How to Take Still Life Photography

When you think of still lifes, you might think of classical paintings, but it's a very creative form of photography. You don't have to account for movement or real-life subjects, so you have total control of your composition. Practice photographing common still life arrangements or play around with modern setups like items of similar colors or textures. Still life photography isn't product photography—it's an expressive art form, so play around have find your own unique style.

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Subject Matter

1. Use food if you want to photograph a classic still life set up. There's a reason that fruits, vegetables, and drinks like wine are popular with artists—they're different colors, textures, and sizes. You can slice them, leave them whole, or use them to create a pattern. You can even use fake food if you want!^[1]
   
   • Study classical still life paintings for great examples of still life compositions with food. At their simplest, you might see a jug in the background with fresh fruit scattered around it.
   • A still life of food doesn't have to be stuffy! Try arranging grapes in a geometric pattern and shoot it against an all-white background so the color of the fruit really stands out.
2. Pick objects with matching colors or textures for a modern still life. The items you choose don't have to make sense together—you don't have to photograph a vase of flowers with books on a table, for instance. You could gather items that all of have a similar color, style, or texture. For example, find twisted metal parts, clear glass containers, or natural materials that are all bumpy.
   
   • Remember, there are no rules when it comes to picking your still life subjects! Instead of choosing objects with the same color or texture, try shooting objects with contrasting styles.
3. Gather found objects that have a pleasing arrangement. Challenge yourself to capture images of items you find in real life. You can take photos of the subjects as you've found them—like a nest that's fallen out of a tree onto the sidewalk—or arrange them into an image that you construct.^[2]
   
   • For example, you arrange tools, shells, or buttons geometrically to come up with a unique composition.
4. Use objects to make words in your still life. Pictures tell a story, but you can add interest and detail by turning objects into letters. Shape letters with wire, flowers, buttons, or even cookies! Use your custom alphabet to write words on your still life surface and then shoot straight down so the viewer can read the words.^[3]
   
   • If you don't want to form the letters out of objects, lay a template on your shooting surface. Then, sprinkle something free-flowing over it and remove the template to reveal the words. This works great with sprinkles, ground coffee, or glitter, for instance.
5. Find objects that work together to tell a story. Instead of arranging items by texture, size, or pattern, think about what kind of scene or story you want to make and look for objects that illustrate that. For example, create a still life of things that a writer might have on their desk or the objects that a gardener has in their greenhouse.^[4]
   
   • Your background can be part of the story or you can keep it simple by sticking to a neutral color.

[Edit]Composition

1. Choose a simple background that doesn't distract from your subject. In most still life cases, a plain white or black background will work great. Drape a plain white cloth or prop a large black poster board behind your subject. Use white if you'd like a light, clean, minimalist style or go with black for a moody, dark scene.^[5]
   
   • For example, black is a popular background for luxury drinks or sumptuous fruit and flower displays. You might use white to photograph something clear or modern like a stack of glasses.
   • Want to experiment with bright or textured backgrounds? Go ahead! There are no rules for still life photography and you might find that a bright, colorful pattern can make your subject really pop. Use any background you like as long as it doesn't distract from your still life subject.
2. Sketch out arrangements until you find a setup or grouping you like. Some people like to start arranging items on a tabletop, while other people prefer to draw out their ideas first. This can really help you visualize what the end result will be. Need some popular arrangements to get you started? Try:^[6]
   
   • A pitcher of flowers with fruit on a plate
   • A teapot or coffeepot nestled on a cloth
   • Jewelry with scarves and a bottle of perfume
   • Books, a clock, and a candle
3. Shoot at eye level for a traditional still life. The majority of still lifes you've probably seen were arranged on a tabletop and photographed from the side. This makes your photograph look more like a classical painting and it's a great way to practice this genre.^[7]
   
   • Play around with shooting at different angles—eye level is just a starting point! Raise your camera up slightly or shoot from just below eye level so you get a variety of viewpoints.
4. Stand above your still life and shoot from above to get a bird's eye view. Arrange your items on a flat surface and stand above them. You can create a pattern or a recognizable shape. For example, lay flowers flat on a table and scatter petals around it instead of propping them in a vase. This way, when you photograph from the top down, you'll get more of a 2-dimensional image.^[8]
   
   • This is a fun exercise to do with small items. Spread trinkets, rocks, shells, or beads on a flat surface. Then, you can make them into a pattern and photograph from above.
5. Make your own rules to create a totally unique still life. There are lots of helpful guidelines when it comes to choosing still life subjects and arranging them, but don't let these hold you back! Look for inspiration in everyday life and don't be afraid to try out something that doesn't follow a staged setup.
   
