Cool photography ideas. Great ideas for a photo shoot at home alone or with friends and family

More and more people want not only to capture an event, but to get wonderful memories of an event or moment of life in the form of interesting shots. Not everyone can catch a unique shot, but prepare in advance, having thought out the subject matter and your image, anyone can do it. In fact, all good things have already been invented. One has only to devote a little time to studying the options for photo shoots, and you will definitely find a suitable one for yourself. First of all, the theme and plot depend on the event to which you want to time the shooting. It can be a wedding, waiting for the birth of a baby, an anniversary of meeting a loved one, or just filming for no reason. Consider the main, most popular types of photo shoots.

Wedding photography

A wedding is the most important event in the life of any person. Each girl has her own idea of ​​how she should go. But everyone wants it to be beautiful and graceful. And, accordingly, the photo session should be interesting and admirable.

There are many interesting ones. This can be a romantic theme or a version with elements of humor. Recently, newlyweds have chosen the most unexpected places and subjects for shooting. For example, the roof of a skyscraper or a crowd of people on the street is especially popular. Wedding gags are an integral part of a photo shoot. It can be a bride in boxing gloves, a couple of newlyweds in a fire engine or a tree, a bride filling the tank of a car, various comic footage.

Home shooting

If you just want to get interesting photos, there are many interesting ideas for a photo shoot at home. It can be a romantic theme using candles, mirrors, letters. A dim light, a glass of wine, a fireplace, and you are sitting next to it in an armchair or on the floor. Fashion style home photo session is suitable for modern interiors. Think carefully about the image, choose the makeup and outfit. Look through the magazines and try to recreate the poses of the models. A men's shirt is one of the favorite items for a photo shoot at home or in the studio. Natural, slightly disheveled, delicate and lovely. Most girls choose this image. Young girls in cozy pajamas look very cute - gentle, romantic.

Waiting for a miracle

Photo sessions of expectant mothers began to be in special demand. A large number of interesting ideas for a photo shoot of pregnant women allow you to create delightful memorable shots, convey a special emotional state of a woman. For such filming, various children's accessories are used: booties, hats, soft toys. Decorate a naked tummy with cute inscriptions and pictures. The involvement of the Pope gives a special and unique atmosphere of family unity.

My family

Often the whole family gets together quite rarely. Everyone is busy with their own business. And there are not so many pictures where all family members would be present. Therefore, a family photo session is not only an opportunity to be photographed together, but also to spend a joint weekend. It can be at home or outdoors. Top tip - take pictures in motion, run, jump, play and have fun. Try to catch emotions. Photos look original when the whole family is dressed in the same clothes, as one team. You can come up with interesting ideas for a family photo session yourself. They depend on how your family likes to spend their leisure time.

Our Baby

If you decide to organize filming of only a kid, interesting

If you are suddenly overtaken by a creative dead end, have run out of new ideas, or are just looking for a little tip for photographing a girl, then sketches can be used as a starting cheat sheet, because they are one of the most important stages of preparation for. The more carefully they are thought out, the more interesting photos you will get as a result of photography. Many professional photographers use this technique when preparing for and during a photo shoot. Poses of girls for a photo shoot from this article should be used as a starting point, and it is best to review and discuss the suggested angles with your model, especially if she has little experience. Thus, you will be able to establish psychological contact with the model. During a photo shoot, do not hesitate to ask the model for her opinion about which positions she likes best. This helps both the model and the photographer to feel more confident, and in the end - to get worthy ones. It will be very useful if, before the photo session, the model thinks over what she wants to see in the pictures, what does she want to emphasize? Innocence? Sexuality? Maybe something romantic? Or some special character traits? What posture options will she do better? The following poses are a hint not only for the model, but also for the photographer, they can be printed or dropped onto your phone and carried with you as a cheat sheet to help you in difficult times.

In this article, a photograph has been selected for each pose presented as an illustration. All images were taken from the Internet (mainly from the site //500px.com), copyright belongs to their authors.

So, let's see: good poses of girls for a photo shoot.

2. Very often, when shooting portraits, both the model and the photographer forget about the position of the hands. However, you can get something creative if you ask the model to play with her hands, trying different head and face positions. The main thing to remember is one rule - no flat, tense palms: the hands should be soft, flexible and, preferably, not facing directly into the frame with the palm or the back of the hand.

3. You are probably familiar with such a compositional rule as.

4. Very cute pose for a seated model - with knees brought together.

5. Another open and attractive pose - the model is lying on the ground. Drop down and shoot from practically ground level.

6. And again the option for the prone position: you can ask the model to play with his hands - fold them or calmly lower them to the ground. An excellent angle for shooting outdoors, among flowers and grasses.

7. The most elementary pose, but it looks just stunning. You need to shoot from the lower level, go around the model in a circle, taking pictures from different angles. The model should be relaxed, you can change the position of the arms, hands, head.

8. And this amazing pose works well for girls with any shape. Try different positions of the legs and arms, focus on the subject's eyes.

9. Nice and playful pose. Great for almost any decor: on the bed, in the grass or on the beach. Photograph the model from a low position with the eyes in focus.

10. A wonderful way to showcase the beautiful figure of the model. Perfectly emphasizes the silhouette against a bright background.

11. Another friendly pose for a seated model. Position the model with one knee pressed to the chest and the other leg, also bent at the knee, on the ground. The gaze is directed into the lens. Try different shooting angles for best results.

