10 Creative Photography Techniques

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. 

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.

Photo by @samoetiker

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.

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.

Photo by @cynthiayolland

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.

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

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.

Photo by @alex_wilcock

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.

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.

Photo by @mimzzzymo

Photo by @hamilelik_annelik_