Decorate a Glass Coffee Table to Make a Unique Frame
Sure, coffee tables are primarily designed to hold your coffee, but that doesn't mean that that's all they can do. Over the years, more and more professional and amateur photographers have started to experiment with glass coffee tables to create unique frames for their photos. In fact, they're the perfect prop - as the subject can simply lie on the floor underneath the coffee table while the decoration lies on top.
Then, you can put anything on the coffee table to add depth and dimension to your photo. You could go wild with flowers, you could use ice to create a snow scene, or you could use sand.
Make Lens Flares With CDs or DVDs
Although many people have thrown their old CDs and DVDs in the trash, you might want to keep hold of yours. Sure, you might not have the means to play the music or movie anymore, but they're great to shove into your camera bag. That's because CDs and DVDs can help you create lens flares without really trying. All you have to do is place the shiny surface underneath the lens of your camera.
The shiny surface will ultimately reflect light back onto the camera lens, creating an effect many people can only get through photo editing and complicated trick work. But it's never been easier!
Fake Wildflife Photography With Plastic Props
If you fancy yourself as the next big wildlife photographer in the game but don't have the cash flow to be jetting off to South Africa or Costa Rica at every opportunity, you can still practice your craft without leaving your house. Yes, it's very easy to fake your wildlife photography, and to do this, you just need a few things - including a large (real) leaf, some chairs, and some fake animals.
By laying the leaf on the chairs and then placing the fake animals on top, you can take photos underneath and use the shadows to your advantage. It's surprisingly effective, too.
Play With Shadows to Trick the Eye
Anyone can be a photographer, but it takes a real artist to take a good photograph. And if you're looking for a way to stand out of the crowd, why don't you play around with shadows? This person had the right idea when they took off their sneakers on the wet ground, as they realized that it was the perfect opportunity to play around with light and shadows in a way that messed with the mind.
By using the sunlight and the wet ground to his advantage, he was able to create the illusion that this person was standing upside down - and it's pretty cool.
Create the Illusion of a Reflective Surface
There's nothing more beautiful than heading off into the woods, finding a lake, and snapping photos of the reflections in the water. Sometimes, it can be hard to know where the sky ends and the water begins, and this creates a stunning photograph. You don't have to sell all of your belongings to afford a trip to a lake, though. As long as you have a DSLR camera and a smartphone lying around, you should be able to create the illusion of a reflective surface at home.
Simply place your camera screen underneath the DSLR so the lens catches the reflective surface of the phone. Then, you'll be able to turn any normal scene into a lakeside retreat.
Make a Torn Photo Wall With Your Background Roll
Let's be honest; headshots can be pretty boring. If you have clients that want something a little different, why don't you bring this hack to life? By ditching your expensive background roll for a large roll of paper, you can tell your client to burst through the paper and strike a pose on the other side. This will create a unique and interesting effect - especially if you can buy a paper roll in a bright color.
Of course, this does mean that you'll have to sacrifice your paper roll after just one client - but sometimes, you have to make sacrifices to bring art to life.
Use Sunglasses as a Camera Filter
There are two types of photographers out there: people who love bright natural light and those who prefer a softer, warmer light. If you're part of the latter group, you'll know that buying filters to filter out this natural light can be incredibly expensive. But if you're in a bind and looking for a temporary camera solution, they could be sitting on your head right now. Yes, sunglasses should be your go-to.
By placing your camera behind your sunglasses, you can utilize the filter of your glasses to change the photo as a whole. Just make sure that your sunglasses are clean before doing so.
Play Around With Light Using Fairy Lights
Everyone loves fairy lights, right? And while fairy lights are normally used for decoration, one thing you might not realize is that they can also be used in photography - especially as they're so affordable. Not only can you put fairy lights into mason jars and create your own firefly effect, but if you take headshots or photograph people on a regular basis, you can also get them to hold these fairy lights.
This will allow you to play around with light while also creating fuzzy spots in the foreground to add more depth and intrigue to a photo. Yes, it looks absolutely awesome.
Use a Pringles Can to Produce More Focused Lighting
The next time you finish a tube of Pringles, don't throw it in the trash. Instead, you might want to give it a thorough wash and add it to your camera bag. That's because you can use a Pringles can to produce more focused lighting when using a pop-up flash on your camera. To do this, simply attach the Pringles can over the flash area and then pop a cloth on the end to diffuse the light slightly.
The shiny and reflective inner surface of the Pringles can essentially allows the light to hit your subject directly, which makes it a very handy tool for those who love macro photography.
Manipulate Visual Perception With Placement
One of the best things about playing around with photography is that the limits just don't exist. You can try every trick in the book and learn a whole load of new ones along the way, too. So, take this as your sign to play around with perception using objects like this monster toy. As you can see, where the monster toy is placed completely changes how big it looks in comparison to the human.
