Do you ever wonder about all the hard work that goes into one of the stellar lead tour images that run on Apartment Therapy or The Kitchn? Inclined to document your life in a meaningful way? Or are you just an image–obsessed style hound? Want to learn more about photography?
If so, stay tuned for my weekly column, Super Photo Magic School.
At Apartment Therapy we are all about the beauty and creativity of real people in their real homes. We don't style or stage much and when we photograph for our tours, instead we let the true personality of the homeowners, chefs, kids, and office dwellers shine bright.
Why?
Because real life is as interesting and inspiring as it gets.
Part of the joy I find in working with Apartment Therapy versus other editorial clients is in what we leave out at our shoots: prop stylists, wardrobe and makeup, lighting assistants and art directors. When I photograph for the site it's just me, the home, the person, my camera and if I'm lucky, a cup of coffee I've been offered by a kindly soul. With big production editorial/commercial shoots, there's often a team of people to create the idea of a 'perfect' home with 'perfect' people inhabiting this space; their everyday may look quite different than the photographs depicting that which is most personal to them, their home space.
In this column, I'll be diving in to photo related topics weekly, here's a hint of what's to come:
• Highlights of the best images running on both of our sites • Technical shooting tips (want to switch from Auto to Manual mode on your camera? You know it.) • Insightful interviews with contemporary photographers • Conceptual questions to spark more creativity in your photos • Advice on software/post operations and a whole lot more.
I'd love to hear from you, readers — what do you want to learn about in Super Photo Magic School? Are there topics you'd like to see addressed? Let's get to it! We all have so much to learn from each other.
xo, Leela the Photo Magician
(Images: Leela Cyd Ross)
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The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
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How to Bake a Potato: Three Easy Methods
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Ooooh, this sounds exciting ! I look forward to reading your columns. :)
I'm always fascinated by vignettes but never seem to figure out HOW to make them looks as good as the ones I see on AT. Tips ?
Looking forward to it!
This is great! I'd love to see some basic instructions for beginning photographers as well as more high-tech fancy stuff. Thanks!!
Me too. This is perfect. I really need this. Photography just isn't my thing. Thanks. I'll read any and everything. Photographing people in their best light interests me. Best mid range price camera suggestion would be welcome.
This is terrific! I'm very much looking forward to this new column. Thank you.
I always try to take pictures of our apartment, especially when we've just redecorated, to show family who live out of state, but they never come out quite as well as AT's do. Can you tell us a little about photographing small interiors? I'd love to know how to get those great angles!
Thanks!
Yay... can't wait!! :) The most difficult thing I have with photography is keeping everything in foreground and background in focus in lower light rooms, especially if there are people in them.
Also, very interested in tips for photographing with only natural light.
This is a really great idea, especially since without good photography a great space looks less than stellar.
Can't wait to read the new column!
Great idea for a column. I shall be putting all my faith in your tips and my poor little misunderstood Canon xx
Yes! Thank you and what a great topic. I'd like to learn tips on the following:
- how to work with low or high light settings while still making the photo look natural;
- portraits of house owners in your photos: tips on getting a good and natural portrait;
- equipment limitation: e.g., if you don't have a high end camera (wide range of shutter speed etc.), how can you still achieve good close ups with nice blurred background
......
This is great! I will definitely be reading. I'm in the market for a new camera, but don't want to spend a lot, so I agree that camera reviews or recommendations would be helpful.
this is just what i need. i've been trying to break up with auto mode on my camera, but every time i do i just come crying back to it.
this TOTALLY made my friday. and my week. thanks, AT. you rock.
Yay! I need this! I have a little blog and I'd like to get my photography to a better level. I don't have a super-fancy SLR camera but I do have a dial (with icons that I don't know what they mean!). Here's one big question: How do I take a photo inside without it looking yellow? Do I need to change my light bulbs?
Fantastic idea, thanks so much! Just don't require me to go buy an expensive new camera with a wide angle lens and it will be fine! ;^)
I would like to learn more about artificial light usage and shooting techniques in indoor shots. Can't wait for it!
I'm so excited about this! Thanks for this!
Glimmersnaps - that's called white balance. Your camera might have a setting for 'outdoors' or 'indoors'. Maybe it has options between fluorescent light, halogen light, sunlight, etc. If you adjust those settings your white balance will be much better. Do you still have the camera manual or can you find it online? Google 'white balance' or get started here: http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/whitebalance.htm :)
Great idea. I'm looking forward to your posts.
So I love the idea, and I will definitely follow your column, I'd especially like to learn how to photograph closeups with decent lighting (for me that's food, especially the dark browns like chocolate, and fabric).
Only problem is I put my camera in a ~safe place~, and I totally forgot where the safe place was!!!, I promise that when I remember I'll try whatever techniques you detail in your column.
Leela is super awesome. We're all in for a treat!