12. A great way to demonstrate all the beauty and plasticity of the model's body. Can be used as a silhouette pose against a bright background.

13. Simple and natural position with many possible options. Let the model experiment with the position of the hips, arms, and head.

14. Simple yet elegant pose. The model is turned a little to the side, hands are in the back pockets.

15. A slight forward tilt can subtly emphasize the shape of the model. It looks very attractive and sexy.

16. A sensual pose with raised arms favorably emphasizes the smooth curves of the body. Well suited for slim and fit models.

17. The options for posing in full growth are simply endless, this position can be taken as a starting point. Ask the model to easily rotate the body, change the position of the arms, head, gaze direction, etc.

18. This position looks rather relaxed. Do not forget that you can lean against the wall not only with your back, but also with your shoulder, arm or hip.

19. Full-length shots are quite specific and are better suited for tall, slender models. Here's a little secret: the body of the model should resemble the English letter S, the weight is transferred to one leg, the arms are in a relaxed state.

20. One of the best poses for slim models with a huge number of options. To get the most advantageous position, have the model slowly change the position of the arms and bend the body continuously.

21. Romantic, gentle pose. Use a variety of fabrics and draperies. With their help, you can get sensual pictures. It is not necessary to expose the entire back: often, even a slightly bare shoulder creates a flirtatious mood.

22. A good pose for a photo shoot and an excellent angle from which the model looks slimmer. The model stands sideways, the chin is slightly down, and the shoulder is slightly raised. Please note that there should be a small distance between the chin and shoulder.

23. Often, the usual poses are the most successful. The model should transfer the weight of the body to one leg, and at the same time bend the body into an S-shape.

24. The model touches slightly a vertical surface with both hands, such as a wall or a tree. The pose is suitable for a portrait shot.

25. If the model is endowed with beautiful long hair - be sure to show it in motion. Ask her to turn her head quickly to let her hair develop. Experiment with shutter speeds to get crisp or blurry footage that emphasizes motion.

26. In the next pose, the model is sitting on a sofa or bed. If you give the girl a cup of coffee, you can get a thematic shot (for example, the girl is cold, and now she is resting and warming up).

27. Excellent and comfortable pose, which is suitable for a photo shoot in the house, studio on the couch and more ...

28. Beautiful pose for a model sitting on the couch.

29. Excellent option for photographing a model sitting on the ground. The photographer can shoot from different angles.

30. In a sitting position, you can experiment, do not limit yourself to only certain plot poses.

31. It is believed that crossing the legs and arms between people creates a kind of psychological barrier, and this is not recommended for photography. However, this is not always the case. A photographer should try to take a photo where the model's arms are crossed over her chest. This is a great pose for a female photo shoot.

Anton Rostovskiy

32. It is not always necessary to come up with a certain position of the hands. It's perfectly okay to leave them in a natural position, relaxed. The same can be said for the legs. The only thing to remember is that while standing, the model must transfer body weight on one leg.

33. Another example of a full body pose that is perfect for a photo shoot. The girl's hands, in whole or in part, are in her pockets.

34. This pose is winning for a summer photo shoot. Ask the model to take off her shoes and walk slowly.

35. The model's hands behind her back, an unusual, but very open and sincere pose. The model can also lean against the wall.

36. For decent official portraits, a very simple and at the same time spectacular position is suitable. The model stands slightly sideways, and her face is turned towards the photographer, her head is slightly tilted to the side.

37. The model will look very harmonious in the frame if both hands are placed on the waist. The pose is suitable for half-length and full-length portraits.

38. If there is any tall piece of furniture nearby that you can lean on with one hand, be sure to use it. This will help create a formal yet relaxed and relaxed pose.

39. Another good position is to sit down on something. Well suited for both indoor and outdoor photography.

40. An example of a feminine and winning pose for a full-length model shot.

41. Quite a difficult pose, due to the fact that you need to convey the movement of the model. However, if done right, the reward is a great, elegant fashion shot.

42. An excellent pose, however, certain camera settings are required: the girl is leaning on the fence or the railing of the bridge. A large aperture will provide a shallow depth of field and a blurry background.

43. Great pose if everything is done with its peculiarities in mind. The correct placement of the arms and legs is crucial here. Ideal for all body types. Please note that the survey must be taken from a slightly raised position.

44. Perfect pose for intimate photography. It works well in various conditions, on the bed, on the beach, etc.

45. Another interesting pose. We take the angle from the bottom point. The upper body of the model is slightly raised and the head is slightly tilted downward. The legs are bent at the knees up, the feet are crossed.

46. ​​This position is not the easiest one. There are a few things to pay attention to: the hand on which the model rests should be turned with the palm away from the body, the abdominal muscles should be under control, the legs should be extended. The pose is ideal for an athletic body type.

47. The next difficult pose requires professionalism from the photographer. For a successful end result, he must take into account the position of all parts of the body - head, arms, waist (there should be no folds in the skin!), Hips and legs.

Nowadays, photography has become an integral part of the life of almost every person. We all have phones with built-in cameras, hobby digital cameras, film cameras, instant-print cameras, DSLRs, and many, many others. We love to take pictures and we love to be photographed. But how can you do it very beautifully? How do you make a photo look like a painting? It is no longer enough for us to simply photograph, we want original photographs and preferably with some idea.

