There is perhaps no photography genre that involves more care and slow execution than fine art photography. Fine art photos are the opposite of a “snap.” They are carefully scouted for, composed, exposed, and finally printed. All of this can make it slightly daunting for the newcomer. We might hesitate to proclaim that our photos are “art,”  let alone “fine art.” Well, let’s take away that fear and start you down the road to fine art photography in all its glory.

What is Fine Art Photography?

Fine art photography is about conveying the photographer’s vision and evoking emotion in the viewer. It goes beyond capturing reality and allows for creative interpretation of the subject matter.

To get started, create a cohesive body of work with at least 10-15 related images. Study the work of famous fine art photographers for inspiration, but avoid cliches like relying solely on black and white or using strong vignettes to hide poor composition.

Experiment with techniques like shutter speed and unique color grading to alter reality and develop your signature style. Writing an artist statement can help clarify your project’s concept and guide your image selection. For more tips on fine art photography, check out this in-depth guide.

Fine Art vs Commercial

Fine art photography is all about the photographer’s creative vision. The artist has full control over the image, from the concept to the final edit. Fine art photos are often emotional, meaningful, and abstract.

Commercial photography, on the other hand, is about selling a product or service. The photographer must follow the employer’s rules and stick to their vision. Commercial photos are often clear and well-composed to showcase the subject.

While fine art photographers have more creative freedom, commercial photographers usually have a steadier income. Both genres can include various subjects like people, landscapes, and objects. Fine art and commercial art photography may differ in approach, but both require skill and creativity to succeed.

Fine Art Portraits

Here are some tips to create your own fine art portrait photography:

Use simple backgrounds like black or neutral colors to make your subject stand out. Add props like flowers, books, or instruments to tell a story about your subject.

Have your model drop their shoulders, create space between their limbs, use their hands to tell a story, or tilt their head back for an elegant look. Get creative with makeup and costumes to set the scene.

Don’t be afraid to include some motion blur to give your portraits an artistic feel. You can also take faceless portraits that focus on other parts of the body. Finally, use photo editing to add depth and develop your signature style.

Fine art portrait photography gives you the freedom to create unique images. Follow your instincts and keep practicing to capture your finest work.

Fine Art Photography for Different Niches

The world of fine art photography is very diverse. And if you’re looking to enter it, that’s good news, as it gives you plenty of options.

Food

Fine art food photography is all about using lighting, composition, and styling to create a distinct mood. The best lighting depends on the subject, but side lighting or backlighting are great options. Backlighting can highlight liquids beautifully, while side lighting adds depth and dimension.

Composition is key in still life photography. Simple compositions can be very powerful, so avoid having too much going on in the frame. The rule-of-thirds and rule-of-odds are useful guidelines to create harmony and balance in your images.

When it comes to styling, keep it simple. Food in its natural state, like fresh fruits and vegetables, is inherently photogenic. Enhance its colors and textures with lighting and composition. High contrast images with vibrant colors tend to work best for fine art food photography. We’ve put together some useful tips on fine art food photography technique to take your images to the next level.

Landscape

Fine art landscape photography is about capturing the emotion and beauty of the natural world. Pre-visualize your final image before pressing the shutter. Consider the colors, processing, and story you want to convey.

Telephoto lenses can help you see the landscape differently by zooming in on patterns and shapes. Always edit your photos in post-processing to realize your vision. Seascapes make great subjects for practicing composition and long exposure techniques.

Black and white photography is all about luminosity, shapes, and contrast. Use negative space to emphasize your subject and don’t neglect the small details in the scene. Returning to the same location in different conditions can help you create more powerful images. To learn more about fine art landscape photography, check out our in-depth guide.

Macro

Capturing stunning fine art macro photos is all about the light. Midday cloudy light is perfect because it’s soft and subtle, giving your subject a nice glow. This diffused light hits your subject from all sides, so you can shoot from any angle that works best for your composition.

To make your photos really pop, use a wide aperture like f/2.8 to f/4. This creates a sharp subject against a blurry background, drawing the viewer’s eye. Get in close to intensify the background blur and contrast.

Look for lines, curves, and shapes to engage the viewer. Fill the frame with these geometric features for the most impact. Keep your compositions and colors simple to avoid chaos. Using the sky as a background is a great way to create minimalistic, abstract shots. For more tips on fine art macro photography, check out our in-depth guide.

Wedding

Fine art wedding photography captures the beauty and emotion of a couple’s special day in an artistic way. It goes beyond simply documenting the event, instead using unique compositions, perspectives, and storytelling to create images that are meant to be appreciated as art.

Fine art wedding photographers pay great attention to detail, carefully planning each shot. They often use soft, creamy lenses to create a whimsical look. The goal is to capture the emotion of the day in a way that will last long after the wedding is over.

To learn more about fine art wedding photography, including tips on capturing details, thinking creatively, and finding the story in your images, take a look at our guide.

Street

Fine art street photography combines traditional art, photography techniques, and street narratives to create high-quality images that tell stories. To capture stunning fine art street photos, take your time and be patient. Wait for the perfect light, usually during the golden hours, and use a tripod if possible.

Be picky and only accept your best images. Engage all your senses to understand the environment and the story you want to convey. Pay attention to sound, smell, and even taste to help you compose the scene.

Experiment with both color and black and white photography to find what works best for each image. Remember that street photography doesn’t have to be limited to urban scenes; your interpretation can include seaside settlements, suburban neighborhoods, or any community you feel passionate about. To take your fine art street photography to the next level, consider techniques such as advanced post-production skills and unique storytelling approaches.

What Is the Best Fine Art Photography Gear?

By definition, fine art photography needs quality camera gear. It’s likely you’ll want to make large prints, and that takes great lenses and plenty of pixels. A full frame camera probably gives the best balance between cost and quality. Although there are APS-C and Micro Four THirds cameras that might work for you too.

Mirrorless

Mirrorless cameras just keep getting better and better. They are gradually replacing DSLRs as the top-performing cameras, at both pro and consumer level. They are well worth considering as your fine art camera.

The Panasonic Lumix S5 is popular for video, but it has plenty to recommend it to still photographers looking for quality. There are dual memory card slots and image stabilization. It’s compact and weather-sealed, making it ideal for outdoor work.

The Sony a7R IV boasts an impressive 61.2 MP sensor for extremely detailed images. It has excellent autofocus with eye detection, a high-resolution electronic viewfinder, and a rugged body.

For professional sports and wildlife photographers, the Canon EOS R3 delivers with its 30 fps shooting, backside-illuminated sensor for better low-light performance, and up to 8 stops of image stabilization. It also offers 6K 60p video and a pro-level body.

Full frame mirrorless cameras now provide many great options for photographers of all levels.

DSLR

DSLR cameras are still a great choice for photographers of all levels. They’re reliable, have excellent features, and produce stunning images. The Canon EOS Rebel T8i is our top pick for the best DSLR camera.

It’s easy to use and has a 24.1 MP sensor that captures sharp, detailed photos. The autofocus is quick and tracks subjects well. You can also shoot 4K video, making it a versatile camera for both photography and videography.

If you want to learn more about DSLR cameras, we have an in-depth guide that covers everything you need to know. From beginner models to professional-level DSLRs, you’ll find the perfect camera for your needs.

Medium Format

Medium format cameras offer high-quality images with incredible detail. They have large sensors, almost double the size of full-frame DSLRs. This allows for higher resolution and dynamic range.

The best medium format cameras have advanced features like fast autofocus, custom controls, and rugged build quality. They also come with higher price tags than other camera types.

Our top pick is the Fujifilm GFX 50S II. It offers excellent image quality and features in a compact body at a relatively affordable price. For those looking for the absolute best medium format camera then look at the Hasselblad X2D 100C, with its 100MP sensor and 15-stop dynamic range.

Lenses

Fine art photography has a loose definition, so choosing the best lens can be tricky. But this means it’s a perfect genre for almost any photographer. With the right lenses, you can produce high-quality fine art photos.

The Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM lens keeps it simple, delivering great sharpness at a low price. It’s very versatile and works well in low light to create soft bokeh. The Tamron SP 45mm f/1.8 Di VC USD is perfect for demanding light conditions with its fast maximum aperture and image stabilization.

For a unique look, the Lensbaby 56mm f/1.6 brings a dreamy feel to your pictures. It’s great for taking soft, cinematic photos of people, landscapes, food, and even insects. If you’d like to learn more about lenses for fine art photography, we have a detailed guide.

Tripods

A tripod is an important tool for many photographers. It keeps your camera steady in low light and when using slow shutter speeds. Tripods come in different sizes and materials, like aluminum or carbon fiber.

The best tripod for you depends on the type of photography you do. Landscape photographers may want a sturdy tripod for stability in windy conditions. Travel photographers often prefer lightweight tripods that are easy to carry.

Look for a tripod with a height that brings your camera to eye level. Make sure it can support the weight of your camera and lens. Quick-release plates make it easy to attach and remove your camera. And adjustable legs help you set up on uneven ground.

If you want to learn more, check out our guide to the best tripods for photographers.

