PHOTO TIPS: HOW TO TAKE TOP-DOWN PHOTOS WITH AN IPHONE

When I first started out on Instagram (even Pinterest), I would often come across photos that were taken from above. I fell in love with the perspective and wondered how the heck people would get their pictures taken that way. Fast forward a couple years, I have finally mastered the top-down photos! I love learning new ways to take photos and especially enjoy challenging myself creatively. 

WHAT YOU WILL NEED: 

• Camera Device
• Selfie stick
• Cardboard
• Painters Tape or Nails 
• Hammer
• a new iPhone app

Now you may be wondering why the heck you will be needing cardboard, tape/nails and a hammer. I will get to that in juuuust a little bit.

One of the ways you can do this is with a selfie stick. They are cheap to get and easy to use. First: open the camera and set the self-timer to 10 seconds. Second: insert the phone into the slot. Third: press the camera button that will set off the timer and Fourth: quickly extend your arm as high as you can to get the above shot. It will take a hot minute or two to get it in the desired angle so do not get discouraged if you do not get it right away!

BEHIND-THE-SCENES + END RESULT:

Using the selfie stick can be challenging and tiring (hello arm cramps). So when I found this blog post awhile ago that shared the "shelf" idea, it immediately made top-down photos A LOT easier. This is where the materials come in place. The shelf, made out of cardboard, will be taped (or nailed) to the ceiling which will hold your phone in place. Like this:

Photo image source here.

This took me a total of 10 minutes to make! First: make sure you have cardboard and cut off a strip. Second: Fold the strip. It is honestly hard to explain so just look at the image above (which is what I did). Third: either tape or nail shelf to ceiling. I nailed it because it is sturdier but it is totally up to you how you want to do it!

Along with shelf idea, the post also introduced a self-timer app that is free to download in the app store; it is called Photo Timer+! I finally tested it out and do not know how I went this long without using it! The app lets you take multiple photos with seconds in between so you have a chance to get yourself ready and even change positions/poses along the way. This means I no longer have to get up every. single. time. after. a. photo. gets. taken. HECK YES!

Overview: Once you attached the shelf to the ceiling, open the Photo Timer+ app and set your phone on shelf then click the button to take photos and get yourself in place. That is it!

END RESULT:

You can check out my other "Photo Tips" post on how to take indoor photos so you get more insight on indoor shooting. Let me know in the comments what other photo tips you may like to learn from me! 

To learn how I edit my photos check out my iPhone Editing Workshop which is 50% OFF RIGHT NOW!

That is all, friends! I hope you learned something new. Thank you so much for reading! Until next time. 

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Much love,