How to 6 tips for capturing a perfect overhead insta shot

6 Tips for Capturing a Perfect Overhead Insta Shot

45
STEPS
TOOLS

In the age of Instagram, it’s pretty easy to see that we’ve all caught photography fever. So we compiled a six-step composition crash course for setting up the perfect overhead shot.

1. RULE OF THIRDS: Imagine a 3x3 grid + place the dominant object (or the item that draws the most attention) near one of the intersection points or along the grid lines.

Here, we placed the flowers along the right vertical line. This will give your shot more balance and interest than if you were to put the object directly in the center or too close to the edges.

Here, we placed the flowers along the right vertical line. This will give your shot more balance and interest than if you were to put the object directly in the center or too close to the edges.

2. LEADING LINES: Pull your viewer’s eye into the frame using imaginary or literal “leading” lines that run through your frame.

In this shot, the handled board provides a leading line, encouraging your eye to move toward the center of the frame. The second cutting board provides a line that also draws your eye in.

In this shot, the handled board provides a leading line, encouraging your eye to move toward the center of the frame. The second cutting board provides a line that also draws your eye in.

3. GROUPS OF THREES: These trusty trios give your eye enough to look at without being overwhelming, and can also create a circular motion within your frame, directing your eye around the image.

In this shot, the FedEx packing box, bag and card create three clusters for your eye to work around, easy as 1-2-3.

In this shot, the FedEx packing box, bag and card create three clusters for your eye to work around, easy as 1-2-3.

4. NATURAL ELEMENT: Always try to add a natural element of some kind into your shot (plants, hands, food, etc.) to make it feel less rigid than if everything pictured was man-made.

EVEN if it wouldn\u2019t naturally be there in real life (as in the case of this monstera leaf), having something that is or once was living really breathes life (get it?) into your image.

EVEN if it wouldn’t naturally be there in real life (as in the case of this monstera leaf), having something that is or once was living really breathes life (get it?) into your image.

5. FILL THE FRAME: Don’t be afraid to get close to your subject and let some things extend off the edges.

Cropping in on one primary object and letting the rest fall off the edge really helps to get the viewer to focus on what YOU want them to focus on (like this delicious pink citrus cocktail!).

Cropping in on one primary object and letting the rest fall off the edge really helps to get the viewer to focus on what YOU want them to focus on (like this delicious pink citrus cocktail!).

6. BREAK THE PATTERN: Our brains LOVE patterns and repetition, but it’s more interesting to see one element breaking the rules a little and standing out from the crowd.

Give your image some life and mess it up a bit, like we did with this mascara swipe to the right of a pattern of neat and tidy compacts.

Give your image some life and mess it up a bit, like we did with this mascara swipe to the right of a pattern of neat and tidy compacts.

Ready to learn more? You’re in luck because FedEx is sponsoring our Phone Photography Basics Online Class so you can take it for FREE through December 31st, 2016! http://bit.ly/phonephotoclass

Head over to the free class for more tips on lighting, shooting and editing your pics like a pro.

The creator of this guide has not included tools
    US
    The Conversation (0)