Better Blog Pictures for Under $5!

We are off to another great week here and I am thinking about...pictures! How do those great big blogtastic sites in webland get such fantastic photos, I wondered? Are their authors pro photographers? Do they have a studio helping them out?

I started doing some research on what I could do from home knowing my photos, especially of close up crafting projects, could use some help! Thanks to a great site called Via U! I got some great tips to get me off and running on making my shots look better! I thought I would share what I've learned today and hope you'll pass on your tips in the comments section as well.

First, I needed more light and a great background. So I chose the sunniest room in our house which is our bonus room upstairs. Then I snagged Isla's baby gate and Teagan's table that she uses for Legos. Don't fret if you don't have a baby gate hanging around. The original tutorial called for a cardboard box where you cut off two sides and the tops to get basically the same shape.

This table was just the right height to catch the best rays from the sun. The gate was sturdy enough for what came next....

I bought two pieces of 20 x 30 x 3/16" white foam board and pulled a few bits of burlap and felt I had from previous projects. I put the two pieces of foam together at a 90 degree angle and used the tape to secure them to the gate. 

Next, I wanted to experiment with adding in texture and a bit of color so I took several shots with the bare table as a background, felt and burlap. I've also read wrapping paper makes a great base for pictures. Ultimately I found neutrals work best.

This setup allowed the light to reflect and made for a wonderful, soft background that highlighted the subject of my photos.

This is loads better than the pictures I took to originally introduce this vase. I edited the picture using an amazing free site called Picnik. This site is sadly going away in April but in the meantime I am putting it to good use. I cropped the photo, added rounded edges as a frame, my watermark, and an airy matte finish.

I think next time I just need one more piece of foam board to use as a base to give it an even softer finish.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: I am lovin' me some burlap and St. Patrick's Day decorations this year!

I also revisited the felt Valentine's wreath from the tutorial I posted here. In this photo I used a thumb tack on the back of the foam board to hang my wreath for pictures. And I used Picknik again to crop, add a matte finish and my watermark. In addition, I used their clone feature to fill in some areas that needed more fullness and intensified the pink color with a Vibrance feature.

I love my new shamrock from Hobby Lobby this year! It is hanging over my mantel which is decorated for Paddy's Day!

I did this during nap time while the kids slept (kinda) and Daddy snuck off for 9 holes of golf. All told it took about 30 minutes and I learned a ton! I hope this helps you as well!

Do share if you have photography tips! I especially need help photographing my mantel which is in a pretty dark room...with blue walls (I so haven't been able to talk Brian in to painting them neutral).

Have a great Monday! And be sure to join us for Tuesday's Destination: Inspiration linky party where you can link up crafts, recipes, Etsy shops and more, as long as it is family friendly and you made it!