Spot relies on beautiful imagery to deliver a compelling place-discovery experience so we talked to an industry insider with a keen eye and serious set of photo chops about her advice for all-around better imagery — pre-shoot to post-processing.
These days, everyone is a photographer, wielding a phone camera and compulsively documenting (and sharing) life’s little moments from breakfast to baby pics to the bar last night (an iffy proposition, always). But even as interest in the medium of photography gains traction, few have mastered the actual craft — photo filters aside.
Enter Nanette Wong. She’s the resident photographer, community wrangler, and social-media maven of PicsArt, a sophisticated photography app that’s like a canvas and art gallery all in one. It offers a full creative suite for editing, plus a plugged-in community for collaboration and exploration. If constantly interfacing with a network of diehard photophiles wasn’t enough, in her spare time, Wong is also the food photographer for lifestyle powerhouse Brit + Co.
As you can imagine, she’s seen it all: the good, the bad, the ugly. So we asked her to distill her know-how into 10 easy-to-replicate tips that challenge anyone, however amateur, to venture beyond the basics.
PRE-SHOOT
1. Plan Ahead
“Before going to a specific site, explore the location online or via social media to get an idea of the shots you want. Some photographers even sketch out or storyboard their ideal shots ahead of time. Having an idea of how and what you want to shoot means that, day of, you can focus more attention on lighting and camera set-up.”
2. Accessorize
“And not just your camera. Think about propping and styling before your shoot. Wearing a red coat when shooting landscapes or a flowy skirt in the desert adds that extra oomph to your photos. It may sound trivial, but just like food photography, propping and styling is a crucial element that can make or break a photo.”
WHILE SHOOTING
3. Get Grid-y With It
“Use the grid on your camera to help compose visually interesting shots. Follow the rule of thirds when you can, but feel free to venture out of it when instinct tells you otherwise. If shooting with your iPhone, turn on the grid by going to Settings > Photos & Camera > Enable Grid.”
4. The More the Merrier
“Take more photos upfront and edit later! That’s the best part about digital technology — you can easily take tons of photos, giving yourself more options to choose from later. This is especially helpful when dealing with moving subjects in action shots.”
5. It’s All About Angles
“Try ALL angles. It’s easy to get in a rut when it comes to photography, sticking only with what you know works. However, you never know what new angle or trick might end up being THE shot. Lay on the floor, climb up some stairs (safely), and shoot at different angles. Get uncomfortable, and your shots will benefit.”
6. When In Doubt, Underexpose Rather Than Overexpose
“When editing, it’s easier to brighten a shot than it is to darken blown-out spots. If you’re shooting with your phone, this means focusing on the darker parts of the photo. If you’re shooting on a DSLR, this may mean you have to shoot manually to ensure that the photo is correctly exposed.”
7. Bring a Tripod
“Or at least a mini-one for your smartphone, whenever you go shooting. You may think, ‘Tripod? Too hardcore for me.’ But I beg to differ. Of course they’re great for taking pictures of you and your loved ones while traveling. But they’re also helpful when you encounter a low-light situation and want crisp, non-blurry photos. On the flip side, they’re super handy when you do want that awesome motion blur achieved with a time-lapse photo.”
EDITING
8. Start Simple
“Begin with basic adjustments, then move on to filters, masks, and more. This creates a foundation for more advanced editing.”
9. Play with Color
“Color (or lack thereof) can dramatically transform a photo. In most photo-editing tools you can easily add a color gradient or turn your photo black and white with a simple filter.”
10. Go Beyond Simple Edits
“Surrealist editing is one of the newest trends in photography letting artists create magical worlds with simple photos and intriguing edits. And, shoutout to my day job, this is where PicsArt really shines — you can use it turn your imagination into reality (well, sort of!)”
We’d love to see your photos! Add #FindYourSpot and #MadeWithPicsArt so we can check them out!
