4 Things you need to think about when styling the perfect composition.
As part of a course I ran for Farnham Maltings on photography & styling, I included a section on the importance of composition. This is both for styling for photography purposes and/or creating a visually interesting market stall or shop display.
Part of being able to take a great image or to have the best stall at the market is through the art of composition. In this blog post I am going to run through the key areas which need to be considered when creating a set up. It only takes a few minutes in Etsy to see where some makers are getting it wrong.
By following just a few simple guidelines your images can look more professional and the more you follow these rules of thinking the more naturally inclined you will be to just place product in the right place.
Rule of thirds / Leading Lines / Negative space / Framing
1. Rule of Thirds
When creating a look for an image position your subject off-centre, along one of the lines dividing the frame into thirds, for a balanced yet dynamic look. It is always helpful to make sure your grid lines are turned on in the phone camera so that it easy to see where the product/person should be placed. If you are simply styling a shelf at home or on a market stall it can be a helpful tool to take a photo and look through the lens at the composition.
2. Leading Lines
I tend to only consider leading lines in imagery and not when styling in real life for the shop, but I would still be considering where the focus needs to be. The examples below show how I have used leading lines when taking images.
Use lines (roads, fences, or architecture) to direct attention to the subject.
3. Negative Space
Negative space can be really powerful tool to draw the eye and create a calmness in styling. Leave empty areas around the subject to give a minimalist, clean aesthetic or emphasise isolation. Same when you are styling in real life for the shop or a stall. Make sure that the scene isn't too busy and that by allowing space makes for a more interesting composition.
4. Framing
Use natural or artificial frames (windows, doorways, foliage) to enclose the subject and draw attention. I will often create 'frames' within the physical shop to focus the eye. Dried flower garlands, mirrors, etc.
I hope that is helpful. I would love to know if you did read this and any feedback you may have or m ore questions.
Gemma
