Learn: Top 6 Tips for Still Life Photography

Still life photography captures inanimate objects that are arranged in an appealing composition. This genre allows the photographer full control over the scene and lighting to create interesting shots of everyday objects. Still lifes can be used for commercial purposes like product or food photography, or simply as an artistic medium.

Photographer Zac Paonessa shares his advice for still-life photography, from lighting to editing.

What makes a still-life photo? Still-life photography borrows rules from paintings and applies them to photography. Common subjects include household items like plants, bottles and vases. As the subject isn’t moving, still-life photography is also a great way to hone your composition and lighting skills.

1. Experiment with lighting

Work on getting your lighting just right. Whether it's natural light or staged lighting using an LED panel or flash, don’t be afraid to experiment with light. For example, you could set up an LED panel to the right of your subject and take the shot. Then, see how different it looks when the panel is moved to the left. Sometimes small touches can change a scene completely. You can also bounce a flash using a reflector. If you don’t have a reflector, you can use a sheet of tin foil from the kitchen.

2. Use a tripod

I consider a tripod essential for still-life photography. It’ll help you compose your shots and keep them consistent. It'll also leave you with a hand free to move your subjects around to perfection. Try different angles or heights for a new perspective. Pair this with a shutter release remote to reduce any chance of camera shake. This is especially helpful in low-light situations.

3. Repurpose household items as props

Have a look around your home. Something that can look mundane on a normal day has the capacity to surprise you. So try to tell a story or set the scene. Work with neutral tones and avoid shiny surfaces as they can become troublesome when they reflect your surroundings.

4. Play with your background

Although the background isn’t usually your subject, it’s still important. Anything too distracting can draw the eye away from what matters in the shot. If you’re shooting overhead, then a wooden table will work fine. If you’re shooting straight on, try to make the background as clear and neutral as possible.

5. Plan

In still-life photography, as with most photography, planning is key. Experiment by placing your subjects in different positions, making slight adjustments here and there. You should be able to tell which shots look most aesthetically pleasing to you.

But don't overthink it—this can actually be counterproductive and take the fun out of the shoot. After all, we’re doing this to enjoy ourselves.

6. Shoot in RAW and edit your photos

Even if you feel you have them 100% perfect, there's no harm in tweaking your images. Try lifting or dropping shadows, and playing with contrast and saturation. Even the most minute touch can transform an image. Remember to have fun and try to go into the project with an outcome in mind. It won’t always be exactly the same as you pictured it, but it could turn out much better.

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