By placing things with perspective like this, you can make them look much bigger or smaller than they actually are - which can add a whole new meaning to your photography.
Cut Shapes Into Cardboard or Paper to Take 'Bokeh' Pictures
To some, this picture may be blurry. But many photographers will appreciate this 'bokeh' photograph for what it is - as it brings to life the Japanese art of blurring certain aspects of a photo to create visual intrigue. You don't just have to rely on an out-of-focus camera to bring such a photograph to light, though. If you wanted to, you could cut a shape out of a piece of cardboard and place it over your camera lens.
In this instance, the end result is a love-filled photo that looks unlike anything we've ever seen. And you can even try out different focal lengths to see the outcome of each.
Use Computer or Tv Screens to Create Backdrops
If you don't have the pleasure of using a professional photo studio, you have to get creative with what you can actually use. And if that's your front room, that's totally fine! But did you know that you can easily create your own unique backdrops using something you already have in your house? All you need to do is take photos in front of a computer or TV screen and then use the screen to showcase the backdrop of your choice.
If you're photographing headshots or full-length photos of people, a TV screen will be better. But if you're photographing something smaller, it's probably best to use a computer monitor instead.
Use Old Frames to Quite Literally Frame Your Photos
If you love to play around with perspective and props while you're taking photos, you're probably always on the lookout for new camera hacks that will allow you to do just that. Well, what do you think about this? This is a super creative way to use a photo frame, and it is perfect for those who have some old ones lying around the house. And the end result is incredibly visually appealing.
By placing the photo frames in front of the camera lens, they frame the photo in a way that looks incredibly sculptural. Plus, the sunset setting makes the whole thing pop even more.
Turn a Standard Lens Into a Macro Lens With a Paper Towel Roll
Having all of the right tools in your camera bag can cost you a fortune - especially if you're someone who wants to add some macro lenses into the mix. And while we have no doubts that you'll appreciate every second of your macro lens, there is something you can use temporarily while you're saving up to buy it. And that's a paper towel roll, some duct tape, and a 50mm lens!
Line the inner tube with black paper, and then attach the tube to your camera before attaching the lens to the other end of the tube. It's a lot of duct tape, but it works a treat.
Place Your Camera in a Fish Tank for Underwater Shots
Anyone who has ever wanted to play around with underwater photography will probably know how expensive underwater casings can be. But don't worry if you don't have that kind of cash. One of the easiest ways to take underwater shots on a budget is to use a fish tank. A glass tank is best, as you can balance the camera inside of the tank and then pop it into the water.
You won't be able to fully submerge it, but you'll be able to get the perfect in-and-out shot that you wouldn't be able to take otherwise. Plus, it's so much cheaper than the real thing.
Create Visual Interest With a Spring
If you're constantly looking for new photography hacks to add to your wheelhouse, then you might want to listen up. Although it might not be the first thing you think of when you think of photography accessories, a spring can really help your photos - especially if you're looking to try something new. By placing your camera on the floor and putting the spring in front of it, you can create a neat effect.
This becomes even more impressive when you have someone in the background holding the other end of the spring, as it allows you to play with perspective in a way you probably haven't before.
Make Your Own Infinity Curve for the Best Backdrop
If you're familiar with food or product photography, you'll know that having the right background is key. And while photo studios have their own ways to bring this backdrop to life, those who practice photography at home might not know what to use. Well, that's where a piece of cloth and some cardboard can come in handy. If you stick some cloth to right-angled pieces of cardboard and let it flow down, you have your very own infinity curve.
This curve draws the eye in, making it seem as though there's an endless backdrop behind the product or food item. This is extremely effective when trying to make a small item look more appealing.
Cut Shapes Out of Cardboard to Create Unusual Shadows
Shadows can really transform a photograph, which is why so many photographers choose to play around with these shadows during the creative process. And while you can certainly do that outside in the wild, you can also do that from the comfort of your own home with the help of some cardboard. In fact, you can make your own cucoloris (light/shadow modifier) by cutting out shapes in these pieces of cardboard.
By doing this and then shining the light through the windows, you should be left with shadows that can add a new dimension and depth to a photograph. Plus, it's super cheap.
Create Lens Flares Using a Torch
Sometimes, accidental lens flares can be irritating. But other times, photographers want nothing more than to add these lens flares into the mix. How do you do that, though? There are so many different ways to add lens flare, but one of the easiest ways to do it is to grab a torch from your kitchen drawer and shine it onto the lens. Just be careful that you don't shine it into the whole thing.
