Top 5 Book Photography Tips

On occasion, I’ll get some questions about my book photos. What camera I use, how I edit, what are some tips for book photography. Today, I thought I would round up my top 5 book photography tips that might be helpful to those looking to start a Bookstagram, Booklr, or wherever you chose to share your favorite reads.

Tip #1: Lighting

Good lighting is key to taking any kind of photo so don’t forget to find a well lit place for all of your photography. Play around with different locations and times through out the day to find what works best for you. If you’re having a hard time finding the perfect place with the perfect lighting, try bouncing the light from the flash on your camera (DSLR or phone) to create better light. I personally like to use a stiff piece of paper to bounce the light from my flash. Here’s couple DIY articles that might help you: DIY Beauty Dish \  flash bouncer.

Tip #2: You don’t have to pick a theme

I’ve spent more time than I like to admit trying to keep a theme and make all my pictures look perfectly the same. Once I stopped putting myself in a box to make all my photos the same, I became a lot more productive. Try indoor photos, try outdoor photos, do whatever you want. I can promise you that no one cares about your account having a theme as much as you do so do whatever makes you happy.

Tip #3: Editing

Editing is normal to photography nowadays so don’t compare your raw, unedited photos to those you see around Bookstagram. I know it can be very discouraging to see amazing photos and think you’ll never be able to take pictures like that. But don’t forget that some photos have a lot of editing and a good filter. It’s well worth your time to play around with editing apps and filters. My favorite apps are Vsco, Aviary, A Color Story, and Afterlight. Take a few minutes to play around with editing and filters and you might find the perfect look for your photography.

Tip #4: You don’t need a fancy camera

That’s right, you don’t need a fancy camera to take great pictures. Whether you have a DSLR or a smart phone, you have all the tools you need to take some awesome photos. I’ve taken plenty of my Instagram photos, book pictures and others, with my phone and so have many others. Don’t trick yourself into thinking you need a $500 camera to be successful (whatever success means to you). Work with what you have and get creative to work around less than ideal equipment.

Tip #5: Work hard and practice

This might seem obvious but I’ve known many people who expect instant success from Bookstagram and other platforms. It’s going to take time, hard work, and creativity. Just because you don’t get as many likes or followers as you think you deserve, doesn’t mean your photos aren’t good. No one ever reaches a point where they stop improving and don’t have anything more to learn. So whether you get 10 likes or 10,000, keep working hard to improve your photography.

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