Are you all set and stoked for the #sewistaintheworld challenge? Is your outfit all sewn and are you dying to show it off? How do you take the perfect picture, one that really makes the pattern shine? To help you snap the best holiday shots, we've put together seven tips and tricks especially for you. That way you’ve got an ace up your sleeve for the #sewistaintheworld challenge, and you’ll have gorgeous souvenirs of your travels!
1- Timing and lighting
Good lighting is a must for good photography. Wanna know the best time to snap your pictures? During the ‘golden hour’, i.e. about one hour before sunset and one hour after sunrise. This light is what gives your photos that ‘glow’, with colours that feel alive. Photoshoots in the middle of the day aren’t a great idea; too much light casts too many shadows on your pictures.
2- Be spontaneous
You’ve noticed it too, right? The best photos are frequently those taken at random, unsuspecting moments – when you were laughing at a joke or when a friend covertly snapped a picture of you being quintessentially you. Photos are there to capture memories, so be authentic and spontaneous!
3- Feel the moment
Feel the moment – this one goes with tip 2. When you’re in a place, what do you feel? How can you capture that feeling? Most folks stick with posing in front of a monument or smiling in the countryside. But we aim higher; we want to tell a story.
4- Try a different angle
We tend to put people right in the middle of a frame. For example, when posing with a monument, you'll frequently end up standing right in front of it. Try different angles when taking pictures; for example, you could start with a wide-angle shot and zoom in closer and closer to the person. By the end, you'll capture key details. You could also try taking pictures from a frog or bird's eye view.
5- Pay attention to the background
Your pose and smile were right, and the light was perfect; but was there also a bunch of people behind you or a distinctly unflattering aesthetic in the background? We're talking about those near-perfect pictures, marred by a few background details that could easily have been avoided with a little forethought and observation. Sound familiar? When taking pictures, the person being photographed often becomes the centre of your world. Clue your photographer into the fact that what’s going on in the background is at least as important as you are. That’s a little trickier if you're taking selfies; you could use a photo-editing app like Snapseed to remove minor imperfections.
6- Get out of your comfort zone
Perhaps you've got a habit of always striking the same pose in a picture, or maybe your pictures are always in the same place, like a restaurant or on the beach. Time to try out new things ... we promise that you’ll be astonished by the results!
7- Take a break!
There’s no point in spending hours in front of the lens for a dream picture; chances are good that you’ll just get discouraged. Take a break and reread our tips and tricks!
Need some inspiration ?
Let yourself be inspired by our sewista world tour participants from previous years and their great photos!