Some Fine Art Photography Inspiration for You

Sometimes our creativity needs a little nudge in the right direction. Thankfully there are plenty of amazing fine art photographers to whet your appetite. We have sought out some images and some image makers to get you started.

Fine Art Photos

Fine art photography is a powerful medium for creative expression. The 21 examples showcased here demonstrate the incredible diversity and artistic potential of the genre. From surreal photo manipulations to minimalist landscapes and thought-provoking portraits, these images push the boundaries of traditional photography.

Each photograph tells a unique story, evoking emotions and inviting the viewer to explore deeper meanings. The use of light, composition, and post-processing techniques adds depth and mystery to the scenes. Whether it’s the dreamlike quality of a boat sailing through the sky or the haunting silence of a deserted cityscape, these images leave a lasting impression.

To dive deeper into the world of fine art photography examples, explore the works of these talented artists and let their creativity inspire your own photographic journey. Embrace the freedom to experiment, express your unique vision, and create images that captivate the imagination.

Fine Art Photographers

Fine art photography is a genre that allows photographers to express their creativity and ideas through unique concepts. Some of the best fine art photographers have turned abstract ideas into artistic masterpieces that inspire and motivate others to pursue their own creative goals.

From Damiano Errico’s Renaissance-inspired portraits to Sarah Ann Loreth’s fairytale-like conceptual photos, these photographers have created unforgettable stories through their work. Inna Mosina’s soft, elegant portraits and Alex Stoddard’s exceptional art showcase their ability to transform simple themes into outstanding pieces.

Other notable fine art photographers include Olga Fler, known for her candid family and child portraits, and Marta Syrko, whose romantic and soulful images are filled with natural confidence. Carolyn Hampton’s monochromatic childhood-inspired photos and Lucy Michaela’s thoughtful, dark atmospheres also demonstrate the depth and meaning behind fine art photography. To discover more about these and other talented fine art photographers, explore their portfolios and learn from their unique styles and techniques.

What Do Conceptual Photographers Shoot?

Conceptual photographers shoot conceptual photography, a genre that portrays an idea. It usually has a narrative or a hidden meaning behind the image. The photographer decides on the concept before taking the image and tries to illustrate it in the most accurate way possible.
Conceptual portrait photography often involves abstract faces, geometric shapes, vividly captured colors, and surreal details. It is not rare that artists use conceptual portraits to express their own struggles or emotions through images.
The niche strongly connects to Photoshop art, as unique post-processing styles represent many ideas. Several artists who take self-portraits turn them into conceptual art.

34 Fascinating Conceptual Portrait Photographers

Let’s dive into the work of these amazing conceptual portrait photographers!

1. Anya Anti

Anya is a fine-art conceptual and lifestyle portrait photographer. She works mainly with self-portraits, placing herself in gorgeous locations and situations.
Many of her photos revolve around her connection to the Earth and nature. She portrays herself as part of her surroundings while creating a universal cold and moody style in her art.

2. Brooke Shaden

Brooke describes herself as someone who stands for radical self-reflection. This is probably the best way to outline her work as an artist.
She works with various models—primarily women—to capture their often dark emotions. Strong personalities and traumatic experiences shine through her photos. Her conceptual images have a disturbing yet beautiful look.

3. Jovana Rikalo

Jovana is a brilliant fine art portrait photographer from Serbia who uniquely captures miniature stories in single images. She creates magical scenes that depict dream-like scenarios.
You can tell from her pictures that she spends most of her time planning shoots. As you can see, this planning pays off!

4. Dasha Pears

Dasha is a visual storyteller who captures stories and ideas with her photos. Her concepts are minimalistic and exceptionally well executed.
She sometimes uses geometric shapes and Photoshop overlays to emphasize her subjects’ stories. Her images revolve around inner fights and finding our places in the world.

5. Adam Martinakis

Creating sculptures has been a way of depicting humans for thousands of years. So it is unsurprising that Adam chose a similar way to capture how he sees humanity.
He creates a statue-like look in his images, visualizing every detail of the human body. His photos are highly surrealistic. And he plays with shapes, colors, and composition to express his ideas.

6. Pol Kurucz

Pol redefines the concept of beauty with his conceptual portraits. His models aren’t perfect. They have their flaws, as every human does.
Pol has several photo series dedicated to different ideas. Poor Billionaires, Angry Dolls, Hair Stories, and Bored in NYC are some of Pol’s photo concepts. The images are colorful and full of unexpected elements and expressions.

7. Claire Luxton

Claire is a multidisciplinary artist, combining conceptual portraits and Photoshop art. She often takes self-portraits. And she transforms them into photos that perfectly capture her emotions and struggles.
Her images illustrate concepts like hope, truth, and dreams. And they are executed colorfully with a touch of nature.

8. Gemmy Woud-Binnendijk

Gemmy is a fine-art portrait photographer creating images that remind us of a historical era. The studio setting, costumes, makeup, and posing all contribute to the nostalgic feeling of her photos.
The images reflect the Renaissance, Baroque, or Victorian eras. She also manages to recreate the dark atmosphere of old portrait paintings.

9. David LaChapelle

David is one of the most well-known conceptual portrait photographers out there. He creates Biblical, historical, or sometimes even modern composites. And he uses a sense of humor to spice up his images.
He has stories to tell and knows precisely how to tell them. His imagination is outstanding. But his technical knowledge allows him to bring that imagination to life.

10. Hungry (Johannes J. Jaruraak)

Hungry’s conceptual portraits are based on the creative use of makeup and costumes. The results are surreal. The models barely look human afterward.
These portraits show us a twisted version of humanity. The colorful makeup combined with the model’s serious expression leaves the viewer with a pretty dark impression.

11. Damian Drewniak

Damian is a Polish visual artist who specializes in fine-art conceptual portraits. He speaks to you with images that capture atmospheres and concepts everyone can relate to.
The only difference is that he captures everything with a high sense of aesthetics and sophistication. This drags you into his world.

12. Patty Maher

Patty is a Canadian conceptual portrait photographer who focuses on female portraiture. She doesn’t show the faces of the models. They are either disguised or facing away from the camera.
She uses postures, colors, and symbols to convey emotions and stories. Her work balances the boundaries of the real world and surrealism.

13. Saga Wendotte

Saga is a conceptual child portrait photographer from Sweden. She has created several photo series based on various topics, like traveling or flowers.
Her Little People series captures children in a meaningful yet disturbing setting. She captures controversial topics, contrasting the world’s cruelty and the children’s innocence.

14. Karen Katar (Cantuq)

Karen took up Photoshop art and conceptual portraits to express her inner world. She uses art for self-therapy, as she creates highly surrealistic composites.
Her photos look as if a child’s imagination has come true. The colorful images look like paintings and uniquely illustrate the world of animals.

15. Flóra Borsi

Flóra is a Hungarian Photoshop artist who has worked with the program for over 16 years. This is visible in her images, as she knows exactly how to make refined conceptual portraits.
She takes self-portraits and transforms herself into otherworldly creatures. Many natural elements appear in her work, like butterflies, flowers, and birds.

16. Ziqian Liu

Ziqian, like many others on our list, also works with self-portraits. What differentiates her from the other artists is that she barely ever captures whole portraits.
Instead, she uses body parts, mirrors, reflections, and creative blur to create mystical and minimalistic portraits. Check out her account if you are looking for a unique, feminine style of conceptual portraits.

17. PrOject Uno

The PrOject Uno is a photography community involving and featuring many contemporary portrait artists. Many images are dark and surreal.
These conceptual photos illustrate the darkest corners of the human soul. You can find several different styles and atmospheres in the mixture of various artists’ work.

18. Joel Robison

Joel is a portrait photographer and Photoshop artist, working mainly with self-portraits. He uses his creativity and artistic skills to capture his conceptual visions and ideas.
His images are often fairytale-like. They feature Joel as a giant, a tiny man, or someone with magical abilities. He has a smooth and consistent style that he applies during his editing. And you can learn his techniques through his Fantastic Photo Adventures video course.

19. Bella Kotak

Bella describes herself as a fairytale fine-art photographer. This accurately describes her style. She mainly works with women, creating genuinely magical images in various locations.
The costumes, makeup, and accessories resemble the fairy tales we all grew up with. Bella uses the power of nature to bring a unique atmosphere into her photos.

20. Auguste Lefou

Auguste has probably the most modern photography style on our list. He captures humans merging with technology, often looking like robots and emotionless beings.
His images address many contemporary issues, like social media addiction and consumer society. The models’ faces are barely visible and unrecognizable. This helps the viewer focus on the message each photo conveys.

21. Kyle Thompson

Kyle is an American photographer who has worked primarily with self-portraits. His work’s emphasis is more on the message than the visuals. He’s taken a break from photography. But his work still inspires.
His most popular photo series, titled Sinking Ship, is where he visits an abandoned American town. He takes pictures full of self-reflection and hidden emotions. And he embraces his portraits’ vulnerability.

