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Copyright 2013 by Elsie Larson and Emma Chapman

Photographs copyright 2013 by Elsie Larson and Emma
Chapman except where otherwise noted
All rights reserved.
Published in the United States by Amphoto Books, an imprint
of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House,
Inc., New York.
www.crownpublishing.com
www.amphotobooks.com
AMPHOTO BOOKS and the Amphoto Books logo are
trademarks of Random House, Inc.
Some of the photos included herein were previously
published on www.abeautifulmess.com
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Larson, Elsie.
A beautiful mess photo idea book / by Elsie Larson and
Emma Chapman.First edition.
pages cm
1.Portrait photography. 2.Self-portraits.I. Chapman,
Emma. II. Title.
TR575.L35 2013
771.44dc23
2012023524
ISBN 978-0-7704-3403-8 (trade pbk.)
ISBN 978-0-7704-3404-5 (e-book)
Printed in China
Design by Jenny Kraemer
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
First Edition

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CONTENTS
9
Introduction

Capture Your
Favorite People

Add Backdrops
and Props

Use Beautiful
Lighting

14 Photograph

36 Find

56 Know

Faces
Storytelling Portraits
18 Capture Genuine Emotion
20 Get Adorable Couple Photos
22 Take Cute Photos with
Your Friends
26 Get a Great Family Photo
28 Photograph Your Pet
30 Capture Unique Personal Details
32 Get the Best Cell Phone (or
Point-and-Shoot Camera) Photos
16 Take

Great Backgrounds for

Outdoor Portraits
40 Make a Paper Backdrop
42 Make a Chalkboard Backdrop
44 Make a Fabric Backdrop
46 Make a Fabric Strip Backdrop
48 Find Props at Home
50 Make Your Own Props
52 Ten Ideas for Creative
Lifestyle Props

Get Creative

Get Inspired

76 Take

102

Perfect Profile Pictures

Motion
(Part 1): Moving Objects
80 Photograph Motion
(Part 2): Wind
82 Photograph Motion
(Part 3): Jumping
84 Take Wide Photos
86 Take Artistically Blurry Photos
88 Take Macro Photos
90 Create Atmosphere
94 Understand Depth of Field
96 Make Homemade Filters
98 Add Hand Coloring
78 Photograph

106
108
110
112
116
118
120
122
124
126
128
130

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Take Amazing Photos of

Your Home
Photograph a Collection
Capture Your Daily Routines
Capture Seasonal Details
Capture Your Life at School
or Work
Photograph Your Daily Outfits
Capture Your Hobbies
and Interests
Achieve a Goal through Photos
Photograph Food
Capture the Places You Go
Take Photos on the Go
Photograph Your Current
Obsession
Photograph Music

How to Use Overcast

Light vs. Direct Sun
58 Find Flattering Window Light
60 Take Portraits Using Christmas
Lights
62 Take a Shadow Portrait
64 Take a Silhouette Portrait
66 Make the Most of Sun Flare and
Backlighting
70 Photograph in Low Light
72 Make and Use Reflectors

Capture Yourself
134
136
138
142
144
146
148

Photograph Your Reflection

Hold the Camera at
Arms Length
Use a Self-Timer or
Camera Remote
Our Favorite Makeup
and Styling Tips
Our Favorite Wardrobe Tips
Our Favorite Hairstyling Tips
Take the Thirty-Day Self-Portrait
Challenge

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Challenge Yourself
152
154
156
158
160
162
164
168
170
172
174
176
178

Create a Diptych
Create a Triptych or Polyptych
Take a Photo from Above
Create an Upside-Down Photo
Wear a Costume
Re-create an Old Photo
Have Fun with Color
Choose an Inspiration Icon
Take the Black-and-White
Photo Challenge
Have Fun with Outtakes
Focus on Something
Unexpected
Have Fun with Paint
Take Photos in Public Places

Show Off
Your Photos
182
184
186
188
190
192
194
196
198
200
202
204
206
208
210
212
214
218
220
222
224
226
228
230
232
234

Invites for Every Occasion

Storybook Locket
Photo Transfer Lampshade
Memory Magnets
Photo Party Dcor
DIY Business Cards
Grid Photo Wall Display
Photo Coaster Set
Make Your Own Silhouette
Custom Smartphone Case
Cupcake Toppers
Paper Plane Photo Wreath
Personalized Gift Tags
Personalized Holiday Ornaments
Classic Photo Gift Wrap
Canvas Photo Transfers
Family Portrait Pillows
Instagram Votive Candles
Organization Helpers
Homemade Guest Soaps
Vintage Wallpaper Scrapbook
Geometric Mobile
Memory Journal
Photo Fabric Drawstring Skirt
Refinished Photo Chair
DIY Travel Suitcase

