Hey Reader!

It’s getting warm over here, and the garden is getting lush. I am almost impatiently waiting for all the summer produce, which I photograph every year, and I find those garden photoshoots so creative, but also easy to do (since there’s no styling involved).

Today, I actually want to share a few of my favorite creative exercises you can do this summer, to step out of your comfort zone and try something new. And, of course, grow! Much like the produce in the garden.

So here are the exercises to try… BTW, if you decide to give them a go, please send me screenshots to my Insta. I wanna see the photos ❤️

EXERCISE #1

Pick your favorite ingredient (since it’s almost summer, produce is the best choice in my opinion), and photograph it in different moods. Make a list of a few moods or feelings and take photos based on your decision. Here are just a few examples:

• nostalgic
• luxorious
• documentary
• playful
• fragile
• chaotic
• secretive
• lonely
• flirtatious

Here's an example of 4 photos of strawberries shot in different moods

EXERCISE #2

Try photographing outside at the worst possible time of day. In summer, this could be in full midday sun with super short shadows. But it could also be the moody, cloudy days, with almost nonexistent shadows. Try to find spots where this type of light works, or alternatively, try to modify the light to create a pretty photo.

I love this one, especially if you do (or plan to do) restaurant photography, since many photoshoots there happen at not-so-ideal times of day. It’s a great exercise to prepare you for troubleshooting on set.

EXERCISE #3

Create a series of photos only using backlight. Backlighting is one of the strongest lighting tools in your skill repertoire, since it adds dimension and mood to your photos. And Summer photos, in particular, look amazing with a backlight.

These are some very simple, but also extremely useful exercises. And to make your process even easier, pick produce or foods you already have at home, or just buy something in the store. Who cares… It’s an exercise 😉

Enjoy your experimentation and keep an eye out for more emails in June.

I have some special event news coming your way ❤️

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