22. Steve Gindler

You should check out Steve’s account if you are looking for a conceptual portrait artist with relatable and touching photos. He captures his model’s raw emotions and fears with honest portraits.
These conceptual pictures are often set in an abandoned environment. He uses various disturbing settings and poses. And they often reflect pain and hopelessness.

23. Vivienne Mok

Vivienne knows how to portray the feminine side of her models. Her dreamy images look smooth as she plays with different lighting and props.
She works with many actresses and singers. And she organizes photoshoots that result in beautiful portraits.

24. Ade Santora

Ade is an Indonesian artist who creates twisted portraiture. His work is an excellent combination of digital art and conceptual portraits. Ade takes photos exclusively with his iPhone and edits all his images with mobile apps.
He shows a surreal side of humanity, tearing and reattaching faces in his pictures. So his subjects are sometimes unrecognizable, depicted darkly and disturbingly. But some are also beautiful and ethereal.

25. Peyman Naderi

Peyman is an international multi-award-winning photographer from Persia. His goal is to represent his unique way of looking at various concepts.
He creates his portraits in a studio setting, bringing several creative ideas to life. His portraits have a surreal look. And they involve nature, fish tanks, strong makeup, and nostalgic props.

26. Tom Chambers

Tom creates conceptual photomontages for which he uses his own images. He combines landscapes, skies, foregrounds, and subjects to create his composites.
He often works with children and young adults, showing them in a rural setting. And Tom’s work has been published and exhibited several times over his career.

27. Kaat Stieber

Kaat is a fine art photographer from the Netherlands who brings surrealism and Dutch art elements into her images. She aims to create images that look like paintings.
She does so through photography, costume-making, and brainstorming about new concepts. Her photos give you the feeling of looking at a classical painting.

28. Juul Kraijer

Juul is a Dutch visual artist widely recognized professionally in her country. She has dozens of exhibitions consisting of her conceptual portraits.
She combines drawings and sculptures with photography to create an extremely surreal look. The atmosphere of her images is dark. And her conceptual images show emotions and struggles through how she poses her models.

29. Milos Nejezchleb

Milos is a Czech, multi-award-winning photographer and visual artist. He often chooses current social issues as an inspiration for his images.
He plays with colors and shapes to create a minimalistic style and convey the message he aims to deliver. Many of his portraits involve several models whose interactions are key elements of his photos.

30. Cameron Burns

Cameron is a 3D artist who uses digital technology to make his conceptual portraits come true. The primary models in his photos are an astronaut, a “ghost,” or another figure. And they participate in seemingly everyday activities in mostly mundane settings.
He addresses topics that concern everyone in their daily lives. These include isolation, the therapeutic effect of music, and burnout from overworking.

31. Gabriel Isak

Gabriel creates surreal and melancholic scenes that symbolize the human unconscious. He uses colors and strong symbols, like birds, stairs, or blindfolds, to capture what is going on in the human psyche.
His photos are very minimalistic. And they often showcase faceless models in simple settings.

32. Kseniya Vaschenko

Kseniya’s images are a mixture of conceptual photography and fashion portraits. She uses twisted positions and dark coloring to express the agony and emotions of her models. In her work, feminine sexuality makes for sophisticated yet powerful results.

33. Astrid Verhoef

Astrid’s images teeter on the edge of surrealism and fine art portraiture. She places subjects in unusual surroundings to create landscapes unfamiliar to the human eye.
Using juxtaposition, her images greatly contrast technology and nature, humans and still objects.

34. Bara Prasilova

Bara Prasilova creates surreal conceptual photos that have you second-guessing each image. Look at the way she frames and composes each image. It instantly makes the subject stand out and sets the scene nicely for odd encounters.
I like how particular she is, down to the small details, including the color pallet she uses.

Conclusion: Influential Conceptual Photographers

Conceptual portrait photography has many faces and includes several different niches. Whether you’re looking for Photoshop art, minimalist, or detailed portrait shots, our article features exceptional artists in their fields.
Do you agree with our list? Please comment with your favorite conceptual portrait photographer under this post! And check out our Creative Portrait Concepts eBook to jumpstart your photo-taking and editing processes!

But because the definition is loose, it can be the perfect genre for almost any photographer.

With the right lenses, you can produce high-quality fine art photos.

Read on for our top choices for the best lens for fine art photography. But first, here’s our top choice.

Our Top 3 Choices for The Best Lens For Fine Art Photography

Canon EF 50mm F/1.8 STM

Canon EF 50mm F/1.8 STM

Canon EF 50mm F/1.2L USM

Canon EF 50mm F/1.2L USM

Tamron SP 45mm F/1.8 Di VC USD F013 for Nikon F

Tamron SP 45mm F/1.8 Di VC USD F013 for Nikon F

The Best Lens for Fine Art Photography

And before we look at choosing the best lens for fine art photography in detail, here’s a round-up of all the lenses in this review.

Amazing Value Allrounder

Canon EF 50mm F/1.8 STM

Canon EF 50mm F/1.8 STM

• Very cheap for high quality optics
• Fast f/1.8 maximum aperture
• Very quiet STM AF motor
• Very compact and light

Best Premium Canon Standard Lens

Canon EF 50mm F/1.2L USM

Canon EF 50mm F/1.2L USM

• Incredibly sharp wide-open
• Fast and silent AF
• Maximum aperture of f/1.2 is great for low-light
• Solid 'L' series construction and weather sealing

Best Standard Lens With IS

Tamron SP 45mm F/1.8 Di VC USD F013 for Nikon F

Tamron SP 45mm F/1.8 Di VC USD F013 for Nikon F

• Quick, silent AF performance
• Fast f/1.8 maximum aperture
• Soft, creamy bokeh
• Image stabilization

Best Compact Lens for Canon

Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM Prime Lens

Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM Prime Lens

• Canon's smallest EF lens
• Super-sharp optics
• Always-available manual focus
• Great value

Best Soft-Focus Lens

Lensbaby 56mm f/1.6 Prime Lens for Nikon F-Mount

Lensbaby 56mm f/1.6 Prime Lens for Nikon F-Mount

• Unique combination of sharpness and softness
• Fast f/1.6 maximum aperture
• Maximum 1:2 magnification for close-up work
• Manual focus

Best Allround Nikon Zoom

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-85mm F/3.5-4.5G ED VR

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-85mm F/3.5-4.5G ED VR

• Great price for an all-round lens
• Focal length range can span a number of genres
• Portable and lightweight
• Sharp and clear optics

Best Speciality Lens

Meyer Optik Görlitz Trioplan 35mm f/2.8 Fujifilm X-mount

Meyer Optik Görlitz Trioplan 35mm f/2.8 Fujifilm X-mount

• Specialist 'soap bubble' lens
• Available in ten different mounts
• All-metal construction hand-made in Germany
• Unrivalled bokeh

Best 85mm Lens

Sigma 85mm F/1.4 EX DG HSM for Canon EF

Sigma 85mm F/1.4 EX DG HSM for Canon EF

• Excellent optical quality
• Great value at the price
• Solid build quality
• Smooth, attractive bokeh

Best Nikon 35mm Lens

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 35mm F/1.4G

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 35mm F/1.4G

• Fast maximum f/1.4 aperture
• Good bokeh for a 35mm lens
• Always-available manual focus
• Fast and quiet AF

Best Standard Zoom for Canon

Canon EF 24-70mm F/2.8L II USM

Canon EF 24-70mm F/2.8L II USM

• Super sharp at all apertures and focal lengths
• Constant, fast f/2.8 maximum aperture
• Weather sealed for lens durability
• Always-available manual focus

10 Best Fine Art Lenses Ranked

Fine art photography doesn’t have any specific requirements.

Many photographers agree that fine art is something that makes you feel. It’s something you’d want to hang on your walls. Fine art tends to have perfect compositions and thought-provoking subjects.

Fine art covers a wide variety of genres. No matter what you like to photograph, you can create fine art.

It’s important to note that almost anyone can be a fine art photographer. It’s all about perspective. You can have the cheapest equipment and still be capable of creating stunning photographs.

However, the more advanced your equipment, the more creative possibilities you’ll have.

Fine art is all about breaking the rules and redefining your version of creativity. Because of this, you might find it helpful to experiment with some of the best fine art lenses in the market.

1. Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM

Brand	Brand Canon
Maximum Aperture	Maximum Aperture f/ 1.8
Focal Length Range	Focal Length Range 50 mm
What makes this a great Fine Art lens?	What makes this a great Fine Art lens? Canon keeps it simple with this lens, delivering great sharpness at a low price.

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Canon EF 50mm F/1.8 STM

Amazon.com

$125.00

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Most camera companies have a 50mm f/1.8 lens. This lens is one of the cheapest and best prime lenses out there.

The 50mm f/1.8 is extremely versatile for its price. It works well in nighttime conditions and creates soft bokeh. This versatility makes it the ideal lens for every photographer out there.

If you want to create high-quality fine art on a budget, this lens will likely serve you well.

2. Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM

Brand	Brand Canon
Maximum Aperture	Maximum Aperture f/ 1.2
Focal Length Range	Focal Length Range 50 mm
What makes this a great Fine Art lens?	What makes this a great Fine Art lens? A solid, pro-level 50mm with a very fast maximum aperture.