Five Ways to Organize Your

Photos for Future Projects
239 Our Gear: An Inside Look
240 Index
236

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Capture Your
Favorite People
Taking pictures of our friends and family is one of our
favorite things to do! We spent a lot of time in our teen years
taking pictures of each other and getting friends together to
do special shoots. Sometimes just the act of getting together
for a planned photo shoot, such as engagement pictures or
a family portrait session, becomes its own memorable event.
Whether you set up a special, planned shoot or simply take
the time to snap a few pictures of your friends while you are
out shopping, this chapter is all about getting great pictures
of the important people in your life.

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14
A Beautiful Mess
Photo Idea Book

PHOTOGRAPH FACES

f you were using pictures to write the story of

someones life, his or her face would be chapter one.
Capturing someones best facial feature or a special
expression often makes the most interesting images.
Here are our top five tips for photographing faces.

TRY DIFFERENT CROPS. Try super close-up crops to

highlight someones eyes or smile, as well as full-body
shots with a lot of negative space to emphasize a pose
or the environment.

TRY DIFFERENT ANGLES. Looking straight at the

Sometimes when you are taking portraitsespecially

of kids and couplesthere will be moments in
between the smiling pictures when someone laughs
or makes an expression that communicates so much.
These unintentional moments can make the best photos because they are genuine and unique.

CAPTURE THE IN-BETWEEN MOMENTS.

Heres an
example of
using a prop
to highlight a
detail: the
subjects
beautiful eyes.

camera can be great, but dont be afraid to try different

angles. Have your subject look to the side or down for
a few shots. This can help with people who are camera
shy, too. Ask your subjects to try a few different angles
to help them loosen up in front of the camera.

HIGHLIGHT YOUR SUBJECTS BEST FEATURES.

Emphasize your subjects beautiful or unique features,

such as blue eyes or a great smile, by focusing on
them and putting them front and center. When you
are behind the camera, you have the power to highlight these magical details!
USE A SIMPLE PROP. Props add variety and can
help your subject feel more at ease. We especially love
using props from our environment, such as a leaf, a
flower, a coffee cup, or anything else that happens to
be on hand.

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15
Capture Your
Favorite People

We love this
yawn from
our newborn
niece so much
more than her
traditional
portraits.

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Show Off
Your Photos
Taking pretty photos is all well and good, but what do you
do with all those images? Saving them on a hard drive and
posting the best to Facebook or your blog are good places to
start, but dont let those be the only homes for your photos!
There are so many creative options for using, displaying, and
gifting your photo collection. Here are some easy and quick
solutions for using your photos.

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230
A Beautiful Mess
Photo Idea Book

PHOTO FABRIC
DRAWSTRING
SKIRT

etting your photos printed

on fabric opens up so many
project possibilities! You can
create personalized curtains,
bedsheets, an apron, or even a
dress. Here we created a super
simple drawstring skirt from a
cloudy-day photo.

Supplies needed:
photo fabric (we printed ours
online at spoonflower.com),
measuring tape, scissors, sewing
machine, needle and thread, small
rope for drawstring

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231
Show Off
Your Photos

3a

3b

1. Cut the fabric into a rectangle for

the skirt. Use a skirt you own and

love as a template or create your
own with the following steps:
Measure around your hips

and add 4 inches (this is the

width).
Measure from your waist
down to where you want the
skirt to fall, then add 3 inches
(this is the length).
If you want a fuller skirt, add
more width to the bottom
and cut an angled line from
the waist to the bottom of
the skirt.

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2. Find the top of your skirt

(it should be one of the long

sides). Youre going to prep the
top to create the sleeve for the
drawstring. Make a 3-inch-long
hem down each of the sides,
starting at the top, as shown.
3. Fold the hemmed portion in

starting directly below your

drawstring hole and continuing
to the bottom of the skirt.
5. Hem the bottom of your skirt.
6. Feed your drawstring through

the sleeve and try on your

new skirt!

half and stitch along the top

edge of the skirt, creating a
sleeve for the drawstring.
4. Fold the fabric in half to create

the skirt, with the wrong side

of the fabric facing out. Make
a hem to close the open side,

8/1/13 4:25 PM

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eacopyof

ABE
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I
F
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PHOT
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