Imagine that you are an artist and are going to paint a picture. First of all, you will probably decide on the genre: whether it be portrait, landscape, still life or something else. Further, having decided on the genre, you will most likely find the object you want to draw. Then build the model and get to work. So?

It's the same with photography, because good photography is as much a work of art as painting. Therefore, you need to approach the process of photographing also seriously, thinking over every detail: how to set the light, what pose the model should take, what focus to set, and much more. All this can be learned by visiting photo courses.

The hit of the accessories for a photo shoot in 2015 was the husky. See how it looks in the video.

In the art of photography (as well as in painting), there are various directions, for each of which you can pick up many ideas that will help you create original and interesting pictures. Here are a few of them:

Wedding photography ideas

The article used the work of the studio

Creative photography ideas

In principle, ideas can be general for each direction. But how do you find them?

How to look for ideas for a photo shoot?

Just look around, observe, show your imagination and do not be afraid to use ordinary objects and places in an extraordinary way! In our work, we identify 6 main factors that help us find and develop ideas for future images.

First factor - Model
A model with her appearance can give you a great idea for a photo shoot. For example, if a girl has long hair, she can be photographed flying in the wind. You can immediately add a long dress here (the third factor is clothing). Or if a girl has big eyes, then your task is to convey this beauty, to emphasize it. Chat with the model: together you can think of the perfect look. But in order for the image to open completely, a beautiful place is needed.

Second factor - Location
In fact, many photographers start looking for ideas precisely from the place of photography, and only then they adjust everything else to it - the model, clothes, accessories. Each place is good in its own way. The selection of a place is a very responsible matter. After all, this is not just a wall or a bush - these are various details that complement your picture. For example, it can be the ruins of a house, a beach, a park bench. A unique image and story can be created for each location.

The third factor is clothing
Beautiful and original clothing is what shows the character of your model. A strict suit of a brutal man against the background of a stone wall will emphasize his masculinity, or a bright airy sundress dressed for a girl with freckles and hair braided in pigtails, running across the field - will show her innocence.

Fourth factor - Accessories

Accessories are a very powerful element. And lately it is very popular, especially in wedding photo shoots. Anything can be an accessory: a kite, soap bubbles, letters, flowers. Also, the accessories can be mixed. With the right approach, the presence of the right accessory in the frame completely changes the idea of ​​a photograph, and this is important, again, if you have one. For example, a couple in love hugs next to a scooter on a beautiful beach or field strewn with flowers.

Factor Five - Light
Yes, it is the light that can give you a great idea! Various lighting schemes and additional light sources can be used not only in the studio, but also outdoors. This is perhaps the most powerful tool in the hands of a photographer, if, of course, he knows how to work with light. The simplest thing is a Christmas tree with garlands. After such a shot, a vivid festive impression remains.

Sixth factor - the ability to work in Photoshop
Photoshop allows you to completely transform the resulting photo, but it requires the right shot. And this is a whole science, which we will discuss separately in another article. But to make it clear, let's give an example:

Places that will help you choose and implement any idea for a photo shoot.

Before choosing a specific idea for a photo shoot, you should choose a specific location. And so that the selection process is not so difficult, we have selected for you the most advantageous and relevant ones, containing a large range for creativity.

1. Photo session on the street.

A completely simple, cheap and very profitable option. After all, no layouts can compare with the beauty of nature! Bright colors of autumn, warm summer sunsets, a snowy fairy tale in winter, blooming spring gardens, sea coasts ... the list is endless. When photographing in nature, there is no limit to imagination: single shooting, landscape, romantic, family, children and many other options - get creative!

If you want to get highly professional portraits, then go to the photo studio. Renting a room for photography can be completely inexpensive, but you need to take into account some points. When choosing a photo studio, pay attention to the area of ​​the room - it should not be less than 30 square meters, and the ceiling should not be less than 3m high. It is also worth considering the power of the light sources, it must be at least 500W. An additional plus will be a good props for photography. If your chosen photo studio meets these parameters, then you can safely start creating stunning pictures. As an additional advice on conducting, we can offer you to come up with an original theme, based on your desires or from the desires of your model (or models). For example, girls will like to create the image of a vamp, or, conversely, a gentle beauty. But keep in mind that to create thematic pictures you will need costumes, additional requisites and the services of a make-up artist. But the result will justify all the costs, rest assured!

It's expensive, but incredibly beautiful and chic. Your pictures will not leave anyone indifferent. It is most beautiful to shoot weddings, couples or just girls in beautiful long dresses among the splendor of ancient buildings. Photos taken at sunset or dusk work especially well. So the landscape becomes more romantic and mysterious. If you absolutely cannot afford taking pictures in the palace, then an abandoned building would be an alternative option. For example, an old manor house, castle or palace. This idea is somewhat adventurous, even risky, but, at the same time, you are guaranteed wonderful pictures and unforgettable sensations.

Having decided on the places, we form specific ideas for them. So:

The boat is one of the main romantic accessories. A date in a boat, silence, solitude - no one will refuse such photos! Boats are usually located in beautiful parks, so a photo session in a boat will also highlight the beauty of the natural landscape.

Each season is beautiful in its own way, and we, as photographers, are interested in capturing them all. Beautiful leaves in autumn, fluffy snow in winter. All these weather attributes very nicely complement any wedding, model or.

