“Does this spark joy?” is not just a question to ask yourself when tidying up your home. We believe that advice on this sound should be applied to all aspects of your life, including those beautiful photos that you take. Does that messy pile of laundry in the background spark joy? Or the harsh fluorescent lighting in your room?
In cases like this, it’s best to touch your photos up a bit before you post them for the world to admire, after all, you do tidy up your place too before your guests show up, right? In this article we’re going to talk about top tips to Marie Kondo your own photos, so keep reading!
Take Care of Your Eyes
Sometimes we wish we had some cute contact lenses in our photos, or wish we weren’t squinting as much as we are in them. If you want to change eye color, clear up some eye bags, or take care of some puffiness, all you have to do is look for an app that can take care of all this for you.
Use Natural Lighting
If you don’t want to use an app, or if it simply doesn’t work for you, consider taking your photos in soft, natural light. There’s something about the light at dawn and dusk that just makes everything look better, makes colors more colorful, and brings out your own natural features in the best way possible.
Conversely, harsh, fluorescent light just amplifies all your imperfections, pores, and dark spots. The result? You end up looking worse in your photos than you actually do. Remember, the camera is not a replacement for real human eyes, and if you look bad in a photograph, that doesn’t necessarily mean you look bad in real life as well!
Trial and Error!
If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. This is true both for meeting goals and taking bomb photos. If you’re trying to capture a moment or trying to take the perfect selfie, don’t just take one. Take a dozen. This way, you can go through them later without overthinking the shoot too much and choose your favorites for the world to see.
For photoshoots, try substituting a very patient frond (in case you don’t have one) with a tripod and a self-timer. Most smartphones nowadays even come with a burst shot feature, which lets them capture a series of photos all in one go. Take advantage of all these cool gadgets and go crazy!
Clear the Background Up
Sure, you’re the star of your selfie, or maybe your cat is, but before you take it, look at the rest of the stuff in the frame too. Are there things in the photo that would take attention away from the central object?
If you put too much clutter in your photo, not only would it look amateurish and unprofessional, it’ll also give off the impression that you’re a messy person. Marie Kondo would not be pleased.
To counter this, make sure you’re taking photos with your back to a tidy part of your room, or maybe adjust the angles a bit to hide that pile of clutter. Another idea would be to make your own backgrounds, or hang a white (or patterned) bedsheet of your choice behind you for a cool aesthetic.
Know Your Best Side
Almost no face is completely symmetrical, so it’s important to know your best side so you can bring that out in the photos you take. Doing this is just like presenting only your best self to the world, and future you will thank you.
On the same note, if you want to take a photo outdoors, we suggest waiting for sunset or sunrise to catch the best light. Everything looks better then, especially in photos.
In the end, taking neat and tidy photos comes down to your attention to detail and the amount of time you’re willing to invest in the process. Remember, clean, well-captured photographs do spark joy!
