My family and friends are usually the subjects of my photographs. What better subject than those that I love and cherish dearly. However, sometimes I feel like I need a creative outlet through my photography. My hunt for fantastic photo subjects has taken me down many paths in the past.
Try still Life Photography. Anything in my house becomes fair game for these types of photos. For some reason still life has a habit of drawing me to the kitchen. I have been known to photograph a half eaten sandwich, bowl of cereal, cheese and crackers, popcorn or a fresh cut tomato just to name a few. Setup a board game as if in the middle of playing and shoot it from different angles. Grab your kid’s toys and stage a world in miniature. Try experimenting with different light sources. Use natural light from a window, a household lamp or even a flash light to see what results you get.
Find your inspiration from the media around you. Have you seen a photo on the internet, in a book or magazine that caught your eye? Try recreating that photo with your own subject. Duplicate the composition and lighting and see what happens.
Sometimes it takes a walk around my neighborhood to find inspiration. Be careful not to intrude on your neighbors personal lives. No one wants to think they are being spied on. Not only is the grass always greener in my neighbors yard but their flowers are always more colorful too. Look for repetitive patterns like a long fence or stairs and try shooting them from different angles. The holidays bring out fantastic subjects all around my neighborhood. Pumpkins, scarecrows, jumbo Easter eggs, Christmas lights can be found readily available depending on the holiday.
Practicing with still life will change the way you take photos of your family. It will help you define your style and increase your confidence. The old saying practice makes perfect applies quite well.