A mask is a variant of an accessory for a photo shoot. The use of a mask adds mystery and mystery to the pictures.

A car is a very popular idea for photography, especially in photo shoots and photographs of long-legged girls.

Photographs are usually allowed in cafes or restaurants. The cafe is a beautiful place for a photo shoot, the pictures near the bar look especially good.

Dogs, cats, horses and other your favorite animals are ideal for good photography.

There are a huge number of different props for a photo session. There are even companies that rent any accessories and even organize entire photo zones.

The park bench, just like the boat, is a great place to photograph couples in love.

But no matter how good the composition is, know that a good shot depends, first of all, on the photographer and on his desire to learn and comprehend the art of photography. So create - everything is in your hands!

Freezelight is a special technique for painting with light. Very interesting effects can be created with this interesting technique.

You can leave your discussions and thoughts in the forum thread

Well, some inspiration:

A famous photographer once said: "Friends, please turn on your imagination, realize your most unusual, creative and crazy ideas, but just do not take photos that have no idea, content, story ..."

Then these words really hooked me. Since then, I started collecting ideas for a photo shoot on the street, in nature and in any interesting places, in order to take photographs that you look at and cannot tear yourself away from, because they breathe "real", life and meaning.

So, let's think together, give freedom to our ideas about correctness and let loose bold ideas. By the way, definitely, which complements the ideas below well.

1. Railway station.

It can be any Moscow railway station that you like. Imagine a stranger with a neat little suitcase in her hands goes down a wide staircase or stands in confusion in the middle of a huge station with the same little case, looking for someone with her eyes ...

I give you the opportunity to complete this picture yourself. Moreover, you can use both the appearance of the stations and the chic platforms, for example, of the Kievsky railway station.

Photo: Elena Krizhevskaya

1. Museums.

A very fertile topic, in my opinion. Here you can follow the path of the ancient interiors of literary museums, or take some, a submarine museum, a museum of modern art in a deserted time (white walls will serve as an interesting minimalistic background), an interactive museum ... Just take a list of all museums and choose the one that you like. the best way will tell your story.

Here, of course, the moment of agreement is important. For example, you can do everything quickly and quietly, or you can agree with the museum that you will then provide them with photos or some other bonus.

Photo: Aigul Cherry

1. Libraries.

A separate item on our list. Again, you can negotiate with the staff if you do not need a long photo session, but you can approach the issue in detail. At the moment, 10 libraries are officially allowed to hold professional photo sessions (everything is subject to change, check with the library management). So, here they are:

• library-reading room to them. Turgenev,
• central youth library named after Svetlova,
• library-reading room to them. Pushkin,
• central universal library named after Nekrasov,
• library "House of Losev",
• Central Library System of the Central Administrative District Library No. 19 named after Dostoevsky,
• Gogol's house,
• library of arts. Bogolyubov,
• Central Library System of the Southern Administrative District Library No. 166,
• CLS SEAD Library No. 129.

Photo: Aigul Cherry

1. Stadiums.

Unusual, isn't it? How to get there when no one is there ... Anything is possible. Just keep that option here. In this case, you can go to any match. Then the photo will definitely be emotionally saturated to the limit))) For example, a fragile girl and a crowd of fans. Again, what you want to say in the frame is important.

Photo: Elena Krizhevskaya

1. Crazy stairs.

Such wonderful structures can be spied on Instagram:
@interalma, @urayxor, @worldneedsmorespiralstaircases

Will it be a guy lying on the floor so that the perspective of a staircase would seem to frame him, or a ballerina whose bend can be envied, a couple in love, a long-haired beauty, overshadowing the beauty of architecture with her charm ... It's up to you.

Photo: Roman Egorov

1. Dancing people.

Since we remembered ballerinas, let's open this topic too. Remembering the photographer ... who catches the dancer's flight with his camera, we can add color to our photo session. For example, dancers in an urban environment, doing their usual things, but in incredible jumps ... If our model is a person far from dancing, then you can take some simple dance poses and use them in addition to the idea of ​​a photo shoot on the street or indoors.

Photo: Kristina Makeeva

1. City architecture.

Secluded streets of the center, courtyards, wells and other atmospheric places, we have already talked about this in the review. The vivid image in which the model will be is important here.

It should be added that we have at our disposal not only streets, but also squares, dead ends, arches, temples, embankments, buildings in different styles (for example, Moscow City or historical), roofs, bridges, industrial buildings, factories, palaces, estates , sculptures, columns, fountains, boulevards, observation platforms, stairs (already mentioned) ...

Photo: Kristina Makeeva

If we add to this also different lighting ... Daylight, sunset, night. Then these "dishes" can be served under different "sauces".

1. Graffiti.

Have you already imagined what can be done in such an atmosphere? Something sporty, danceable or catchy makeup of a strict model on a "flashy" background is presented. By the way, you can go in a completely different way. For the model, create a classic evening look to show the contrast of the conservative black long dress in the style of Audrey Hepburn (this is the first that came to mind) and modern bright graffiti. The combination of the incongruous.

Photo: Roman Egorov

1. 30 strangers.

Let this well-known idea take pride of place on our list. What is it? We get to know each other, start a conversation with a person whom we see for the first time, for example, in a cafe, and then with his permission we take a few frames and leave a beautiful portrait as a souvenir. Fearfully? Yes, but very exciting. Such photographs may be filled with sincerity. Just as it’s easier for a stranger to talk about his difficulties on the train, it may be easier for a casual photographer to open up for just a couple of shots.

