How to Achieve Your Dream Photo Setup

by Sydney Dotson-Galbán

Any photographer, professional or hobby, knows that a great set can really bring life into a photo. But how do you make something capture what you’re going for? This is an easier task than you’d think, and it’s actually something you can easily achieve at home. Read along for my experience turning my dining room into an HBO’s Euphoria-style melancholic party atmosphere.

Working With Your Space

One thing you need to be willing to do is to move your normal stuff out of the way. Even the coolest furniture can break a shot if it’s not the right fit for the shoot. Moving stuff out of the way is important in getting that blank slate that you can work with. For my shoot, thankfully all I needed to move was a litter box, my fruit basket, and a mini-fridge.

This can also include moving furniture or props into your space. Say you have a really cool chair that would look great in the shot but it’s in a room without any natural light for a shoot where you really want that. Move that chair! Take it to a room with better lighting for what you’re looking for and put it back when you’re done. Testing out how things look in different spaces is a really great way to make use of what you already have.

Props

Depending on what you’re going for, try making a list of all the props you’d like to get or source. And while you’re at it, try redefining what you count as a prop. Some of the smallest changes or additions can make a set feel that much more real.

In my case, I made a base list of things I thought should be included and then imagined how I saw the final outcome turning out. I knew I wanted light refracting and giving a sort of chaotic and messy tone, so I bought some glitter and metallic confetti on a whim. This turned out to be a huge win and gave the set a touch that I absolutely fell in love with.

I’m the biggest proponent of doing things on a budget, too, so don’t fret about getting huge props that cost you more than you’d like to spend. Dollar stores, thrift shop, discount sections, and even the grocery store can be your best friend. They were definitely mine for this shoot (read as: everything came from the Dollar Tree and Walmart).

BTS shot my friend took of me trying to get a bird’s eye angle on the table setup before shooting subjects.

Angles

I know, the idea of looking at something from a different angle is super cliche, but here it’s heavily applicable and can bring your shot to the next level.

Part of what makes a set convincing is getting that angle that makes someone feel like they’re there when they see your photo. The picture in the background above looks like a set. It looks purposeful and manufactured, so getting the right angle for a mood shot and the subject shots is what really sold it. Check out my final products below for a great example of the effect of getting a good angle for the shot.

My mood shot (left) inspired by maximalist puzzles, and the subject short (right) of my gorgeous friend Cassidy! Couldn’t be more different from the BTS shot.

Lighting

Lighting is one of the pillars of taking a good photo, and different kinds of lighting can make a set more or less believable. For example, the photos above were really dependent on that chaotic ambiance I mentioned before, so getting some low lighting and something that clashes made the image really make sense.

Natural lighting or even brighter lighting would have made the image, ironically, duller to the viewer. Creating a set inside can also cause issues like this, since not every space is going to have that perfect amount of natural lighting that you want for a photo. This is where lights come in. I know better lights can produce better results, but again, getting the best out of your budget can still give you the results you want.

Pictured below are some examples of cheap but effective lighting gear that can help bring life to your images.

Depending on what you’re trying to create, any of these can be really good (and budget friendly) tools to achieve your ideal outcome.

Get Comfortable

The last thing you need to do is just to become comfortable in the space. Get to know the angles, lighting, subject, etc. and everything will fall into place.

No matter where you are, photography studio or studio apartment, the photographer is the biggest determinant of how the end product will look. So be confident in your abilities and the final product will follow.

Check back here next time for more tips and tricks for your creative endeavors!