Summer Photography Ideas
photo by VladGans via iStock
Summer is slowly creeping around the corner. In fact, in some parts of the world, it’s already feeling hot enough to need to jump in a pool to cool down, and it has me feeling the need to start prepping some summer photography ideas.
Sometimes it can feel kind of forced to try and participate in different photography project ideas, so I like my summer photography ideas to come more naturally. However, I know that a lot of beginner photographers may feel the need for some help with their photography ideas for summer, at least to start.
So, here are some summer photography ideas that you can easily incorporate into your real life this summer.
Chase the Sun
photo by DieterMeyrl via iStock
There is obviously never more sun than during the summer months, so a lot of my summer photography ideas involve it.
I try to catch at least one sunrise and one sunset every week during the summer, though this may be a lofty goal for some.
I also try to photograph the sun with an interesting foreground as often as possible. I’ll photograph the sun through city windows, through canvases of leaves, and, let’s be honest, through my wine glass.
Use Props, Like Bubbles and Water
photo by wundervisuals via iStock
If you have little kids, then the next couple of summer photography ideas will come really easy. The first one is to use props in your photographs as often as possible. You can get creative with the props you choose to use, but some favorites are bubbles and water.
I’ll have my kid blow bubbles at the camera, so I can capture the bubbles in the foreground with his face in the background. These photos are always hilarious because he is really into blowing bubbles. I’ll also have him swim around his kiddie pool and ask him how big of a splash he thinks he can make.
Practice Food Photography With a Picnic
photo by Charday Penn via iStock
No summer photography ideas are as fun as this one: have a picnic. The weather is gorgeous, so there’s no better place to be than outdoors. And if you haven’t had a picnic in years, like me, then it can help remind you just how enjoyable simple summers are.
When you’re out with your basket of food and some friends, practice your food photography. See if you can make your Instagram followers jealous.
Practice New Angles
photo by Chalffy via iStock
I feel like I recommend this tip in all of my articles about creative photography ideas, but I do it because people still don’t listen to it.
I definitely feel like photographers do not look up as often as they should. But, this is especially true during the summer months when people are actually hanging out by their apartment windows, putting laundry on clotheslines between buildings, and chilling on rooftops.
You can start practicing shooting from different angles during the summer just by looking for people or animals doing interesting things.
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Use More Colors
photo by kali9 via iStock
As a photographer who swears by presets, I find that a lot of my photographs, ultimately, end up looking the same. I think this is true of pretty much any photographer in the 21st century because everyone has an Instagram presence to keep up. Anything out of the ordinary likely won’t make the cut.
So, this is my challenge to you: make something out of the ordinary. Try and find bold, bright colors that otherwise wouldn’t attract your photographic eye. These colors come across so beautifully in summer photos and they make everyone happy.
It also doesn’t matter if the colors you’re finding are natural, like in a field of wildflowers, or unnatural, like in a pool filled with pool toys. The important thing is that you are getting outside of your comfort zone with these summer photography ideas.
Capture Your Vacation
photo by MStudioImages via iStock
Some summer photography ideas don’t actually require you to change your plans at all, just to capture them. Chances are, you’re likely planning on going on a vacation this summer (like everyone else in the world). Bring your camera. You won’t find better food or landscape photography than the picturesque places we like to unwind.
Find Wildlife
photo by SmartServicesLA via iStock
Animals, like people, really enjoy the warmer weather that the summer months bring. Take this summer to try and improve your wildlife photography.
One common misconception about wildlife photography is that it can only occur in the middle of nowhere. Even cities thrive with wildlife during the summer months.
Don’t Shy Away from Storms
photo by mdesigner125 via iStock
While a lot of summer photography tends to be bright and sunny, that doesn’t mean you should be scared of storms. Depending upon where you live, you likely get a lot of thunderstorms in the summer. These can turn the sky bright green, if you live in the midwest, or deep, dark brown, if you live in the southwest. These are natural colors that you don’t get to see very often.
Shooting summer storms can also help you get better at shooting in low light.
Practice Silhouettes
photo by altanaka via iStock
Since the summer months are so long, light usually lingers in the sky for a much longer time. This hour between the time when the sun goes down and when the sky is actually pitch black is perfect for practicing silhouettes.
Plus, there are tons of online resources for learning how to shoot silhouettes, so you have no excuse for not learning!
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