM, Nathan Philip Square, etc. I highly suggest GTA Photography Classes if you're a beginner and even if you have experience and you want to get a little more creative with your work, it's definitely worth the money.
Next Reviews
js_loader
February 2023
M T W T F S S
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728  
« May    

Categories

Toronto (Adults, Camps & Corporate)

Head Office: 25 Toronto St. Suite 200, Toronto ON M5C 2R1
info@gtaphotographyclasses.com

Chicago (Summer Camps Only)

610 S Michigan Ave. Chicago IL 60605 7th Floor (Summer Only)
info@gtaphotographyclasses.com

Ottawa (Summer Camps Only)

100 Laurier Ave E, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N7 (Summer Only)
info@gtaphotographyclasses.com

© 2015 All rights reserved. GTA Photography Classes

  • Adults | Virtual Classes
  • Kids & Teens
  • Corporate
  • About
  • Contact