6 tips for shooting conceptual photography

Want to get into conceptual photography? Don't let the name scare you into getting creative with your photos. Here are 6 tips for shooting conceptual photography.
Conceptual photography falls under the class of fine art photography. If you love getting creative and thinking outside the box, give conceptual photography a try. Here are some tips to get you started.
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1. Have an idea
Just like a visual artist starting with an idea before sketching it out, you want to have an idea before shooting photos. Portraits are commonly used in conceptual photography, with the photographer putting his or her creative twisted in the photo. Look at other conceptual photographer's work if you are having a hard time getting inspired to make your own.
2. Objects
Take a walk around with your camera. If something catches your eye, shoot it. An empty bench or fallen leaf might become inspiration for a conceptual photo later on. Take plenty of pictures of objects and people you might want to use to combine in one photo or several.
3. Composition
Something else that needs to be planned out is the composition of your photograph. There are two types of compositions seen in conceptual photography. Some photographers prefer busy photos while others like minimilistic photos. You may want to start with adding just a few objects for minimilism, since these are less work than the other. One subject with a clean and nonbusy background are common in minimilism photos.
4. Beauty in the eye of the beholder
Just like with fine art, what is appealing to one person may not be the case with another. Use subjects that are beautiful to you. Or if you are wanting to create something distasteful and ugly, go for that. You can also combine something ugly with something beautiful. The decision is based on your original idea.
5. Technicalities
Even though conceptual photography is seen from a creative point of view and open to interpretation, you still want to shoot good quality photos. Keep in mind the exposure triangle (ISO, aperture, shutter speed). More importantly, come up with and execute a great concept.
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6. Post-processing
After shooting your photos and choosing which one or ones to use, play around with them on a software of your choice to get the conceptual image you planned at the beginning. With software, you can do a lot of different creative things with your photos. Start by imitating your favorite conceptual photographer, creating your own style as you do more of these photos.