1. A plot from the book.

Novels, detectives, science fiction, comedy, drama, tragedy ... Yes, maybe the series is not entirely homogeneous, but grasp the very essence. Choose a plot from the book that most closely resembles your intention and tell that story through your lens. Books, fortunately, a huge amount. If a certain story does not come to mind, start with the genre, discuss with like-minded people, and the very book whose plot you want to translate into reality will not keep you waiting.

Or maybe it will be a fairy tale?

Photo: Anastasia Barashova

1. The plot of the movie.

Since we have touched on this topic. Think of all the movies that really made you think or left a very good impression. How is it? Does anything come to mind? You can, as with books, pay attention to genres: historical, documentary, western, melodrama ... Maybe arthouse? Well, what? Think about the images of the main characters, or episodic roles will be more attractive to you ...


Photo: Kristina Makeeva
1. History.

Here, let's talk about several areas at once:

- historical events with which the idea of ​​a photo shoot may be associated,

- famous historical figures (empresses, kings, generals, leaders ...),

- different eras of Russia (this will help you when thinking about personalities and not only; ancient times, the Middle Ages, the USSR, etc.),

- different eras of any other state (why only Russia, maybe someone raves about France, for example?).


Photo: Kristina Makeeva

Costumes, if needed, can be rented or borrowed from a theater. Go for it, everything is in your hands.

1. Culture.

Here I would like to mention the culture of different peoples and states. These can be African tribes, Arabic motifs, Russian flavor, European elegance ... Just imagine, for example, how you can convey the spirit of a Russian woman standing in the middle of a huge rye field ...


Photo: Veronika Kosareva
1. Famous actresses and actors, singers, dancers and other artists.

Perhaps you have in mind a distinctive actor whose world you would like to bring into your photography? His style ... Or you can even do this, watch the photo sessions of the eminent actress, look at her images and get inspired. Who knows, maybe this will lead you to that very shot.


Photo: Aigul Cherry
1. Painting and ...

For some reason I wanted to write about painting, you can delve into genres and, again, draw from this your idea for a photo. Portrait, landscape, still life, architectural painting ... Maybe you will be inspired by the monumental painting, executed on the walls of some beautiful cathedral? You can also turn to the directions: abstractionism, avant-garde, realism, baroque ...


Photo: Roman Egorov
1. Cinemas, concert halls, theaters ...

Yes, it can be a little messy, but that's what they are for. So, you can arrange shooting in an empty hall, it remains to think over the image of a person in the frame.

You can also refer not only to the existing halls, but also to the abandoned ones, there you will find a special atmosphere.

1. Transport.

The subway is a separate point of our conversation. The Moscow metro is beautiful, and there can be any number of variations on its theme. By the way, the historical plot may well be realized in the Moscow dungeon.

Trams, railways, trains, airplanes (for example, you can find a lot of interesting ) etc.

Photo: Elena Krizhevskaya
1. Music.

Musical instruments, maybe it will even be models that will convey the message of a certain instrument ... Here we also turn to genres: jazz, classical, rock, blues, country, hip-hop (by the way, graffiti is good for it), etc.

1. Water.

For a summer photo session, experiments related to swimming are suitable, photographs on embankments, fountains (for example, in the Muzeon), if it is a city, and if it is a village - on bridges, etc. The boat will be an excellent helper for an interesting plot, or even a ship (motor ship). A frozen river is suitable for winter. You can capture the moment when it will be white, white and deserted, and capture one or more people in the middle of the ice sheet.


Photo: Anastasia Barashova
1. Attractions.

It can be a Ferris wheel, and carousels, and those circular carousels with horses, as in the films. If your idea is close to this topic, then the photos will definitely turn out bright and emotional.

Working on photo projects with a variety of subjects is a great way to break away from routine photography and focus on the creative process of creating your stills. Limitations in shooting subjects and equipment sometimes really force you to resort to very creative solutions.

We have prepared 52 great ideas for filming in 2015. For every week of the year, in theory. We've divided them into three subsections: simple home projects that you can implement today, ideas that you can implement outdoors, and temporary projects that you can start right now.

Photo ideas for home

1. Manipulation with water droplets

To implement this idea, you need to install a container with water with a small hole through which drops of water will be passed. Your task is to press the shutter button at the moment when the drop is forming or already flying. The most important thing is to determine as accurately as possible the time to close the shutter. We achieved the best results with two flash units set at minimum power (1 / 128th). The aperture value was set to f / 22. To give the water a more viscous consistency, we added a little food thickener to it. We also used a device of the SplashArt Kit series, which helps to regulate the size of the drops and the frequency of their falling.

2. Taking pictures of a splash of water

For this project, you will need a remote control flash, a water tank with clean, transparent sides, a colored background, and a tripod. Place a container with water and a colored background, then place the flash over the container. Place the camera on a tripod and switch to manual focus mode. At f / 8 and ISO 200, set the fastest shutter speed possible. Don't forget about flash sync. So, throw an object into the water and press the shutter button as soon as it touches the surface of the water.

