Valentine's Day2025🌹How to Do Aesthetic Photography: Top 21 Tips to Create Your Own Aesthetic
What is aesthetic photography? Aesthetics is a branch of philosophy dealing with the nature of beauty and an extension of the fine arts. When we say aesthetic images, we are referring to images that are easy on the eyes and somehow tasteful for the viewer.
In this regard, we always use the terms "photoshopped" or "monotonous" for the manipulated images in Photoshop as it makes them more powerful and intuitive to look at. This article will discuss further aesthetic photography.
How to Understand Aesthetics in Photography
Aesthetics is such a heavy word; it's hard to put one definition into it. Some say that it's the subject of their photos, others say that it's the composition. For other people, it's about the lighting.
But in every sense of the word, if you are still going to place your work online and make money out of it, you better understand how aesthetics matters in your work.
The same way that there are rules for grammar that you should know before you write anything(and then there are exceptions), there are general rules of aesthetics that every professional photographer should know to create his/her own aesthetic.
Aesthetic vs. Style
Aesthetic Photography
Photo by Ionut Comanici on Unsplash
Aesthetic photography is a subgenre of fine art photography. These aesthetic photographs are not staged but artificially created by the interaction of subjects with their environment and how the camera captures this interaction.
Style Photography
Style photography is about creating images that suit the photographer's artistic vision for his work. It involves many elements going into production, some of which are tinkered with and others twisted to get exactly what the photographer wants out of that image.
20 Tips on How to Take Aesthetic Pictures
Have you ever been in a situation where you needed a photograph of something at literally the last minute? Or maybe your boss wanted it right away, and the opportunity to capture a stunning sunset slipped away.
Here are photography tips for making aesthetic photos under pressure:
1. Use a Natural Light Source
Photo by Pascal van de Vendel on Unsplash
Nothing beats the natural light taking a portrait picture. It is for free, and you can apply it during anytime as long as it's not so dark outside. Natural light is the best option to take aesthetic pictures, whether by a window or outdoors.
Most photographers adore taking photos through the window because it allows them to control the amount of light they want to have in their picture.
2. Don't Over Edit
The most serious pitfall that truly amateur photographers face is over-editing. While photography is incomplete without post-editing, most people overdo the editing on Photoshop or Lightroom and eventually ruin the original aesthetic of the images.
The photo not only ends up looking fake and unprofessional, but it also takes away all that made the picture good in the first place
Edit the photo to be simple and natural during post-processing. Slightly adjust exposure, contrast, sharpness, etc. You can also make presets in the lightroom for the photography style you like.
3. Be Creative with Angles
Photo by Craig Bradford on Unsplash
Experiment with different camera angles. For example, try taking photos from above or below your subject instead of straight on - this will instantly make your photos more exciting and unique.
4. Try the Rule of Thirds
The rule of thirds is a commonly used technique used by many professional photographers to get appealing and eye-catching photos. The balanced compositions created are naturally pleasing to the viewer’s eye in your own aesthetic.
5. Think about Lighting
Shoot in natural light, if at all possible, avoid flash, especially on people. It gives an ugly shadow around the eyes. Also, it flattens the face, making it look plastic.
6. Capture Emotions
This should be done by ensuring that the subjects are at ease and comfortable so that they can bring out their best towards the camera.
This is the reason in professional portrait photography; one has few shots of subjects posed, because the rest of the shots will be candid photos.
The candid photos are more realistic because you are able to take shots of real emotions without other photographers' interventions.
7. Focus on Details
Photo by Roksolana Zasiadko on Unsplash
The best way to take an aesthetic picture is to focus on details. When it comes to photography, you need to pay attention to even the most minor details of your subject and capture it in the most beautiful way possible.
8. Fill the Frame
Photo by mahdi chaghari on Unsplash
Filling the frame is one fantastic way to make your photos look absolutely brilliant. Instead of photographing a subject and leaving quite a lot of space around it, try as much as possible to fill the frame with just the subject.