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Canon EF 50mm F/1.2L USM

Amazon.com

$1,399.00

Buy Now!

With a maximum aperture of f/1.2, this lens offers brilliant focusing and bokeh opportunities. This is a robust little lens that’s ideal for photographers who travel a lot. It works well in harsh weather conditions.

It has a Super Spectra coating that’s meant to avoid lens flares and ghosting.

Because of these capabilities, it can be a useful lens for fine art landscape and travel photographers.

3. Tamron SP 45mm f/1.8 Di VC USD

Brand	Brand Tamron
Maximum Aperture	Maximum Aperture f/ 1.8
Focal Length Range	Focal Length Range 45 mm
Image Stabilization	Image Stabilization 1
What makes this a great Fine Art lens?	What makes this a great Fine Art lens? With a fast maximum aperture and image stabilization, this is perfect for demanding light conditions.

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Tamron SP 45mm F/1.8 Di VC USD F013 for Nikon F

Amazon.com

$529.00

Buy Now!

The Tamron 45mm f/1.8 promises to create high-quality and atmospheric images. Like other f/1.8 lenses, it can create soft and creamy bokeh. You can get closer to subjects than with a standard 50mm lens.

This is perfect for fine art photographers who want to zoom in and out often.

The 45mm f/1.8 is very quick and silent. You can use it easily in nighttime conditions without having to worry about compromising the quality of your photos.

4. Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM

Brand	Brand Canon
Maximum Aperture	Maximum Aperture f/ 2.8
Focal Length Range	Focal Length Range 40 mm

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Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM Prime Lens

Canon’s 40mm f/2.8 lens is a pancake lens. Pancake lenses are tiny and light. This size makes them ideal for photographers who travel often.

It shoots very quietly, making it the perfect tool for fine art street photographers. The maximum aperture is f/2.8, so you won’t be able to create incredibly soft bokeh with it.

However, it can be an excellent tool for people who want to capture more atmospheres and details in their fine art photos.

5. Lensbaby 56mm f/1.6 Velvet

Brand	Brand Lensbaby
Maximum Aperture	Maximum Aperture f/ 1.6
Focal Length Range	Focal Length Range 56 mm
What makes this a great Fine Art lens?	What makes this a great Fine Art lens? The Velvet range of lenses brings a dreamy, unique look to your pictures.

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Lensbaby 56mm f/1.6 Prime Lens for Nikon F-Mount

Amazon.com

$378.99

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The Velvet 56 is one of Lensbaby’s many creative lenses. It’s one of the best lenses for fine art photography because of its versatility.

You can use this lens to take dreamy and surreal fine art photos of people, landscapes, food, and even insects. The lens has macro capabilities so that you can get extremely close to details.

This lens is excellent for photographers who enjoy taking soft and cinematic photos.

6. Nikon AF-S FX 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5 ED VR

Brand	Brand Nikon
Maximum Aperture	Maximum Aperture f/ 4.5
Focal Length Range	Focal Length Range 24-85 mm
Image Stabilization	Image Stabilization 1
What makes this a great Fine Art lens?	What makes this a great Fine Art lens? Sharp reproductions and ease of use make this a great choice.

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Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-85mm F/3.5-4.5G ED VR

Amazon.com

$499.95

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Nikon’s 24-85mm lens may not be your standard fine art photography lens, but it seems to do its job perfectly. Famous fine art photographer Alessio Albi uses this lens to take detailed photos of people.

The lens provides excellent clarity. It captures colors very well. Like the 40mm f/2.8, it won’t create the creamiest background possible. If you like photographing details in your fine art, you’re likely to love this lens.

7. Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art

Brand	Brand Sigma
Maximum Aperture	Maximum Aperture f/ 1.4
Focal Length Range	Focal Length Range 85 mm
What makes this a great Fine Art lens?	What makes this a great Fine Art lens? Super sharp optics and overall quality, at an attractive price.

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Sigma 85mm F/1.4 EX DG HSM for Canon EF

Amazon.com

$978.10

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Sigma’s 85mm lens is one of the sharpest lenses out there. Its primary use is in portrait photography, but you might find it very useful in all genres of fine art photography.

It’s one of the cheapest 85mm lenses in the market.

The 85mm f/1.4 works immensely well with colors and details. It’s ideal for fine art photographers who want to include people in most of their work. You’ll be able to photograph perfect skin tones with this lens.

An important thing to note is that this lens is weighty. It’s not ideal for light traveling. The lens itself is also quite large. This size might be a problem if you often use lens filters.

8. Nikon AF-S FX 35mm f/1.4

Brand	Brand Nikon
Maximum Aperture	Maximum Aperture f/ 1.4
Focal Length Range	Focal Length Range 35 mm
What makes this a great Fine Art lens?	What makes this a great Fine Art lens? Lovely, fast maximum aperture and clear optics.

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Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 35mm F/1.4G

Amazon.com

$1,546.95 $1,699.95

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A lens like this Nikon is perfect for both indoor and outdoor fine art photographers. Even if you shoot in a small space, you’ll be able to take atmospheric fine art photos.

Extra tip: Wide-angle lenses can create distortions. Unless that’s the look you’re going for, don’t get too close to your subject.

9. Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM

Brand	Brand Canon
Maximum Aperture	Maximum Aperture f/ 2.8
Focal Length Range	Focal Length Range 24-70 mm
What makes this a great Fine Art lens?	What makes this a great Fine Art lens? Solidly built with a fast maximum aperture and lovely, sharp optics.

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Canon EF 24-70mm F/2.8L II USM

Amazon.com

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It was discontinued a few years ago and replaced with the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM. Both have similar capabilities, but the updated version promises to have fewer distortions.

Fine art photographers like Robert Woodcox have used this lens. It’s versatile and perfect for all kinds of shooting conditions. You can zoom in to create an intimate feel or zoom out to capture more of the surrounding details.

If you take photos of different subjects (e.g. landscapes and people), you will likely enjoy using this lens.

Conclusion

You can take your fine art ideas to the next level with these lenses.

Don’t be afraid of experimenting with unusual techniques and equipment to make your fine art look outstanding.

And there’s no better place to start with choosing a lens than our top choice.

Our Top 3 Choices for The Best Lens For Fine Art Photography

Canon EF 50mm F/1.8 STM

Canon EF 50mm F/1.8 STM

Canon EF 50mm F/1.2L USM

Canon EF 50mm F/1.2L USM

Tamron SP 45mm F/1.8 Di VC USD F013 for Nikon F

Tamron SP 45mm F/1.8 Di VC USD F013 for Nikon F

Common Fine Art Photography Questions

What is the best camera for fine art photography?

Almost any camera works well with fine art photography. Some of the best fine art cameras are the Canon 5D Mark IV, Sony A7 III, and Nikon D750.

What is an art lens in photography?

Art lenses are high-quality lenses that create very sharp photos. They usually have large apertures, like f/1.2, to create soft backgrounds and sharp bokeh. These lenses are perfect for fine art and portrait photography.

We’ll help you find the perfect app for your needs, whether you want something simple or more complex. Read on to learn more about these amazing apps!

Artistic Transformation

Fotor Pictures into Paintings

Looking for inspiration to turn a photo into a painting? Look no further than this software. With various painting styles and customization options, your photos become stunning works of art!

The Best Apps to Turn a Photo Into a Painting

Some apps work best for landscapes and still life, while others are ideal for portraits. The apps also differ in the number and quality of painting styles. Some also add painting styles to videos.

Fitting an extensive artificial intelligence (AI) program on a small device is also challenging. Many apps need an internet or data connection to connect to a cloud to store AI images. With that in mind, here are some of the best apps to turn a photo into a painting.

1. Oilbrush

Download: iOS

The Oilbrush app is invaluable for elevating cherished photographs into breathtaking oil paintings. It’s 29 meticulously crafted presets, and advanced AI technology let you reimagine photos with a simple tap.

It infuses each image with the rich textures and vibrant strokes of a traditional oil painting. The high-resolution outputs reach an impressive 64 MP. This opens up possibilities for large-format prints, canvases, and personalized merchandise.

It has advanced tools like tone controls, retouching, color filters, and canvas adjustments. From its intuitive editing tools to extensive customization options, it is an excellent option to turn a photo into a painting.

Whether you’re a professional or an amateur enthusiast, it provides a seamless experience. It empowers you to create timeless digital masterpieces.

They also have a similar watercolor app called Waterbrush (download for iOS). Both are free apps with in-app purchases. But, to remove the app’s watermarks, you must buy a monthly ($2.99), yearly ($18.99), or lifetime ($49.99) subscription.

2. Brushstroke

Download: iOS or Mac Desktop

Brushstroke is one of the most full-featured apps dedicated to digital painting. It offers one of the best tool selections for customizing the look of photo-to-painting.

You can choose the painting style and the canvas types. This helps create more variations through texture. Many apps lock the colors in using the original painting style. Brushstroke lets users choose a color palette, too.