3. The art of painting with smoke

Many photographers, for example, still life lovers, enjoy using smoke in their photographs. But what if you go to the next level and use the intricate shapes of swirling smoke to compose your paintings? You can create an unusual art project in Photoshop. So, after taking some nice swirls of smoke, create a new blank document in Photoshop. Then copy and paste one of the resulting photos onto it. Set the Blending Mode to Screen and use the Warp Transform command (Edit> Transform> Warp) to reshape the smoke. Continue experimenting by adding more images to the document.

4. Cross-polarization

At the heart of this fun idea is the effect that polarized light creates when it hits plastic objects. You will need two polarizing filters, ideally one of them should be a sheet of polarizing film. An A4 sheet of Lee 239 polarizing film can be purchased for about £ 50. The sheet of film should be placed on a lightbox or any other light source. IPad screens and most computer screens have a built-in polarizing filter, so if you don't have polarizing film, then you can easily create a blank white document that fills the screen and use your gadget. Attach a polarizer to the camera and rotate it so that the colors appear on the transparent plastic parts.

5. Edible landscapes

Back up your food photo! All you need is to creatively place figurines on the food, such as the Hornby. They fit perfectly, as the little men from this company are offered in a variety of poses. It is important not only to place the figurines, but also to tell the story. In this photo, you watch two heroes give advice to a climber trying to climb a potato mountain.

6. Food as art

Use a lightbox and a very sharp knife to transform food for your dinner into a piece of photo art. Cut the fruits and vegetables as thinly as possible and then place them on the lightbox. Place your camera directly over your subject and use Live View to manually focus on details. Set the aperture to f / 8 for the optimum depth of field. It is worth resorting to exposure compensation and setting it to + 1- + 3 stops, as the bright light from the lightbox can confuse your camera's exposure meter.

7. Flowers in ice

A relatively inexpensive way to take great macro photography is to freeze flowers in plastic containers filled with distilled or de-ionized water. The flowers will float, so take care of how to secure them in one position. Place a piece of ice on the surface of a clear glass or bowl in a white sink or other container so that the light will reflect off all surfaces of the container. Place the flash on one side and point downward, and place the camera on the opposite side.

8. Oil and abstraction

Oil streaks spreading across the surface of the water is a great idea for vibrant abstract photographs. This project uses the refractive quality of an oil that enhances and distorts colors. All you need to do is pour water into a transparent bowl and add a few drops of regular vegetable oil. Place the bowl approximately 25 cm above the table. Put multi-colored paper under the bowl, illuminate it with an ordinary table lamp or with a flash.

9. Oil reflections

This idea echoes the idea described in the paragraph above. But in this case, the color drawing is created using a colored lamp cover, and not a multi-colored background. First, make a desk lamp cover using hard colored paper, plastic wrap, and duct tape. For safety reasons, make sure the paper is not touching the light bulb. Place a container of water in front of a table lamp and add a few drops of oil to the water. Spread the oil over the surface, bring the camera as close as possible and shoot.

10. Psychedelic soap film

This project is a great idea for a vibrant desktop or abstract wall wallpaper. You will need liquid soap mixed with glycerin, this combination forms a permanent soapy film. Equip yourself with a wire loop, a black background and a macro lens like 100mm. The colors from the soap film only appear at a certain angle of incidence of the light. Position yourself close to the window and get the correct angle for shooting.

11. Refraction effect

Passing through water, light has a tendency to be distorted, i.e. refracted, as a result, objects under water visually change their appearance. This phenomenon is called refraction, and we will use it in this small photo project. All you need is a few transparent glasses, a flash, a tripod and a background with a black and white pattern. Just place glasses of water on the patterned background and shoot.

12. Macro photography in the kitchen

Your kitchen is the perfect place for macro photography. Its reflective surfaces can be used to create interesting backgrounds for pictures, and its shallow depth of field can transform the most common subjects. By stitching together a few pictures, you can create a beautiful decor piece for your own kitchen, but before you start shooting, consider how the frames will overlap with each other. Our row consists of three photographs taken at the same angle and with the same depth of field.

13. Bokeh

An object as simple as a crumpled piece of foil can easily become the basis for a beautiful photo project. Place your subject on glass, and place a piece of dark material under the glass. Remember a little ordinary kitchen foil in your hands, then spread it out and place it as a background. Direct light from a desk lamp or any other source onto the foil. With the camera on a tripod, open the aperture as far as possible. Illuminate the foil with a flash while shooting.

14. Bokeh bubbles

Small light sources always create beautiful bokeh. The garland is perfect for this. Place the garland so far away that its bulbs are out of focus when the aperture is open. The subject, in this case the glass, should be close to the camera, and the focus should be on it. Place the garland itself in such a way that the bokeh eventually takes the form of multi-colored bubbles flying out of the glass. This technique is also used to create this "flow" of bokeh from mugs of hot drinks.

15. Drawings with light

Light streaks and light patterns can be used in a wide variety of photography genres and are ideal for still lifes. To do this, you can use a simple flashlight, and to make the light less scattered, you can remove the top cover, thereby exposing the bulb. Use insulating tape to attach a piece of colored paper to the flashlight. Set your shutter speed to around 30 seconds and your aperture around f / 8. While exposing the frame, make smooth circular movements around the bottle, drawing a spiral.

16. Light spirals

Tie the lantern to a rope and hang it from the ceiling. For this photo, you will need the widest lens you have in your arsenal. Mount the camera on a tripod and point it straight at the ceiling. With the light on in the room, manually focus on the tip of the flashlight. Set the aperture to about f / 11 - f / 16, use Bulb mode and the remote shutter release to shoot. Keep the shutter open for about a minute after launching the flashlight.

