My photography set up :sparkles:

Hi everyone!! Today’s post is for the #photosetupchallenge . I’m going to explain where I take photos, what props I use, what camera I use and the editing software I use to make my photos look *puuuuuurdy*.

*Onwards my good fellow!*

╭─✰───────────╮

Camera

╰───────────✰─╯

The camera I use is my Canon EOS 1300d & sometimes my iPhone 5s. My canon has an 18-55mm lens on that came with the camera.

mostly because I can’t afford any more lenses at the moment lol

I sometimes might use my macro filters if I need to take a real close up shot, but thats rare.

My iPhone works perfectly great for taking photos for Instagram, amino, tumblr etc. And I use it when I can’t be bothered getting out my camera & transferring it to my PC or phone. I then edit the photos from there, which brings me onto...

╭─✰───────────╮

Editing software

╰───────────✰─╯

When I’ve got my photos off my camera onto my phone, I used to use VSCO cam to edit the photos. However, I’ve since moved back to snapseed because I felt that VSCO didn’t really let me edit the shadows so much and snapseed gives me more control and tools.

If I decided to transfer them to my PC, I’ll mostly use photoshop CC or lightroom to edit them!

╭─✰───────────╮

Where?

╰───────────✰─╯

I take my photos by the window, on my window sill or on my bed in front of the window. I want to capture as much natural daylight I can to get a nice, even lighting.

I try to take them on an overcast day, so that there isn’t so much contrast between the highlights and shadows and there’s no extra drop shadows.

If you work like me and you come home in the evenings, it gets dark early in the winter months so I switch to my desk to take photos there. I go over there because that’s where my daylight lamp / bulbs are!

Daylight bulbs/lamps have been my saving grace for a while. Although, I do recommend you buy two, to evenly light the scene - otherwise, you’ll end up with that same old horrible dark drop shadow. A couple of ways you could help stop them harsh shadows is to:

1) get a light box for your light(s) (although quite expensive)

2) more budget friendly: tape a piece of white printer paper to your light to cover it! It will help diffuse the light

3) To really stop shadows, you could put a piece of glass (or thick clear Perspex) on top & between two stacks of books to make a “bridge” between them & place your journal on the glass. It was a trick I learnt studying photography to do product photography. It stops any shadows from the objects being cast.

╭─✰───────────╮

Set up :sparkles:

╰───────────✰─╯

Once I’ve got my lighting sorted, I take my photos on a pillow or, more recently, a piece of watercolour paper from my Daler Rowney Aquafine paper pad. Yep. I just really liked the slight, soft textures that both have which doesn’t distract from the main subject (my journal). I already have quite busy journal pages so I want to make sure they stand out, without losing interest in the background.

I also sometimes add tissue papers, patterned (not too busy) papers, bulldog clips, pens, sticks, dried flowers...etc. As props in the background to add some interest which sort of relates to the journal spread.

╭─✰───────────╮

That’s the whole set up!

╰───────────✰─╯

So that’s pretty much my set up for photographing my journal spreads!

You really don’t need fancy cameras and editing apps to get a nice photo. Just your phone camera & a simple paper background will do. You could even use free wallpaper samples (I did this A LOT and B&Q / Bunnings probably hate me lol) for backgrounds!

I think most photography is circumstantial and you get nice photos from the right place, right time. So definitely use the free natural light to your advantage! :satisfied:

I hope you found this interesting & useful somehow! I look forward to seeing you in my next post :wave: 🏻