The extra features don’t stop after the painting styles are applied. The app also lets you add a “signature” to your “painting.” You can also print images from the app by sending the work to CanvasPop. And video styles are also an option.

So what’s the downside? Unfortunately, the Brushstroke app is only available on iOS platforms. So, Android users will have to look elsewhere. Plus, Brushstroke is a paid app. The mobile app costs $5.99 to download, and the Pro desktop version costs $39.99.

Also, adding video styles and extra illustration styles requires further in-app purchases. But the one-time buy isn’t as expensive as other subscription apps in the long run.

3. Tangled FX

Download: iOS

Tangled FX is an excellent photo-to-painting app that produces remarkable results and only costs $2.99! Many other apps mimic classical painting styles. But the Tangled FX app brings a digital art aesthetic to your images.

This picture-to-painting app lets you choose from 16 different visual styles. It transforms your photos with just a few clicks. You can also fine-tune the image in these presets simply or with a more advanced approach.

Besides being an excellent app to turn photos into paintings, Tangled FX is also great for upscaling small photos. It automatically transforms your image into a higher resolution when you make edits.

I’m a fan of how simple it is to take photos from your camera roll and transform them into works of art. I also like that you can save presets!

I can spend hours fiddling with the app’s photo editing tools. So, the option to save these edits makes a huge difference! Unfortunately, it’s only available for iPads and iPhones.

4. Prisma

Download: Android or iOS

Prisma is one of the most well-known and full-featured apps for turning photos into paintings. It popularized painterly photos in the first place.

It used to be free with in-app purchases, which helped build the app’s popularity. Now, there’s only a free three-day trial on iOS and Android. You must buy the app with a $49.99 yearly subscription ($4.16 monthly) for full access to all its features.

Prisma now offers more than 36 brushwork styles and 21 paint daubs to apply to images. These are based on different types of painting styles. It also has standard watercolor and paint options. There are more than 700 art styles you can explore!

The app lets users adjust the results besides applying the filter. You can adjust the painting style’s intensity and choose high-definition (HD) renderings. The app also has various sliders for photo editing, with adjustments like exposure, contrast, and saturation.

Renditions are very impressive. But the price might be too steep for casual users.

5. Waterlogue

Download: iOS or Mac Desktop

Waterlogue focuses on a single type of painting—watercolor! While not as broadly applicable as other apps, it achieves its narrow focus very well. The Waterlougue iPhone or iPad app costs $3.99, and the Pro desktop version is $39.99.

The app uses 14 different presets with different colors and pen outlines. The presets also change the consistency of the “paint,” so you can make those colors run together or keep shapes more distinct.

The iPhone and iPad app doesn’t offer as much control over the effects as others. You can adjust some light and details. But the app hasn’t had as many updates as others and is only available with iOS.

The desktop version offers much more. You can fine-tune paintings with detail controls and create and save your custom styles. It allows you to create custom, high-resolution watercolors you can frame.

6. Picsart

Download: Android, iOS, or Windows

Picsart is a bit like Photoshop Express. It’s a free Photoshop app with in-app purchases. Users can access filters and sliders, mix photos, and paint on effects. That means fewer apps clogging up your home screen as it can do the job of a few.

On the flip side, this app takes up more space on your phone. Picsart is one of the biggest apps on this list!

If you want only part of your image to look like a painting, Picsart has a more advanced photo edit. The Effects gallery inside Picsart contains many options to turn a photo into a sketch or painting.

Unlike the other apps on our list, Picsart is more than a one-trick pony. The app has other editing options if you don’t want to go the painting route. That also means Picsart isn’t as easy to navigate as other apps with more limited choices. But they do have helpful tutorials.

Picsart is free to download and use for Android, iOS, and Windows users with in-app purchases. But a subscription provides more exclusive content and an ad-free app for $5.00 or $7.00 monthly with Plus and Pro options.

7. Portrait Painter

Download: iOS, Android, or Desktop for Mac OS or Windows XP

As the name suggests, the Portrait Painter works best with people. It’s also a good app for pet photography. Yet, it doesn’t prevent you from uploading a good landscape.

The app’s price varies, but it’s reasonably cheap for photo editors to download. It’s free for Android users, $2.99 in the Apple store, and $19.99 for the desktop version. Video packs and new illustration effects are available for an added price.

Most apps focus on landscapes and still life. But the Portrait Painter app turns images of people into digital paintings and offers several options to customize the look.

You can use the image’s original colors or a brighter palette. You can also adjust the brush and canvas types. This leaves a subtle texture in the final image.

Portrait Painter’s digital paintings don’t have to remain only on your smartphone or social media. The app also lets you easily order a print of your creation through CanvasPop!

8. Glaze

Download: iOS

Do you want to make your photo look like a painting you physically made or one you already have hanging in your home? Glaze is a free app (with in-app purchases) like no other!

It gives you a Studio mode to quickly generate a few versions of the same image. Or their Workshop mode lets you explore a massive range of styles and variations.

The app even lets you paint masks to restrict where the brushstrokes appear. But my favorite feature is saving an image with a transparent background to use your new creation in another app.

9. GoArt Photo Art Maker

Download: Android, iOS, or Mac, or Windows

GoArt is a great app by Fotor to turn a photo into a painting. It’s another free app with in-app purchases and an online option. It uses AI technology to create art based on various artistic filters.

This app supports a range of styles, from pop art to oil painting. It lets you turn photos into your favorite style of art. It also provides a straightforward method for turning an image from your camera roll into a work of art.

You don’t get much of a tool selection when it comes to modifying the details of the artwork. Instead, you get a slider that changes its “intensity.”

A unique feature that you do get is a cutout and background remover. It’s a welcome feature because it amplifies the difference between a painting and a photo. It also means you can pick the perfect backdrop with the app to make your subject stand out.

The Best Desktop Apps to Turn a Photo Into a Painting

Turning photos into paintings isn’t only available on mobile apps. If you don’t want to work on your smartphone, here are a few desktop editing software options. One is Adobe Photoshop, and the other is an affordable, non-subscription software bundle.

1. Adobe Photoshop

Download: Adobe Photoshop subscription plans

If you want the most control when turning photos into paintings, use Adobe Photoshop! Photoshop is one of the must-have desktop editing platforms for photographers.

This is especially true if you want to get creative with your photos. Photoshop provides a seemingly endless range of photo editing tools to assist you in changing your picture into a painting.

The downside is that you must learn Photoshop to get the best results. But we have an easy step-by-step guide for turning photos into paintings using Photoshop.

This is best suited for someone who knows the specific style they want. It’s not for someone who wants a quick choice of aesthetics.

The best thing about using Photoshop is that you have total control. That means you can apply as many different manipulations to your image as possible until you get your perfect masterpiece! We show you the best ways to buy Photoshop.

2. Corel PaintShop Pro

Download: Windows

Corel PaintShop Pro has a one-click, instant-effect option to turn images into sketches or paintings. Users can choose from different painting styles.

The only customization option is the strength of the effects. But after you finish, you can adjust the image inside PaintShop.

As a desktop program that includes other image editing tools, PaintShop Pro isn’t as affordable as the apps. But the full version is much less than a Photoshop subscription in the long run. It costs €69.99, but you can try it free for 30 days.

The Best Online Apps to Turn a Photo Into Painting

Consider online options if you don’t want to download a program onto your computer.

1. BeFunky Photo to Art

Website: BeFunky Photo to Art

BeFunky is an online method for turning a photo into a painting. Befunky is an online editor. This platform is more accessible than a phone app. You can drag and drop images straight into the workspace.

Under Artsy, you can find many photo-to-painting options. You can transform your photo using extensive subcategories. Next, you can choose from a selection of different styles. After you have set your effect, you can change its “intensity.”

You can also erase certain sections you don’t want the effect to cover. This is where you can get creative as you can fine-tune the brush size, hardness, and strength.

BeFunky also comes with a range of online editing tools. So this could be a one-stop shop for all your painterly needs! But you must upgrade from the free version for full effects and remove BeFunky watermarks. There are monthly (€13.99) or discounted yearly (€83.88) subscriptions.

2. Fotor’s GoArt

Website: Fotor’s Online

Fotor is a free online image editor. That means there’s no software to download. The software’s GoArt tool turns photos into paintings in several different styles.

Because the software is online, the conversion process can be slow. It’s especially true if you have a slow internet connection.

The program is free to use and includes a good selection of artistic styles. Some are paid, but the majority are free. But you must pay a monthly or discounted yearly subscription to remove GoArt watermarks.

Foto Pro works out to $39.99 yearly ($3.33 monthly) or Foto Pro+ for $89.99 yearly ($8.99 monthly). The paid versions include generative AI, tools, edits, and app storage. The latter includes brand kits and batch editing.

Fotor’s image editor is accessible online. But GoArt is a different platform.

How to Turn a Photo Into a Painting Step by Step

Many photography apps turn photos into paintings, but their processes typically follow a similar approach. The following steps generally work across all apps.

Step 1: Upload a Photo

After downloading the app, upload the photo you’d like to convert. The original photo quality plays a significant role in the result. Photos with more contrasting colors work best. Soft-focus photos can also look good when converted into paintings.