Outdoor exercise ideas

17. Portraits with the Brenizer effect a

The Brenizer method, also known as portrait panorama or bokerama, provides an excellent basis for a series of portrait photographs. The method was invented by New York City wedding photographer Ryan Brenizer. This technique allows you to create photographs with the effect of an ultra wide-angle lens. The idea behind this method is to create a series of photographs that, when glued together, form a full frame. Putting the mosaics together can be done using the Photomerge option in Photoshop or a stitching program. Use manual camera settings, from white balance to focus, so the parameters will be the same for all images. Take 30-80 frames to create one photo, and do not forget that each subsequent frame should overlap the previous one by about a third.

18. In the right place with the wrong lens

Force yourself to see things differently. When going for a walk with your camera, choose the opposite lens to the one you would most likely take with you. Take a wide-angle lens to the zoo, for example, or limit yourself to telephoto focal lengths the next time you go to photograph landscapes.

19. Landscapes piece by piece

Try to explore the area around you in a new way, creating compositions from several fragments captured while walking. Go outside for literally 20 minutes. Don't spend too much time on settings, just choose aperture priority mode, don't bring a tripod and various filters with you, give up fancy techniques. Take pictures of anything that grabs your attention. Upon returning home, create a document with a grid in Photoshop and insert the resulting images into its cells using layers.

20. Minimalistic landscapes

Instead of driving the view in front of you into one boring shot, try shooting a series of minimalist landscapes with a long exposure. Symmetrical composition and square format will help to emphasize the simplicity of the frame. You will also need a ND filter to enable you to enjoy long exposures throughout the day. Use a tripod and remote to release the shutter.

21. Star landscapes

To capture the perfect starry landscape, you need perfectly clear skies. It is advisable that the moon does not fall into the frame, otherwise many details may be lost. For a high-quality shot with clear, undefined stars, photographs should be taken at sufficiently fast shutter speeds, for this, go to the manual setting mode, set the ISO value to about 1600 or 3200 and the shutter speed at two seconds. Even with these settings, you will have to set your aperture wide open: f / 4 or even f / 2.8.

22. Take pictures that never inspire you

Write down a list of items or places that you find uninteresting, boring, or even ugly. Now push yourself to take attractive and interesting photographs of these non-photogenic places and objects.

23. Looking for an abstraction in a parking lot

You do not need to travel to distant countries to carry out an interesting photo project. The possibilities for taking photographs are numerous, and even in such mundane places as a car park, it is quite possible to create something interesting. For such a project, you only need a digital camera. Without focusing on technique, look for and photograph different textures, color combinations, curious shapes and ornaments.

24. Selective colors

Instead of using the proverbial techniques to make the subject stand out from the rest of the frame (for example, leaving the main subject in color, and transferring everything else to black and white), try to pick a color and find its embodiment in all the diversity of the world. Draw attention to this color by using the right composition.

25. Night photography

Take night photography. Limit yourself to the use of additional light sources, make the most of the available lighting.

26. Optical illusions

As part of this project, we invite you to play with perspective, which affects the viewer's perception of the relationship between objects of different sizes that are in the frame. It is best to take as a basis objects whose sizes are known and not in any doubt, and make them interact with larger objects in the background. For this kind of photography, shoot with a small aperture opening to provide a greater depth of field.

27. Miniature world

Shoot miniature toys and models in their natural environment. Such projects are popular and very widespread today, in addition, there is nothing difficult in their implementation. Just take a small figurine or toy with you and take it off in different situations, anywhere and anytime: on a trip or on a walk, or even on the way to work. In order for the figurine to blend in with its surroundings, you should, firstly, shoot it at close range, and secondly, correctly balance the lighting.

28. Create a tilt-shift effect

The well-known and beloved "toy town" effect is obtained using a special expensive tilt-shift lens. But a similar effect can be obtained in Photoshop, if you blur everything in the photo except for a small area on which you want to focus. For more credibility, photograph from a hill and preferably in sunny weather.

29. Photo alphabet

No, we are not suggesting that you look for letters of the alphabet in the inscriptions on stores, road signs, etc. Instead, look for objects and objects that are shaped like the letters of the alphabet. You shouldn't look far for an example, let's take a children's swing on the playground. What does their frame look like from the end? That's right, the letter A. A curved river from a bird's eye view of the English letter S.

30. From 1 to 100

Similar to how we suggested that you create a photographic alphabet, you can expand this project a little and try to find illustrations for numbers.

31. Faces in unusual places

Another simple and fun photo project idea. Sometimes we can observe how the usual things of our everyday life, and just the surrounding objects have some similarities with a human face or take a form that remotely reminds us of facial features. Learn to look at the world of things differently. Check out the blog dedicated to this topic for inspiration.

32. Light Orbit

Painting with light gives you a limitless variety of photography ideas. But what about a series of light-orbiting images? You don't need complicated equipment. All you need is a bright, battery-powered LED backlight and a hoop to wrap around the backlight. Mount the camera on a tripod, select the optimal shutter speed and just rotate the hoop.

