How I Create Dreamy, Film Like Digital Photos
by Amanda on July 21, 2009
I am constantly being asked one question.
How do you get your digital photos to have that dreamy, vintage look?
I am feeling generous, so I am going to share a few ideas and creative ways to make your digital photographs look more timely. Today I am going to talk about light and finding the right subjects to shoot. In the second part, I will discuss the post processing. Make sure you subscribe to the RSS so you don’t miss it!
I am always drawn to film and the look and textures within photographs shot on film. Studying what it is about them that makes them so special is the first step. You need to know what look it is you are trying to achieve.
A lot of what I like about film photography is the way light is captured. Light is key! The best light is what is known as the “magic hour” which falls an hour or so before sunset. The sun is low in the sky but not so low that the good light is gone.
Watch for this light. When I see it, I do one of two things.
1. Get excited and grab my camera.
2. Get excited, realise I don’t have my camera and fall instantly into a ball of depression.
Lesson to be learned: Always bring a camera.
Once you find that light, figure out where would be the best angle to shoot from and see where the sun is going to bounce light to make your picture pretty. You may want to add some sun flare so you can angle your camera that little sprays of light are shooting right into your lens. Don’t point your lens right at the sun, you just want it off to the side a little, or otherwise you will end up with a completely over exposed shot.
I play around a lot with angles and setting up the composition of my photo before I shoot. Look at what is in the background. A lot of what I shoot has things going on in the foreground and/or background. I try to make this look as interesting or add something extra to the photograph. You need to see the whole picture, not just what you are focusing on. The subjects you shoot are up to you. I find getting in lots of practice is the only way you will get better, so I often practise on things around me, which often means things in my apartment. You don’t have to go very far!
Where to shoot? If you are indoors, look for that light. I know exactly what rooms and which corners of the rooms get the best photography light in my house. As I am sure you’ve read before, find a window and shoot near it, move furniture if you have to. My kitchen sink is one of the best places of light in my apartment, so my make shift studio is often a tea towel or white cloth spread across the sink!
The same applies to other places like cafes and shops. If you are cappuccino-shooting-holic like myself you will want to find a table that is right by a window and sit yourself facing either side on and with your back to the window (don’t block the light however!).
Once I have found the light, composed my shot in the best possible way I can, I shoot! I often will shoot the same shot many ways, trying to get the focus just right. After all, it is digital, shoot away. I will check the shots to see which I liked best, then re-shoot that shot to get it just right. Sometimes however, I will shoot it once and be happy with it…
So there is a little insight into my shooting ways. In the next installment, I will explain some of my secrets in how I get that “dreamy” look.
Part 2: Onto the post processing!
I would love to hear your thoughts on this, so please leave a comment or ask me a question.
p.s. This week my Paper Cameras Print Store will be opening. I will let you know when it goes live!
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29 Responses to “How I Create Dreamy, Film Like Digital Photos”
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really enjoyed reading this, looking forward to your next installment!
What a wonderful post — BRAVO (love this!)
Omg, I did it again, Amanda! lol. Read my response to this post under the post below. hee, hee.
This post was fantastic! Thank you for sharing these tips. Your photos have such a beautiful richness to them, so I am happy to read about how you get it! And I’m definitely looking forward to the post-processing post.
Thanks Nicolle and Myla. :)
hehe Don’t worry Vicki. I’ve actually tried switching it but it screws up when I do it, I need to look into it more. You’re not the only one who has.
Glad you enjoyed the first part, Jacqueline.
p.s. Vicki, I’m noting down your question about blurry backgrounds and will talk about it in the next part. :)
Great post! It’s good to have the things I do instinctively, put into words and explained properly. It resonates better this way.
Looking forward to reading the second part :)
SO excited to hear you’re opening a print store :D
Thank you for sharing! I love your photos and had no idea digital could look like that…amazing.
[...] back later tonight/early tomorrow(Nth Hemispherians) for my part 2 follow up to How I Make Dreamy, Film Like Photos. var linkwithin_site_id = 36644; (function () { var elem = document.createElement(‘script’); [...]
This is so generous of you to share. Thank you for that.
I am so excited about shooting in that afternoon window of time. I always seem to shoot in the morning as afternoons are hectic with work, or even just at home with the baby.
Now I am keen to get down the beach, or park and try this afternoon light that you speak of. Thank you so much.
Bring on part two! x
Hello Amanda. This so king of you to share ! I totally agree with the magic of the “magic hour”. The thing is to have a house which gives opportunities. I sometimes also get a good quality of light early in the morning. A little less yellow but nice also. What is nice when you have good light to shoot is that even if the subject is just so-so, the beauty of light makes it appear nicer, or … the light becomes a subject in itself. I’ll be waiting to read the next post on the subject ;o)
you take amazing photographs! thanks for sharing with us your techniques.
x
Thanks for sharing the wealth. :)
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what a nice article, tahnks for sharing!
I love your stream. It inspired me to start shooting. Loved the post, and its nice to see your process for shooting.
Hi Amanda, This is a really helpful post. Thanks for sharing your tips. I’m looking forward to shooting with my new camera and playing around with the images. Hopefully when I’m more confident about my photo’s I will come back and share :)
[...] personal and easy to read commentaries. (Complete with how-to-create-dreamy-photo’s tutorial. I [...]
this is just lovely! i guess i found your blog too late to find this jewel. but better late than never!
i love photography as well! though i’m only using my camera phone. have been trying to snap dreamy photos and i’ve only succeeded a few times. sunlight is quite difficult to get in and around the house – almost always blocked by trees.
this post is really inspiring! thank you so much for this awesome insight! x
[...] now, she’s starting a series on how to photograph in winter light! Other posts or hers are HOW I CREATE DREAMY, FILM LIKE DIGITAL PHOTOS, SO YOU WANT TO BUY A FILM CAMERA and WAYS TO BE CREATIVE AND WORK NINE TO FIVE. Great resources [...]
Fantastic! I’m a digital photographer just starting out, so this is much appreciated. :)
i was trying to search the web with a polaroid and where i can buy one. im new to your site. thank you sincerely. your site is so much help. :)
thank you soooo much!
;-))
you are so sweet and inspiring amanda! love you!♥
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