12 Ways to jazz up everyday photos.

Here is a list of ways you can jazz up everyday photos. In the future I plan to make some tutorials based on these techniques but this is just a list of inspiration. Some techniques can be used when shooting and others can be applied to past photos. 

1. Birds eye view for the everyday objects. (unknown source)

2. Play with reflections. (Photo by Flickr user: rainywomen)

3. Get creative with water! (Photo by Me!) 

4. Try a double exposure, super cute for weddings. (Unknown photographer)

5. Capture motion with a slow shutter speed. (photo by Peter Lindbergh in Numéro) 

6. Edit it to make it look like a Lomo shot.(photo by Ayako Furness)

7. Experiment with adding art. (Sophie Hirschy for Harpers Bazaar) 

8. Add some text (another one by me)

9. Play with grain and textures. (unknown photographer)

10. Try a new perspective. (Bamboo towers, by Shothotspot.com)

11. Wait for natural laughter. (“Syracuse University , 1949″ – photograph by Lisa Larsen)

12. Try your photo in Black and white (unknown photographer)

Alot of these techniques may take some practice before you start seeing results that you like, but never stop experimenting! If there is a particular technique on here that you would like a tutorial on, please let me know in the comments and I'll do it! 

Happy Thursday! 

Becky x

Playing with different processing effects on photoshop.

Sometimes I get stuck in my ways and just use my own post processing techniques in my work. Today I wanted to experiment with different ways to change the feel of a photo. I've been looking at tutorials and trying them out, below are the results. Links are also included of the tutorials I used.


Lomography - Retro effect. 
I'm a huge fan of lomography, and love the effects that you can get from them. The tutorial was easy understand, although I didn't all the same tools on photoshop as him so I had to improvise a little.

Tutorial here: http://photoshoproadmap.com/video-tutorials/yt/69aVpRcFOfE/ 

Instagram's Early bird filter
Found this tutorial for my favorite instagram filter! Although I don't think my results came out quite as well as the tutorials...

Tutorial link here: http://photodoto.com/how-to-make-instagram-filters-photoshop-earlybird/

Watercolour effect

Tutorial here: http://abduzeedo.com/super-cool-watercolor-effect-10-steps-photoshop

Dreamy effect 

I do like the effect of this one, although I think it would work better with a photo that has more shadows and contrast. 

Tutorial here: http://planet37.deviantart.com/art/Dreamy-Photo-Effect-Tutorial-258205817

My own experiment with colours/filters..

After following the other tutorials, I experimented with different effects from the new techniques I'd learnt, mixed with the old ones I use. I may do a tutorial to follow for you guys, if your interested.

PS sorry for all the dog photos! This is my little Alfie :)

Becky. x

Old fashioned photography tips, trends and techniques

Before the time of digital, and film was the only option, you had to get a little more inventive to get the effect or composition you wanted. Below I will go through the clever, strange and just plain creepy ways in which photos have been taken in the past.

Carpet cover-up 

Back in the day, shutter speeds were extremely slow, meaning that the model would have to stay still for a long period of time. It can be difficult nowadays to get the right shot with kids involved but can you image how difficult it was back then to keep them still? So the carpet cover-up was invented! This volved the mother or nanny of the child holding the child or their hand to keep them still, but as an attempt not to be seen in the photo, they would hide under a carpet...Yes its as crazy as it sounds. Check out the photos below:

Good attempt...but doesn't work well..

'Watch the birdie' 

This little device was invented to help the photographer get the attention of the child. When ready to take the shot, the photographer would squeak the device to get the child to look his way.

Photographing the dead

Known as memorial or mourning photography, photographing beloved dead people was the norm for the rich in the 1800's. The photos served as keepsakes for the family, and in some cases may have been the only photograph taken of the deceased. It sounds very creepy to us these days but back then death was much more common in households, particularly in infants. The deceased were often made to look alive by posing them with toys, or in positions as to make it appear they are asleep. Sometimes a rosey tint was added to the photos to make the person look more alive.

Crack a smile!

You may have wondered by victorians are rarely seen smiling in photos. I used to think it was just the fashion back then to seem rather moody. But the actual reason is down to the long shutter speed times. It was easier to look glum then to fake a smile for 30/60 seconds. As shutter speed times increased over the years more people were depicted a little happier. 

