8 Professional Photography Tricks

Nowadays there are thousands of mobile apps and computer programs that let you professionally edit photos — a little light here, a little blur there, you get the picture. But you can actually get pretty cool results without manipulating the photo after the fact, and it can be done in just a few simple steps. Check out these 8 cool tips & tricks that all the professional photographer are using!

1. Mirror Effect

You'll Need:

  • smartphone

Here's How:

To create a brilliant optical illusion., just hold a smartphone under the lens when taking a picture. The subject will be reflected in the screen of the smartphone, thus giving you a great photo effect.

2. Soft Light

You'll Need:

  • flashlight
  • Big Mac box
  • scissors
  • straw
  • tape

Here's How:

2.1 Open an empty Big Mac box and cut a large enough hole to fit a flashlight on one side.

2.2 Use the scissors to poke a small hole on the other side to fit the straw.

2.3 Tape the straw to the flashlight to keep the box from closing.

2.4 Turn on the flashlight, hold the box above the camera, and point it towards the subject when taking a picture to create soft lighting.

3. Natural Soft Focus

You'll Need:

  • gauze
  • scissors

Here's How:

3.1 Cut off a piece of gauze and fold it together.

3.2 Cut about 2 mm on one side of the gauze and fringe it with your fingers.

3.3 Wrap the gauze around your lens so that the frayed side hangs slightly above the lens. The fringed edges have the same effect on the photo as a blur filter.

4. Color Effect

You'll Need:

  • tape
  • blue felt-tip pen or marker
  • purple felt-tip pen or marker

Here's How:

4.1 Stick two pieces of tape across the front of the lens.

4.2 Color the tape strips with a blue and purple marker to create a brilliant color effect in the photo.

5. Concentrated Light

You'll Need:

  • Pringles container
  • box cutter

Here's How:

5. Cut the bottom of the Pringles container off with a box cutter and stick it on the camera's external flash.

The container prevents the light from scattering too much and concentrates the light on the subject.

6. Artificial Haze

You'll Need:

  • zipper storage bag

Here's How:

Cut off the bottom of the storage bag and slide the zipper end around the lens to create a pretty artificial haze that makes the photo look as if were professionally edited.

7. Avoid Reflections

You'll Need:

  • paper cup sleeve

Here's How:

Place the cup sleeve around the lens to avoid reflections and get a clearer picture.

8. Softbox Effect

You'll Need:

  • white plastic bag

Here's How:

Wrap the plastic bag around the internal flash of the camera for an even illumination.

You too can be a professional photographer with these handy tricks!

Comments

Also hefty