33. Burning steel wool

For this project, make sure you shoot in an open area away from flammable objects in advance. Place steel wool in a metal whisk and attach it to the chain. Then set fire to the wool and rotate the whisk on the chain, burning sparks will fly around. You will need a desperate volunteer, a tripod and a shutter speed of about 15 seconds at f / 11 and ISO 100.

34. Machine movement

For a change, try to capture movement not from the outside of the car, but from the inside. Filming, of course, should be at night. Ask a friend to drive smoothly and slowly on a well-lit road. Set the exposure length to about 30 seconds. Place the tripod on the passenger seat and use the remote shutter release.

35. Intentional errors

List the most common mistakes a photographer can make. Then try, by deliberately making these mistakes, to create a beautiful photo. You may overexpose or underexpose the frame, crop your subject incorrectly, or focus on the background rather than the subject.

36. Cinemagraph

Create a series of animated Gifs showing subtle movement. This project requires little work in Photoshop. You will have to create not just frames, but video sequences, but the result can exceed all your expectations. You will need a tripod; the background must remain the same throughout the entire footage. Choose a scene in which some action occurs continuously or cyclically so that the starting and ending points in the finished cinemagraph are not striking. Record movement such as the wind swaying foliage on a tree.

37. Intentional camera movement

You're used to doing your best to keep your photos as clear as possible. But to make the photo more metaphorical and mysterious, try the opposite. With a relatively slow shutter speed, intentionally move the camera. Shoot in shutter priority mode. Check out the work of British photographer Chris Friel (http://www.cfriel.com) for inspiration.

38. Retro effect

Various noises and distortions are very easy to add in Photoshop or Lightroom. As a result, you will get a more colorful and atmospheric photo, but its final style should be thought about already during shooting. The retro effect works well with simple, detail-free photographs where the subject is easily recognizable.

39. Time-lapse photography

Many of us may well have time to engage in time-lapse filming, which is on the verge of video and photography. The subject of shooting can, in fact, be any phenomenon of your daily life. Master this fun technique in 2015.

Long-term projects

40. Project 365

A classic project in which you have to take a photo a day throughout the year. You can take two possible paths: limit yourself to just one shot per day for a given project, or take a few photos and then choose the best one. Can't spend so much time taking photos? Then think about an alternative project, for which you need to take a photo a week, respectively, there will be 52 photos in total.

41.50 strangers

This idea is also not new, but that makes it no less exciting. You should get to know and start a conversation with strangers, and then, with their permission, keep their portrait as a souvenir. You can define the number of strangers you should photograph yourself. The most important thing is to overcome yourself and take the first step.

42. Project 50x50x50

It's simple: 50 days, 50 photos taken with a 50mm lens. An extremely simple project that will help develop your vision of a photographer.

43. Creative Selfies

Of course, you can take self-portraits at home, but how boring it is! Why not challenge yourself to create a series of self-portraits outside your home? Check out a series of beautiful self-portraits by renowned photographer Vivian Maier. She portrayed herself as part of a big stage, playing with light, shadow and reflections. It will be easier for you if you choose a specific theme for the project, as, for example, did the photographer Alex Bamford as part of his series of works called the 'Sleepwalking' project (http://www.alexbamford.com/sleepwalking).

44. The world under your feet

Take photos of what is under your feet at the same time of day every day. Equip yourself with a wide-angle lens and find new and interesting places.

45. Portraits without a face

Take portraits of different people, but do not include their faces in the frame. Try to convey their personality in other ways. Use colors, surroundings, lighting, paraphernalia, and even parts of their bodies - especially their hands - all of which will help you expose their character in front of the viewer.

46. ​​Photo game

Ask someone to write 30 things on paper cards. Things can be very different, but always readily available. At this time, you will paint 30 different aspects of the photo (50mm, black and white photo, slow shutter speed, tilt-shift effect, etc.). Take a card from each pile and proceed to the task.

47. Month of monochrome

The name of this idea gives comprehensive information. Force yourself to take exclusively black and white photographs, forget about color for a month. You will learn to see the most suitable scenes and subjects in black and white. This project will help you develop your vision. Shoot in Raw format, but change your camera settings beforehand to monochrome. As a result, during shooting, you will be able to see the scene in black and white, and the image itself will store all the information about the color. You can use this information to process the photo.

48. The four seasons

Unlike a project that involves shooting every day, here you have to shoot the same subject every three months throughout the year. The idea behind this project is to show the changing seasons. Choose your subject wisely for shooting, imagine in advance how the selected scene will look after the transformation caused by the changing weather. A lone tree in a field is certainly the best fit for this project.

49. Geocaching

Download the geocaching app on your smartphone and travel to the hiding place in order to artistically capture the surrounding area. Do not take pictures of the cache itself, because you do not want the people who go in search of it to lose interest.

50. Create a texture library

With textures, you can give a photo a special look. You can apply texture to a photo in several ways, for example using the multiple exposure mode. It is much easier for this purpose to use the program Photoshop and apply textures through layers. Although you can find textures on the Internet, you will agree that it is much more pleasant to use your own. Wood, old crumpled paper, plaster peeling off the walls, and other things can serve as a great texture for your photo.

51. Pinhole photography

With your own hands, using available tools, turn your expensive camera into an analog of the obscura camera and try to shoot without using newfangled technology.

52. Take a photo book

Take the project you worked on last year as a basis. Think about the structure of the book, about the placement of photographs on its pages. Try to arrange them according to color, theme, or style.