9. Use Leading Lines
Leading lines can be used to create depth of field in photographs. This technique allows you to choose compositional elements like trees, archways, windows, or just a horizon line as leading lines to frame the subjects. This really makes them pop, and the composition is much more interesting.
10. Use Natural Elements as a Background
Photo by Fineas Gavre on Unsplash
What occupies the back of your subject is critical, as it can make or break your photo. So, you ought to pay careful attention to what exactly occupies the space directly behind your subject.
Incorporate repeating patterns, colors that will lift and emphasize the subject and work with those on the subject, and also include textures that will make your subject stand out.
11. Create Unique Story
Kate 5x7ft Abstract Texture Cold Black Spray Painted Backdrop
When choosing the camera settings, it is easy to get lost in the most minute details—composition, lighting, colors. But remember, you are creating an image for a purpose, so always keep in mind that bigger picture.
Most importantly, ask yourself what unique story you want to tell with your photos.
12. Keep It Minimalistic
If you decide to use stock photos, ensure that they have enough detail for them to appear like real life. for example, an umbrella on a beach not only sticking up out of the sand but surrounded by sand mounds at its base.
And if you're using your photos avoid the use of too many elements. Few props are better as they ensure that your photo does not lose its impact or clarity in the story that you wish to convey.
Try and make your pictures say one clear idea or mood—for instance, if they are Portraits of people, try not to use too many different elements.
13. Textures and Patterns
Kate 5x7ft Hand Painted Abstract Texture Dark Green and Black Backdrops
One of the photos that I loved to take is this below, where I am using a pattern. I have also discussed how one can be able to take better photos with the use of patterns and textures and also made a video about how you take notes when making a picture.
14. Change of Viewpoint
When you change your point of view, you can achieve some exciting results. Another great example of a change in perspective is looking down on your subject.
15. Neutral Colors Are Safe and Traditional
When it comes to getting started with photography, traditional neutral colors do justice to most subjects and, for that matter, almost any photographic style. It doesn't have to be boring, though.
16. Look Into a Mirror
Firstly, look at yourself in a mirror for a few moments. This might sound weird, but the purpose of this first step is so that you have an idea of which side of your face is your "good" side.
If you can get a clear impression of that, it will be smooth sailing from here on out. Whenever you take a picture of yourself, ensure that the camera is pointing the opposite way of your good side and thus is pointed toward your bad side.
17. Blur the Background
Kate Springtime Orchard in Yellow Backdrop for Photography Designed by Lisa Granden
The subject would be the most important thing in the photo and the background should go more with things like hazy. The result would help the subject of the images pop out to create that professional touch to the picture taken
18. Get as Close as Possible to Your Subject
The rule when taking a picture of anything is to get as close as you can to it, yet not too close to make yourself seem creepy. Getting in close will ensure good composition in your photos and will keep the professional touch alive.
19. Find a Color Story
Pick a color palette for your feed. Stick with a color scheme, and it will work wonders in keeping your feed looking consistent.
20. Select Your "Edit Style"
One thing that helps develop a peculiar aesthetic is the unique style one uses in editing their works. If you like bright colors, what makes a photo beautiful may be that the color was brightened.
21. Shoot Into the Sun
Photo by Raimond Klavins on Unsplash
Shooting into the sun is one surefire way to get beautiful, Instagram-aesthetic photos. It will also inspire you to develop really dreamy images with soft lines and no hard shadows.
Conclusion
Aesthetic photography tends to focus more on beauty and looks rather than traditional procedures of photography.
These aesthetic pictures often capture a particular mood or idea that some viewers can relate to and appreciate. Sometimes, believers of aestheticism are labeled as "hipsters" (although this is a common stereotype).
Yet so many others relish a more subtle approach to photography, which makes it interesting even when the subject of the photograph itself is not the most exciting subject in the world. These photographs always have more depth and feel to them than other types of photos, which always strive to accomplish a more traditional type of purpose, such as documentary photos that always aim to capture an event, for accurate history.