Sounds very interesting to say the least. Awesome hobby
How to take great pictures with an old, non-dslr camera. I'm a serial hobbyist so when I developed an interest in photography, my husband told me he won't let me buy a fancy camera until I figure out what all the buttons on our current camera do. I feel very limited by it but I know you don't need a nice camera to get good shots.
Timely!
You've a big job ahead of you - we all have different cameras - but learning (relearning) the basic concepts and what to look for to figure out how to do it on our own cameras sounds amazing.
Definitely need something to help me photograph interiors so they don't look dark and fuzzy, overly backlit from sunny windows, and turning crazy colors from various light bulbs.
Yay! This is a fabulous idea. I've got a fancy SLR and I know how to use the basics, but it'd be great to know a bit more. Reading a manual isn't always the best way for me to learn, so this will be super-helpful. Thanks!
Light! I don't know how to shoot in different lighting environments. We live in a loft that has a wall of windows. Sometimes my shots get really blown out.
So excited for this!
Awesome. I have a fancy camera, about 1 step down from a DSLR. It's got a hot shoe, but I'd like to know how to make the most of the pop-up flash that comes with the camera. Ways to adjust settings to keep my photos from looking so hot, or equipment (bumps or diffusers) that can be used with non-DSLR type cameras. I take a lot of cat photos, and I'm tired of them looking like demons, and I really don't feel like photoshopping every single pic. Thanks!
I'd love to know how to use my super cheap-o point-and-shoot - no lenses, no nothin'. I know you couldn't go through and give step-by-step instructions on how to take nice pictures on every possible type of camera, but info on the photographic elements to consider that aren't controlled by the camera would be great. I mean, setting up natural shots, getting good angles, how to "click" on the right moment, etc., etc. A breakdown of things like white balance, focus, etc., in a way that's universal to all cameras - especially the basic cheap little thing I have. :-)
Excellent column idea!
Hmm... personally I would love advice on what lenses to purchase (I'm a canon dslr girl) and how to take action shots. My "action" photos are sadly always a blur!
I'm REALLY looking forward to reading more!
Great idea! Like some of the other commenters, I'm interested in how to capture vignettes or pick your angle.
This is a great topic. I always have an urge to dive right into new hobbies and buy fancy equipment right away because HOW ELSE CAN I TAKE AMAZING PICTURES OF MY S'MORES PIES but I have an old point and shoot camera with some limited setting options and I'd like to at least figure that guy out and make sure I'm committed before spending the extra cash.
Oh this sounds great! I'd really like to know how to adjust photos after I've taken them. My sister just got me Adobe Lightroom and I have no clue how to use it. There are just too many options!
I consider myself to be a decent photographer, but I always enjoy reading all these different articles people post about techniques and skills you can learn. Gizmodo always has some good ones every now and then. oh and I HAVE THE EXACT SAME PENTAX!
Very cool. I look forward to these posts. I have wondered about AT house tour photoshoot lighting, if the photographers specially light the rooms, or if it's all natural light, and if it is all natural, is there a better time in the day to snap the photos?
super excited for the super photo magic school! i am an amateur photographer and I just started my own blog... I do a lot of portraits and food photography for friends and look forward to your tips... I use only natural lighting for all my work.
http://tea-4-two.blogspot.in/
This is a very welcome addition to the plethora of tips and tricks offered here!
I would personally like to read about lighting tricks. I know the macro function only really works with good lighting, which is hard to manage inside the house and on cloudy days. I like taking pictures of plants and critters, and those are usually macro shots. Sadly, it seems conditions are never bright enough. Are there any simple tricks to lighting that don't require professional equipment and don't take up much room that a beginner/intermediate photographer can use?
Tips about functions most people wouldn't know they have on their cameras would also be welcome, as well as tricks for taking pictures of food (I would love to capture the sheen of melted cheese and just get lifelike colours on my food shots).
count me in!
This is very exciting, I can't wait for the posts!
i'm in. i love taking pictures but i didn't go through basic training yet, so f stops and rangefinder techniques are a mystery to me.
I can't wait for this! Thank you! I just bought a new beginner camera to start learning, but don't even know where to begin! Really looking forward to this!
This looks great! I agree with other comments that an article about lighting should definitely be put together. I can take decent pictures of my house, but the lighting is just never right, yet it ALWAYS looks good in the posted images! Also, good images with a LACK of natural light should be covered. I'm ready to learn!
I shoot in both 120 film and digital, so I'm game for whatever you got!
**Also, a bit of advice my godfather gave to me that I benefited from IMMENSELY: in order to learn more about your camera, especially if it's new, whenever you go to the bathroom and need some, er, reading material, bring your camera instruction with you. You'll learn sooo much about your camera!
great ideas everyone! I've got a list and we'll see where this goes! thanks for chiming in.