Step 2: Choose a Painting Style

Next, choose the painting style you want. Apps offer different genres based on famous painters or classical art styles. The process is usually automatic after you select the style and the image.

Step 3: Adjust Effects and Export

In some apps, you can adjust the painting effect. After you finish, you can export the painted photo for sharing or printing. As you can see, the process to turn a photo into a painting is simple. But what app should you choose?

Conclusion: Best Photo to Painting Apps

After looking at various applications, we can see many easy ways to produce fun, painterly photos! Converting a snapshot into a digital painting is a fun way to jazz up an otherwise dull photo.

The process can help you make a statement, create shareable images, or decorate walls! And thanks to developments in AI tech, finding a program to turn a photo into a painting is easy on any budget.

Try out The Creative Photography Cookbook to take even more mind-blowing images!

Artistic Transformation

Fotor Pictures into Paintings

Looking for inspiration to turn a photo into a painting? Look no further than this software. With various painting styles and customization options, your photos become stunning works of art!

Fine Art Portrait Photography: How Portrait Photography Becomes Fine Art

In general, portraits feature at least one person whose face may or may not be shown. Your subject’s appearance can be concealed by makeup, shadows, or an object.
Alternatively, their head can be turned or not even included in the frame. Some photographers remove parts of their subjects’ faces (in an editing program, of course!) to put a spotlight on a specific theme, strengthen their editing skills, or dip their toes into surreal portrait photography.
There’s a thin, unclear line between portrait and fine art portrait photography. In my opinion, if you want to create a portrait in the fine art genre, you have every right to label it any way you like.
If it’s something that could hang in an art gallery, it’s fine art. If you carefully planned your photoshoot and had a very specific concept in mind, your results are fine art.
As you can see, there are no boundaries for this genre. There are, however, a few patterns that I’ve noticed in the most popular fine art portraits.
Once you familiarise yourself with them, you’ll develop a fine art instinct that will help you find and create the most stunning portraits imaginable. As absurd as this sounds, it works!

Tips To Create Your Own Fine Art Portraits

1. Use Classic Backgrounds to Highlight the Subject

More often than not, fine art portraits have very simple backgrounds that put the spotlight on the subjects. Having a very simple background will highlight every feature on your subject’s face, like skin textures, clothes, and the objects they’re holding.
Many fine art portraits have black backgrounds. This creates the illusion of depth and compels the eye to focus exclusively on the model.
If dark backgrounds don’t appeal to you, use neutral colors instead. A very popular fine art photographer, Sue Bryce often uses beige or grey backdrops to complement her models’ features, clothes and poses.

2. Use Inanimate Objects

Old painting masters, like George William Joy and Fritz Zuber-Buhler, often added inanimate objects – flowers, bowls, and instruments – to their portraits.
These items either told a story about their subjects or served as eye-catching decorations. We can learn a thing or two from these masters by using inanimate objects in our photographs.
Things like books, flowers, and instruments all have textures that could turn your photos into true fine art portraits. As you look for objects, keep your model’s story in mind.
Jovana Rikalo is an expert in sourcing the right props for a photoshoot. If you ever need inspiration, have a look at her series of portraits.
Either way, keep an eye out for textures, details, shapes, and neutral colors. You can even analyze classical paintings (i.e., make an excuse to visit your local museum) for more ideas!

3. Try These Four Artistic Poses

Fine art portraits often feature models posing in an elegant but natural way. Below, you’ll find some poses that will complement your work and make your models feel confident.

• Drop the shoulders. Often used in fashion photography, this pose creates a relaxed but stylish look. Dropped shoulders will result in straight lines that naturally draw your viewers’ eyes to your subject.
• Create space between the limbs. Crossed arms and legs will make your subject look distant and uncomfortable. Instead of letting them pose stiffly in front of the camera, let them loosen up, dance around, or do some stretching exercises. Creating this physical space will make them look more elegant, give you more lines and curves to work with, and make your composition look more visually appealing.
• Use hands to tell a story. Ask the model to use her hands – not her face – to tell a story. Let her face blend into the black background, and leave room for props, flowers, and her body, most importantly, her hands. Fine art photography overflows with subtle details like these, so make sure you include them in your photographs.
• Tilt the head back. This is a pose that’s reminiscent of swans and ballerinas. A slight tilt will make your subject’s neck look longer, create more space around them, and give their body more shape. This will create the perfect subject for a fine art piece.

Make Your Models Feel Comfortable!
Keep in mind that not every pose and expression will work for every model. What looks good on one person will look unflattering on someone else. To avoid unnecessary misunderstandings, get to know your model first.
Before your photoshoot, have a quick meeting with your team. If they’re beginners, help them feel comfortable about their posing skills and find the ones that make them stand out.
Introduce them to poses you like (visual references will help you a lot during this process) and ask for their honest feedback. Let it go if a pose looks forced (regardless of how popular it is).

4. Be Creative With Makeup and Costumes

Fine art photography is nothing without its costumes and makeup. Some photographers like to take the traditional route and dress their models using costumes that look like they belong to royalty. Many focus on both makeup and clothes.
Artists like Jovana Rikalo use makeup and costume to tell stories in a single image or series of images. Make-up and costumes set the scene and allow the viewers’ minds to run wild, creating stories for the characters you present.
You can use anything. I often use thrift store finds in my portraits. They’re unusual, affordable, and vibrant enough for fine art portraits. Be as creative as you want! Use secondhand scarves, hats, dresses, or even gloves. Pretend that you’re preparing for a film role.
It sounds silly, but your imagination can take you to the most exciting places if you allow it to.

5. Don’t Be Afraid of Motion Blur

In general, motion blur is something many portrait photographers tend to avoid for understandable reasons.
Details are something you don’t want to take for granted. However, you should occasionally blur parts of your photo during your shoot or post-production.
The results will show you the importance of getting out of your comfort zone and experimenting with unpredictable techniques.
Regardless of the aforementioned posing techniques, give your models the space and time to do whatever they want.
This spontaneity may result in unexpectedly appealing portraits. For example, a subtle hand movement might make your photo look like an unfinished painting. Moving hair might look like a waterfall.

6. Go Faceless

As important as facial expressions are, they don’t have to be featured in a portrait. Sometimes, a simple photo of a hand, a strand of hair, or a curved spine can evoke memories far more powerful than a photo of a stranger’s face.
There’s something comforting, even relatable, about seeing a human figure and not just an unfamiliar face.
Faceless fine art portraits are ideal for self-portraits, experimental photos, or test shots with subjects who don’t want to show their faces. Taking them will open up a whole new world for you. You’ll have nothing but movements, body parts, and backdrops to focus on.
I love the faceless side of fine art because it is liberating. Your results will still be portraits but without the sharp eye focus, expression, or poses that you’re used to.
This side of photography will enable you to think outside the box, give shape to ideas you never imagined you’d have, and improve your observation skills.

7. Give Yourself an Editing Challenge

Editing and color correction can add a lot of extra depth to your portraits. Take fine art photographer Paul Apalkin, for instance. His portraits are striking, and his models look comfortable.
What you may not notice immediately is how much love he pours into his editing work; his portraits are carefully color corrected to look the way they do. Without his editing skills, he wouldn’t have a powerful signature style.
Editing is definitely optional. If you want to keep your photos as raw as possible, you can still create very stunning fine art portraits. If you’re in the mood to experiment, though, you’re in for a treat!
Fine art portrait photographers use various textures, photo resources, and color-correcting tools to take their portraits to the next level. Challenge yourself by experimenting with different editing programs with different resources.

Conclusion

Fine art portrait photography is a genre that will force you to redefine your artistic skills. It will compel you to explore the beauty of people in various forms. It will teach you to not only capture life as it is but create worlds of your own.
By letting your own ideas come to life, you’ll turn into a photographer with impressive skills and a strong vision.
The true beauty of this genre can be found in its freedom to be anything it desires. Fine art photography has no boundaries or limits. It all depends on your comfort zone, ideas, and technical skills.
Follow your instinct, experiment with the tips above, and remember, your finest fine art portrait is just around the corner.
Capture joyful memories and charming portraits of your children at home with our Dreamy Childhood Portraits ebook!

15 Best Cinemagraph Apps

A cinemagraph is a visual art form consisting of a still photo in which one part is animated. The selected area plays in a never-ending loop, forming a short video clip.
Also called ‘moving pictures’, cinemagraphs have become popular to grab the audience’s attention. They are usually found in advertising and social media.
If you are a photographer, cinemagraphs can make a great addition to your portfolio.
If you want to explore this trend and create images in this format, this post is for you. We will help you find the best cinemagraph app to create masterpieces easily!

1. Cinemagraph Pro for iOS

If you have an iPhone or an iPad, the best photo moving app we can recommend is Cinemagraph Pro for iOS.
This is a great tool for those who are starting in this trend. It provides tutorials on how to use the app and get the best out of it.
Cinemagraph Pro allows you to add filters to every frame of the video, enhancing the visual experience.
Aside, the app offers a large gallery of cinemagraph creatives. You can scroll on this gallery to get inspiration to create the best moving picture.
To use the app, you need to upload your video and select the part you would like to animate. The rest of the video will remain still.