Creating the moon [scenery creation for shoot]

Although annoying at times, I did really enjoy the building of Candyland. My second idea for a kids shoot, maybe one that would appeal to boys as well, was a trip to the moon! Obviously there was no way of me taking good enough photos (without a really expensive camera) of the moon, so I decided to make one!

I took inspiration from the Wallace and Gromit episode with the cheese moon. 

I moulded the moon out of air dry clay, using just my hands as I didn't have any modeling tools. The pole in the middle is for a flag which I can use to write the name of the child in the shoot. 

This is the basic layout I'll use for the set. 

After painting the background a navy blue colour, I added some stars with yellow paint. 

Here is the moon in front of the background with a little flag.  

Here's the cute alien I made to accompany the little astronauts on their trip! 

I am now on a search to find a brave 

young soul to be the first to travel

 to the moon. Any parents interested in a free shoot, please contact me via email becky.netley@live.co.uk 

A 1st birthday shoot.

I just love doing kid's birthdays, as I remember how happy and excited I used to be on my birthday (although I don't remember my 1st birthday...). In the shoots that I have done for 1st birthday, the parents have made such an effort to make it special, with a lovely cake, balloons, banners and presents, and this was no different.

How cute is he?! 

Hope your all well!

Becky. x

Where to shop for camera equipment...

Its come to my attention recently that its getting harder and harder to buy cameras and their equipment in actual shops. Buying from actual shops has benefits like asking for advice about the product, checking it out, and asking about the refund policy (just in case anything were to happen).

Where I got my equipment 

Above is a photo of my Canon 60D which I've had for almost 4 years. I got it in Jessops when they were still around. It was really helpful to get some sound advice when I was planning on spending a large amount of money and just by chance I got a free memory card as well! 

Other equipment such as my tripod and flashgun have been brought from charity shops, although a little risky they have been a great find! 

Places to buy from

If your from brighton there's a great little shop called 'clock tower cameras' (photo below). It's mainly second hand stock but at affordable prices and good advice! 

Also check out: 

• curry's 

•Amazon 

• ebay 

• charity shops/second hand shops 

• gumtree 

• the Friday ad. 

Some things to lookout for 

• Reviews. Before you buy any equipment, unless it's a cheap charity shop buy, check out the reviews online about both the product and the online seller. 

• cheaper deals. Check around different sites to see if you can get a better deal. 

• Returns/ refund policy. 

• make sure that the equipment your buying is compatible with your camera. 

Have a great weekend everyone! 

Becky x

[NEW: monthly blog post] '10 photos that...make me want to travel'

For a while now I've been trying to think of a monthly blog post idea that you guys will (hopefully) enjoy reading and has a mixture of both entertaining and informative content. So I've come up with '10 photos that...' in which each month I will share with you 10 photos that all have a similar theme or subject, such as 10 photos that made history or 10 photos that inspired me.

To kick start this, I'm doing '10 photos that make me want to travel' so off we go!

1. This place looks so unreal and almost like another planet! Its called 'Black river' by Malcolm Ming.

2. This photo by Ana Carrera really makes me want to travel to Paysage, Iceland to check out this view! 

3. This minimalistic photo of Helvetinjärvi lake in finland as a creepy horror film vibe but I'd still definitely go there! Photo by flickr user: tumppi01

4. Love this photo by Brandon Silver which was taken at San Juan in Puerto Rico.

5. How I would love to swim in that sea on the Montenegro coast. Photo taken by Nikola and Tamara.

6. Romantic winter in Paris. (Unknown photographer)

7. Just love this view over San Francisco 

8. I just to put this little guy on the list! Photographer Andrew Whyte photographed his little lego friend in so many different travel adventures! Check his stuff out here

9. I dont know where this is and who took it but all I know is that I'm not a fan of camping but I want to be there now!

10. Check out the amazing colours in this photo of the Holi colour festival in India. Unfortunately I was unable to find the name of the photographer. 

Which one of these places would you most like to travel?
Let me know in the comments! 

Keep an eye out for April's blog most when I'll be doing '10 photos that..Almost broke the internet' 

Becky x