By shining it into the corner or at the top, you can create a lens flare that will change the outcome of your photo and give it that brightness you might be after.
Make a Lens Filter Out of Drinking Glasses
When you're someone who loves to take photos, you can often feel inclined to buy all of the different lenses and lens filters on the market. Eventually, you could spend a fortune on all of them. But if you want to save some money while still experimenting with your photography style, why not use the things lying around your house? For example, you can use glasses from your kitchen as a lens filter.
It will actually work in your favor if the glass is a little cloudy or dirty, as this will create an intriguing effect you probably wouldn't be able to get with a store-bought filter.
Remove People From Your Photos Using Photoshop
If you didn't already know, Photoshop is one of the best tools a photographer can have in their back pocket. This tool can do everything from brightening photos to removing people from the photos. This is particularly handy if you're photographing a tourist attraction that is completely overrun with people. And if you want to remove tourists from your pictures, all you have to do is set your camera up on a tripod and then take as many pictures as you can of the subject matter.
Then, open Photoshop, go to File, Scrips, and then Statistics. If you then choose the 'Median' setting and open up all of the images of the subject matter, you can then select Auto-Align and watch as the people simply disappear.
Create the Illusion of Rain With a Spray Bottle
Is there anything more dramatic than taking a photo of someone in the rain? No, we thought not. But anyone who has an expensive camera or an aversion to the outside world will know that going out into the rain and photographing a subject isn't always a good option. You can still create the illusion of rain from the comfort of your own home, though. All you need is a spray bottle.
If you're photographing someone behind glass or a window, spraying this water onto a window will look like the real deal - and you won't get your camera soaked in the process.
Create a Creepy Effect With Glue and Dirt
Every photographer has their own unique style that sets them apart from the rest. But if you're looking to play around with the creepier side of things, this camera hack should do the trick. To bring this trick to life, you'll need an old shoe box, some glue, and some dirt. Then, all you have to do is create a frame using the shoebox and glue dirt onto the inside of the frame.
If you then take photos through this frame, you'll be rewarded with a creepy photo that looks as though it's being shot from a grave. This opens up a whole new world of possibilities.
Use Cloth to Create a Soft-Focus Lens Effect
Whether you class yourself as a romantic photographer or you just like to play around with camera hacks, you might want to add a piece of frayed cloth to your camera bag. Sure, it might not be the most aesthetically pleasing item you have in your bag, but it can come in very handy if you want to create a soft focus lens effect that adds a romantic and old edge to your photos.
To do this, simply wrap the cloth around the camera lens - making sure to cover it slightly, but not cover it completely. Then, you'll be able to see the blurred and soft frame for yourself.
Use Cardboard to Make Your Own Lightbox
Go into any photography studio, and you'll probably find a lightbox. This is one of the best tools for photographers to shoot product photography and bring their close photography ideas to life, but anyone who has ever tried to buy one of these things will know that it's not cheap. A lightbox can set you back hundreds of dollars, so why don't you make your own for just a couple of dollars instead?
If you grab yourself a large cardboard box, line it with plain white fabric, and then place two lights on both sides, you should be able to create your own lightbox that will work wonders.
Align Everything Perfectly for a Stunning Visual Effect
Misalignment can make a photograph look strange and unprofessional, which is why aligning everything can make your photography look better than ever. But what does this mean? Well, you want to try to align all of the visual components together - like the person walking along the line, the line itself, and then the white markings of the dog. By doing this, you can turn a normal photograph into a spectacular photograph.
By creating this distinction and this separation, you can really manipulate the eyes of those looking at the photo. And it just makes the whole thing much more visually appealing.
Use a Plastic Bag to Create a Foggy Effect
Ever heard of a plastic bag softbox? Well, it's a great way to add a softness and ethereal nature to your photos, and it doesn't take a whole load of editing tools or time to bring this hack to life, either. All you need to do is grab a plastic bag and place it over the lens of your camera. This will create a DIY filter that will look hazy and foggy.
This is a great idea for those who prefer a softer look to the sharp and in-focus photos your lens normally creates, and you can just whip off the bag when you're done.
Shoot High-Speed Images From the Comfort of Your Home
If you want to shoot high-speed images either in a photography studio or in the comfort of your own home, you're going to need a speedlight. There's no way around that, we're afraid. But you don't need to have a professional backdrop or professional setup to bring this whole idea to life. If you want to out the process at home, you can do just that with some milk, a bowl, food dye, and a straw.
If you set your Speedlight to trigger and then blow the milk and food dye concoction with a straw, you could get a neat visual effect that you may not have been able to capture before.
