You might think that you need a professional photographer and a fancy downtown location for a photoshoot, but this is untrue. If you’re willing to be creative, there’s plenty to photograph from the comfort of your own home.
1
Cozy Afternoons
Is it cold or raining outside? No problem. Stay inside and capture the cozy vibe of an afternoon at home instead!
Focus on a few key elements, such as being under a wool blanket with a hot drink in hand. You could also take a picture of the book you’re reading and the soft indoor lighting.
Try isolating some subjects in different positions. For example, you can place your drink close to the window and show the contrast of the weather outside while you’re indoors. Consider using creative photo effects with warm tones in post-production for even cozier vibes.
2
Find New Angles in Familiar Rooms
When you live somewhere, it’s easy to not realize how unique each room in your home is. As a challenge, I recommend trying to capture different angles that you hadn’t previously thought of. Think about the effect that different objects, such as your lamps, have—and look for intriguing patterns or effects. For example i used my lampshade to create the effect you see below.
You can also move to a different part of the room. For example, try going into the corners and seeing what you can come up with.
Another idea is to include doorways as a frame and simultaneously photograph multiple rooms.
3
Photograph Outside From Your Window
Besides capturing different parts of your home, you should look at your surrounding areas outside. For example, you can take pictures through your window if it’s raining outside. This would be an excellent way to turn rainy days into photography opportunities.
You can also open the windows and use the frame as part of your picture. If your home has unique textures like wood, this can work even better. This tip works with both natural objects and buildings.
4
Capture Your Day
If studying or working remotely is sometimes challenging for you, try having more fun when working by capturing your day. Start by photographing your desk setup; to make the picture more interesting, include posters on your table and add an aesthetically pleasing computer or tablet wallpaper. You can also include images of other items, such as listening to music on your smartphone.
Try different angles, too, such as showing yourself typing on your computer. Although challenging when holding the camera yourself, you can put your device on a flat surface (e.g. a bookshelf) and set a timer. A tripod can come in handy here.
Capture multiple elements of your workday. For example, you can photograph yourself making lunch, reading a book, or doing yoga as part of your break. Another idea is to capture each location you work from; you may occasionally move from your desk to the couch.
5
Organize Your Books
Do you love reading or just collecting books? Use these in your creative home photoshoot. Place various books next to each other and capture a picture of them from above, or use complementary colors to create interesting effects. Use books with beautiful covers to make your image look more appealing.
If you have lots of books from the same series, you can stack these on top of one another. Think about any tables you have at home, too, and organize your books on these in a way that you find interesting. You can also create interesting effects by focusing on different book shapes and sizes.
6
Bring All of Your Tech Together
It’s sometimes interesting to see what you own, and if you’re big into tech, consider bringing your biggest gadgets together. You can organize these by placing them next to one another, but you can explore alternative composition methods.
One example is to place some of your tech on top of others. For example, I put my camera on top of my laptop in the image below.
Besides getting creative, you may also realize that you need to sell your old smart home gadgets, phones, and computers. So, this photoshoot is also an ideal opportunity to declutter.
7
Celebrate Life’s Tiny Moments
Capturing the small moments can help you appreciate them, and you probably do more at home than you initially thought. For example, you could take photos of yourself preparing your morning coffee or even unpacking your weekly grocery haul.
You might also want to take photos of yourself watching movies or while spring-cleaning your home. Other examples to consider include preparing your breakfast and playing with your pets.
8
Zoom In on Textures at Home
You have more interesting textures at home than you might realize. For your next creative home photoshoot, highlight the ones that catch your eye. For example, you can take close-up pictures of your couch, blankets, and even the flowers you have around your home.
Look for intriguing textures on your walls and tables, too. If you don’t have a macro lens, get as close to the subject as possible. You can also use your smartphone’s editing app to amplify the textures by increasing sharpness and clarity.
9
Turn Mealtimes into Photo Ops
Many people take photos of their food when visiting a restaurant, but have you ever thought about taking pictures of what you eat at home? Try photographing your food at home each day for a month, and capture the process from preparation to finish.
Document dinner parties or small get-togethers. Snap the food, guests, and surroundings. Indoor lighting often feels cozy, but if you head outside, natural light works even better.
You don’t need a dream getaway for memorable shots. Your home is brimming with unique photo opportunities—just look around! Everyday items can become surprising subjects if you’re willing to experiment.