2. Cinemagraph

The Cinemagraph app also has a version for Android users. This app is straightforward to use, perfect for those who don’t want to spend too much time with complicated software.
The app works exactly like the iPhone version. You need to select the area you would like to animate and the one you would like to maintain still. Yet, for this version, all footage must be filmed with the app’s camera, unlike the iOS Pro version.
Still, a great option for those Android users that look for a user-friendly cinemagraph app.

3. Clipgraph

Clipgraph is a photo motion app that features minimalist software. Its interface makes it easy for users to create content in seconds.
The disadvantage of this app is that it doesn’t come with any special effects or filters. Also, you cannot share the content directly from the app to social media.
Yet, it is a great cinemagraph software, and it is available for both Mac and Windows users.

4. Fotodanz

One of the best Android apps to create cinemagraphs on the go is Fotodanz. Its simplicity allows you to film images and video directly from the app. After that, you can easily use your finger to select the areas of the video you’d like to animate. As easy as that.
Fotodanz features a great interface for those users new to the technique.

5. Zoetropic

Zoetropic is one of the best cinemagraph apps available for download. It features exclusive overlays for images and videos. Aside, it comes with an audio library where you can pick a soundtrack for your moving picture.
The app works by setting the motion points on a still picture, which you blend to create the motion effect. Once you have done this, you can customize your motions with audio and visual effects.
This app is good for beginners who wish to practice with still images before starting to edit videos.

6. Draw Motion

Draw Motion app is a versatile cinemagraph software. It is available for both Android and iOS users. The app is easy to use and enables you to create cinemagraphs using a video or a Live Photo.
Aside, the app comes with a great video stabilizer feature. This feature allows you to enhance the quality of your videos.
The app offers quick share buttons to publish your content when you are on the go. Aside, you can export cinemagraphs to different formats in desired quality.
The app is free, but you will have to pay a couple of dollars to remove the watermark from your creations.

7. Motion Stills

Motion Stills is a cinemagraph software and time-lapse app created by Google.
This app, suitable for Android and iOS, comes with several editing tools. One of them is a video stabilization feature that will make your videos appear like still images.
Motion Stills offers several features to create great content. Aside, it lets you create movies by combining clips with a simple swipe.

8. Lumyer

Lumyer is an app that enables you to apply high-quality animated effects to your images. This is a great app to have fun by creating cinemagraphs and sharing them with your friends.
As an example, you can add to your images fireworks, moving lips, or flowing hair.
Lumyer is a great app for creatives. You can experiment with special effects you will not find in other cinemagraph apps.

9. Vimage

Vimage is a different kind of app for creating cinemagraphs. It does not take the animation from the original video. Instead, you can choose from a gallery of hundreds of effects, filters, presets, and animations that best suit your photo.
The multi-award-winning tool offers high-quality effects to animate any still picture in seconds.

10. PICOO Camera

PICOO Camera is a great cinemagraph app if you use an iOS device. This app works by highlighting a topic spot on your photo and then recording dynamic movements in it.
After capturing a living photo, you can add different filters to it. You can also visit the Explore section to get inspired for your next creation.

11. MaskArt

MaskArt is another iPhone app designed to create amazing cinemagraphs easily.
This cinemagraph animator provides a user-friendly interface. It allows you to select what part of the picture you would like to keep moving by touching with your finger.
MaskArt is one of the best cinemagraph apps at no cost. Yet, it is only available in the App Store for the United States.

12. Lumia Cinemagraph

Lumia Cinemagraph is an app designed for Microsoft mobile devices.
This cinemagraph maker comes with intuitive software. Aside, it features on-screen assistance to help you create moving pictures easily. Perfect for beginners.
After creating a cinemagraph, you can export it as a GIF file or share it via social media, email and messaging.
The only disadvantage about Lumia is that it exports GIFs as regular JPG files. Also, such files can only be viewed on Lumia devices.

13. Loopsie

Loopsie is a unique cinemagraph app available for iOS and Android devices. It is easy to use and comes with a stabilization algorithm. This feature helps you create amazing cinemagraphs without extra equipment.
This cinemagraph maker enables you to edit your photo’s depth. Aside, you can apply 3D stickers and add virtual lights and shadows.
Loopsie also comes with 3D photo processing. This estimates the depth of every pixel to reconstruct a 3D environment from a single photo.
You can download Loopsie for free, though it comes with in-app purchases.

14. BLINK Cliplets

BLINK Cliplets is one of the best cinemagraph apps available for Windows 7 devices. It comes with a streamlined interface, allowing users to create cinemagraphs out of 10-second video clips.
The application is easy to use: import your video and use the mouse to cut the element you want to keep in motion. The rest of the video will be static. Once your Cliplet is saved, you can export it in GIF format by clicking on the “Export Cliplet” button.

15. Liquivid Easy Cinemagraph

Liquivid Easy is a cinemagraph software only available for Mac. It features a simple interface design, making it easy for its users to create living photos.
Liquivid Easy Cinemagraph comes in five languages. It works by importing a video and selecting the areas you wish to remain static.
The app features 23 visual effects with six blending modes. In addition, it comes with presets with several aspect ratios. This way, you can share your creations on every social media platform.

Conclusion

Cinemagraphs are a fun, different way to communicate visually. The best part is that anyone can create a cinemagraph, as plenty of apps make it incredibly easy. No doubt why cinemagraphs have become popular on social media in the last few years.
There are many fun cinemagraph examples to get inspiration from. And with one of the apps in this list, you’ll have everything you need to get started with your own cinemagraphs.
We hope we have helped you figure out which cinemagraph maker is right for you. We are sure that by using these apps, you will become a cinemagraph pro in no time!
If you want to learn more about making stunning cinemagraphs, check out our Magical Photography Spellbook eBook!

3D photography follows the same logic. It creates images with more depth. They’re more real-to-life, and the detail is lifted off the page. It can make us feel like we’re in the picture, not just looking at it.

But what exactly is 3D photography? And how does it differ from normal photography?

In this article, we’re going to take a deep dive into the world of how to take 3D photos. We’ll look at the history of 3D images and how they’re made. And we’ll also give some tips for getting started.

And don’t worry. You won’t need any special glasses for this article.

Stability And Versatility

Neewer 77 Tripod with Panoramic Ball Head

Looking to capture stunning 3D photography? Look no further than this adjustable and stable tripod, perfect for capturing the perfect angle and position for your shots.

What is 3D Photography?

A standard photograph, whether printed or digital, is only two-dimensional. We can only detect height and width. There is no depth, making the image look flat.

3D photography introduces depth into the image. Adding a third dimension makes the subject sound proud or makes us believe we can move inside the photo.

It looks great, but how is 3D photography done?

How 3D Photos Work

Humans see the world in 3D. Our eyes can detect height, width, and depth. Our brain processes the information from both of our eyes to give us stereopsis vision. It means we have depth perception and can judge distances.

3D images employ the same principle. It uses two photos of the same subject. One offset from the other. The two images are then merged to create a photo with three dimensions.

You’re using the two images at slightly different angles to create stereopsis vision with the camera. Seeing the image from different perspectives brings depth and body to the photo. We are still looking at the flat photo. But the effect of the two offset images tricks our brain into thinking there is depth.

A Brief History of 3D Photography

3D photos, much like 3D movies, have a reputation for being a bit of a fad. It falls in and out of fashion. Its popularity is on the rise again, but it’s not a modern phenomenon. It has been around for decades.

The Stereoscope

The first development came way back in 1833 when Sir Charles Wheatstone invented the stereoscope. You look into this device, and two separate images of the same scene are displayed. There is one image for each eye. Your brain puts them together, and you get a 3D image.

The Viewmaster

Wheatstone’s stereoscope used illustrations. But William Henry Fox Talbot and Sir David Brewster developed the idea using photographs. This invention developed into the Viewmaster. Something you can still buy today.

The Stereo Camera

The stereoscope uses two photos to create the 3D image in your mind. It is not a 3D photo. But as technology developed through the early 20th century, these ideas were adopted by camera manufacturers.

In the 1940s, we saw the first stereo camera. The camera uses two separate lenses and sensors to capture the same scene from different angles. These simulate human binocular vision and create a three-dimensional image.

The first stereo camera was the Stereo Realist, which hit the market in 1947. This Kodak Stereo Camera followed this in 1954. And the Russian Sputnik stereo camera in 1955.

The First Compact 3D Camera

The Nimslo 3D was the first compact 3D camera for consumer use. It was released in the 1980s and used 35mm film. And you didn’t need special glasses to view the photos.

How to Make 3D Photos

All this talk of stereopsis and binocular vision might put you off from taking 3D photos. The language has been a tad academic. But don’t worry. You don’t have to be a scientist to make 3D images.

There are now many ways to create 3D photos. You can do it in post-processing with Photoshop. Or you can even get apps on your smartphone. Facebook even has an application for uploading 3D images to its platform.