Turn Your Phone Into a Pinhole With Cardboard
In today's day and age, you don't need a hugely expensive camera to try out your photography hacks. Some of the best smartphones on the market come with incredible cameras that produce amazing photos - and you can play around with them a bit more, too. If you want to turn your smartphone into a pinhole, all you need to do is grab a piece of cardboard and quite literally poke a pin through it.
Then, stick the cardboard over your camera lens, and you'll be able to see for yourself how it changes the whole vibe of your photos. They'll look so historic and ancient!
Upgrade Your Portraits With Lace
Headshots can be pretty boring, but if you're looking to take your headshots to the next level, there are so many ways to do that. One of our favorite ways is to incorporate lace into the mix. Not only does laying lace over your camera or over the head of the client add depth and texture to the photo, but it can also allow you to play around with shadows and light.
This cheap and easy camera hack couldn't be any simpler, but the effects are truly spectacular - no matter whether you're taking pictures of yourself or taking them of someone else.
Reduce Glare With a Coffee Cup Sleeve
Glare is something you can either use to your advantage or something that completely ruins your camera shot. If you're more inclined to believe the latter, then you might be interested to know that you can make your very own lens cover from the sleeve of your coffee cup. Yes, next time you head to Starbucks for your morning coffee, make sure you keep a hold of the sleeve that protects your hands from the hot cup.
Then, you can place it over the lens of your camera and block out any sun glare that may dare try to get in your way. It really is as simple as that.
Use a Magnifying Glass to Replicate a Macro Lens
Macro photography focuses on photographing small objects that we rarely get to see up close, but macro lenses are extremely expensive. If you're an amateur photographer looking to try this out on a budget, it might be worth buying a cheaper magnifying glass instead. And while it won't 100% replicate a macro lens, you can still use it to get an up close and personal shot of the subject of your choice.
You can either choose to have the magnifying glass inside or outside of your frame, but it's fair to say that we love the effect of having it in the shot.
Make a Color Filter With Tape and Markers
If you love to experiment with photography and want a camera hack to allow you to do just that, why don't you bring this color filter hack to life? Although you can buy color filters for your camera lenses, you could also save some money and make this yourself using some tape and markers. First, simply grab some transparent scotch tape and place it over the lens of your camera.
Then, you can color over the tape with the markers of your choice. When you're done, you'll see an effect like the one above, which will alter how the camera perceives light.
Use Stockings as a DIY Lens Filter
Sometimes, photographs can be a little too sharp for your liking. But what do you do when your photos look a little too perfect? One of the best ways to fix this is to create your own DIY filter, and you could use a pair of stockings to do just that. All you have to do is pop the stockings over the camera lens and secure it with a hair tie or elastic band.
You can play around with gradients and colors, too. You could opt for a light color that distorts the image slightly, or you could go dark and really make a difference to your photos.
Use a Colander to Play With Shadows
Shadows play a huge part in photography. And while natural shadows ultimately look realistic, that doesn't mean that you can't make your own shadows. In fact, there are so many ways to play around with shadows and make them yourself - and sometimes, common kitchen utensils can help you out. Yes, a strainer is particularly useful if you want to create unique shadows, and all you have to do is put it over your camera's flash.
This is perfect for those who want to take different and unique headshots of their subjects, but you don't specifically have to use a strainer. You could also use crochet blankets or window blinds to create a similar effect.
Create the Perfect Photo With Straight Horizons
When you see something you like the look of, there's a high chance that you simply grab your camera and point it in the direction of the object you're photographing. And while there's nothing wrong with that, you can create an even better photo by aligning your camera with a straight horizon line. By checking that all of the vertical and horizontal lines are straight before pressing the clicker, you can create a feast for the eyes.
The best way to do this is to line yourself up with a structure rather than the object itself, as using a building or wall as a horizon reference point will make things much easier.
Use Symmetry to Your Advantage
If you look at some of the best and most famous photos of all time, they probably all have something in common: they're symmetrical. The human eye loves symmetry, and photos look so much better when they focus on symmetrical buildings, objects, or people. That's why you should always aim to take as many photos as you can of images that are exactly the same from left to right and top to bottom.
If you take a photo in the middle of that symmetry, you'll be blessed with the perfect angle and a photo that looks absolutely spot-on no matter where you look.
Create a Softbox With a Shower Curtain
If you're a fan of softer photos but don't have the money to buy expensive camera lenses or a ready-made softbox, you might be happy to learn that you can make your own softbox at home. What's more, you don't need to spend a huge amount of money on it. All you need is a shower curtain, a clothes rail, and a hardware store light. Plus, a little bit of height to throw the shower curtain over the rail!
Then, you can rest assured that you'll have your own homemade soft light on tap at all times. And you don't need to have a huge amount of space in your home to do this, either.