   • Take your camera with you wherever you go. You never know when you see something that would make a fantastic still life.

[Edit]Lighting

1. Use natural lighting for a soft, realistic still life. You don't need fancy studio lighting to capture fantastic still life photos. Set up your still life near a window or photograph in a room with good natural light. You can even create your still life outside!^[9]
   
   • Keep in mind that you'll get different natural lighting throughout the day. For example, you'll get more shadows as the sun sets which can give your still life a dramatic feel.
2. Point a lamp directly at your subject if you want to control where the light falls. Natural light can be great, but if you want more control over where the light hits your subjects, use studio lighting. Take a table lamp and position it to the front or side of your subject, depending on the area you want to highlight.^[10]
   
   • For example, you might have an arrangement of found objects, but you really want to focus on a specific item. Place the light where you want your viewer to look, since light draws attention.
3. Use the shadows in your setup to create a dramatic, moody feel. If you're using natural lighting, photograph when the sun is setting so your subjects cast long shadows. Want to make shadows? Position your lamp or studio lighting so it's directly pointing at your items. Keep moving the light closer until the shadows are as long as you like.^[11]
   
   • Make the shadows part of the arrangement. For example, photograph forks or bottles so the shadows make a cool pattern on your background.
4. Place a reflector near your subject to create a light, airy atmosphere. If you're shooting a bright still life that's bright and modern, place the reflector on the side of your still life that's opposite from the light source. This way, the light bounces off of the reflector and back onto the subjects.^[12]
   
   • Try a reflector if your still life has a minimalist, modern feeling. It minimizes shadows and makes the objects stand out more.

[Edit]Camera Setup and Equipment

1. Secure your camera to a tripod so you can focus on the still life setup. Although it's totally fine to hold your camera when you photograph, a tripod really helps. It keeps your shot steady and lets you concentrate on setting up the scene or rearranging items.^[13]
   
   • You can also hook your camera up to a remote trigger so you can capture an image without standing right behind the camera.
2. Shoot with a standard or telephoto lens so you can capture the whole still life. You don't really need fancy lenses to take a still life, so in most cases, a standard 50mm or 85mm lens will be good. If you want to photograph a large still life or leave a lot of space between your subjects, you might need a telephoto lens so you can stand back and include all the items in the shot.^[14]
   
   • Avoid using wide-angle lenses since they can stretch or distort your subjects.
3. Try a macro lens or use the camera's zoom to focus on a small detail. You don't have to focus on all of the subjects in your still life. If you'd like to play around with form or texture, arrange your items and put a macro lens on your camera. Then, focus tight on a small detail or on just 1 of the items. This pulls out the details and makes the other items fade into the background.^[15]
   
   • For example, set out a handful of fresh peaches. Instead of composing the shot so they're all in focus, choose 1 fruit to focus on so you really bring out the texture and color.
   • Don't have a macro lens? You can get the same effect by using the zoom feature on your camera.

[Edit]Tips

• Try to arrange your still life photos using an odd number of items. This usually helps you create movement and balance within the arrangement.^[16]
• Add instant style to your photographs by shooting in black and white instead of color. Black and white works really well if you want to showcase the pattern or textures of your subject.^[17]

[Edit]References

1. ↑ https://www.format.com/magazine/resources/photography/still-life-photography-ideas-and-tips
2. ↑ https://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/technique/still-life-photography-tips-117565
3. ↑ https://expertphotography.com/fun-still-life-photography-ideas/
4. ↑ https://expertphotography.com/fun-still-life-photography-ideas/
5. ↑ https://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/technique/still-life-photography-tips-117565
6. ↑ https://www.format.com/magazine/resources/photography/still-life-photography-ideas-and-tips
7. ↑ https://www.pxu.org/cms/lib/AZ01001825/Centricity/Domain/1692/still_life_photography.pdf
8. ↑ https://youtu.be/QYh3uqG_7qM?t=117
9. ↑ https://www.pxu.org/cms/lib/AZ01001825/Centricity/Domain/1692/still_life_photography.pdf
10. ↑ https://www.pxu.org/cms/lib/AZ01001825/Centricity/Domain/1692/still_life_photography.pdf
11. ↑ https://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/technique/still-life-photography-tips-117565
12. ↑ https://youtu.be/QYh3uqG_7qM?t=182
13. ↑ https://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/technique/still-life-photography-tips-117565
14. ↑ https://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/technique/still-life-photography-tips-117565
15. ↑ https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/photography/discover/still-life-photography.html
16. ↑ https://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/technique/still-life-photography-tips-117565
17. ↑ https://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/technique/still-life-photography-tips-117565