With digital photography, you can duplicate your photo. In post-processing, you can then create minor differences to each image. When you merge them, you create a 3D photo.

But you don’t have to rely on computers. If you still like getting your hands dirty, there are some manual processes you can try. Buying a vintage stereo camera isn’t a bad option. You can find a Sputnik in pretty good condition online.

But you don’t even need a 3D camera. You can experiment with taking 3D photographs with your DSLR or even your smartphone. We’ll take you through three more hands-on techniques.

1. The Rocking Method

It’s the most straightforward method, and you don’t need any additional equipment. All you need is your camera. And your smartphone camera will work too.

First, the subject or scene needs to be identified. With 3D images, the subject has to be static. Anything that moves, even slightly, won’t work.

Once the scene has been chosen and framed, the photographer needs to find a strong footing. Then, for the first shot, they will put their body weight on one foot. This will make them lean slightly in that direction.

For the second shot, the photographer will transfer their weight to the other foot. The result is two offset photos of the same scene. It’s the same image but from a slightly different perspective.

You then need to bring the images together. You can use Photoshop, as well as Stereo Photo Maker and AutoPano.

2. The Tripod Method

This technique is similar to the rocking method but uses a tripod. A tripod may be needed if the lighting is a problem or if you’re working in a studio. 3D techniques are a great way to add spice to your fashion photography or product photography.

The subject or model needs to be in the center of the frame. The first shot is taken like that. Then the camera and tripod are moved to the left or right. They should not be moved more than two inches as this is the average distance between a human’s eyes.

Before the second shot is taken, the subject needs to be re-centred. This may involve changing the angle slightly to keep the same framing. Then it’s time for the second shot.

Again, the two images have to be merged in post-processing.

3. Make Your Own Mirror Splitter

This method is a bit more complicated and involves some DIY skills. But it can be great fun to experiment with, and the results are awe-inspiring.

There are four mirrors used in total: two small mirrors and two large mirrors. The small mirrors are used to split your frame. And the two large mirrors then reflect the view back onto the subject.

The result is two images of the same scene in one picture. But due to the position of the mirrors, the two images are slightly offset from one another. They are then combined to make the 3D photo.

The diagram below will help to illustrate the experiment.

Tips for Taking 3D Photographs

No matter which method you use to take 3D images, here are four things that always need to be considered.

1. Subjects Need to Be Still, and Movement Kept to a Minimum

The subject or scene needs to be carefully selected. With 3D photography, the subject needs to be completely still. You need more than one photo of the same subject but from slightly different positions. While the camera changes position, the subject has to remain the same.

Any movement and the 3D effect will be lost. The 3D photographer needs to keep this in mind even if they are shooting a scene. The scene they select must include as little movement as possible. They need to be aware of any people or cars moving within the frame. Even leaves moving in the breeze can cause problems.

A photographer can make 3D photos with moving subjects, but this requires two cameras. And the photographer also needs to keep any movement with the two cameras to a minimum. They will need to move to take the two different shots. But other than that, they need to stay as still as they can. Using a tripod does make this easier. If they don’t have one, the photographer must work hard to keep the shot as close as possible.

The photographer also has to use the same camera settings for each shot. And they need to remember what the settings were in case they do need to retake the shot.

2. Frame Images in the Same Way for 3D Images

The images for 3D photography have to be near-identical. This means the photographer has to keep the framing for each image the same. A lack of movement also helps with this. But the photographer will need to know what is in the frame.

It’s important to note what objects or landmarks are at the edge of the frame. They give a point of reference so the photographer can achieve the same frame again.

Using the grid view on a digital camera can be useful when framing 3D photos. The shot can be composed using the grid lines, as they match up with certain landmarks in the frame.

3. Strategically Position The Subject for a 3D Image

The subject needs to be in the center of the frame. Whether they are a model or something inanimate, they need to be kept in the middle of the shot. If the subject moves out of the center between shots, the photo will look blurred. The final image won’t look clear and will lack the 3D effect.

The subject should also be fairly close to the camera. If they are too small and distant, it’ll be difficult to achieve the 3D effect with your camera.

Because depth is a crucial element of 3D photography, photographers should not position the subject in front of a flat wall. A close backdrop will remove all depth from the image, leaving only a 2D image. Distant background detail can also add more points of reference to create an accurate depth map.

4. Take a Lot of Pictures to Ensure Good Framing

3D images are made up of two or three photos. But the photographer will need to shot more than two or three shots. Because 3D photography is so detailed and specific, it’s best to shoot plenty of shots when the camera is in position.

The framing needs to be perfect so the photographer won’t want to come back and take another shot later. It’s better to be safe than sorry. Reframing the photo can be laborious and time-consuming. It’s better to get enough shots when everything is in position.

Conclusion

3D photography is the art of adding three dimensions to two-dimensional images. Standard photos are flat and lack depth. 3D camera techniques introduce depth to the images and create magical images that appear real-to-life.

3D images have a long and storied history. It started with the Stereoscope in 1833. And now we have 3D imaging applications on our smartphones. With just a few clicks, it’s easy to turn digital images into 3D photos.

But it’s not just about apps and post-processing. You can have a go at 3D photography with your camera. Whether it’s a DLSR or a smartphone, try the techniques above to create your own 3D photos. It’s great fun, and you’ll have some impressive images for your portfolio.

Do you want to fuel your creativity and inspiration? Take our Wow Factor Photography video course to capture jaw-dropping images in the comfort of your own home.

Stability And Versatility

Neewer 77 Tripod with Panoramic Ball Head

Looking to capture stunning 3D photography? Look no further than this adjustable and stable tripod, perfect for capturing the perfect angle and position for your shots.

It is always better to go to professional print labs to finalize your photos. Especially if you rarely print.

If you do decide to print from home, your printer and photo printing paper becomes crucial.

This article will help you choose the best photo printing paper for your images.

Our Top Pick

Canon Matte Photo Paper Plus

Choosing the right photo paper is crucial for achieving professional quality prints at home. Our matte photo paper delivers detailed lines, crisp colors, and a surface that feels like it came from a photo lab.

Photo Paper, Printers, and Everything Else To Know

Printers

Your choice of printer is going to be one of the most important aspects of printing your own images.

There are many types of printers you could use, but only two are suitable for professional photo printing. These are inkjet and dye-sublimation.

Inkjet

Inkjet printers print by spraying small droplets of ink pigments on a sheet of paper. This is a controlled action. Dynamic coloring effect comes from varying the amount of ink sprayed from each color cartridge.

Print quality depends on many things like the printer and its capacity, resolution, and compatibility. But, the most crucial factor that influences the final outcome is the paper. If you don’t choose the right paper, your photos won’t look good.

High-quality paper absorbs the right amount of ink. It gives the print a glossy and shiny appeal. The most common types of paper for printing photos are glossy, luster, and baryta paper.

An inkjet printer uses a printer cartridge that creates an image that is 300 x 300 dpi (dots per inch). Most printer cartridge brands do not create a resolution that is true “photo quality.”

The Epson SureColor P600 is a good inkjet option.

Dye-Sub

A dye-sublimation printer is a type of thermal transfer printer. Heat is what makes the process work. The print head generates heat. It applies that heat to a specifically prepared ribbon that contains special pigments.

Upon application of heat, the ink on the ribbon gets vaporized and sticks to the paper. Since it uses controlled heat, print density is modifiable to a minuscule level. With this, smooth gradations appear. This process is called sublimation. The solid present here is directly converted to gas. It doesn’t reach a liquid state.

The inks applied here are cyan, magenta, yellow, and overcoat. The pigmentation used is different from inkjet printers. These colors fuse with the material of which it sublimates.

These printers can print at 5760 x 1440 dpi, with 16.77 million different colors. It can also print 256 shades of one color on one single dot with a square resolution.

That means the color is the same on both sides. The inkjet does not have this capability.

Sublimation printers are more suitable for technical photography printing. These are the best choices for ID cards, lots of wedding photos, or anything related to cost-effectiveness.

These printers are fast and you can print in bulk. But, the machines cost more, and you’ll need to use specific types of ink.

For the sublimation printers, you’ll not find the same quality photo papers as for inkjet as you can print various things with it. Inkjet printers are better choices for fine photo printing.

The DNP Event Photo Printer is a perfect choice.

Printer Settings and Profiles

There is a difference between the color profile your editing software automatically chooses and what you need to use to print.

As most web images use RGB or sRGB, CYMK will not be automatically selected when you try to print.

RGB (“red, green, blue”) profiles are what computer monitors use as their color profile. This profile supports a much wider range of colors.

CYMK (“cyan, yellow, magenta, key (which is black)”) is for printing. It won’t create a shift in color tones and brightness of your image.

If you are working in Adobe Photoshop, make sure your file is open and go to Image > Mode > CYMK Color.

Which Type of Paper Should You Use?

Gloss and Semigloss

Many beginner photographers go for glossy paper. This gives the impression of very rich colors. It’s great if you are only printing snapshots to show your family. The most common types of glossy paper are high gloss, soft gloss, and satin finishes.

They are pretty, but come with problems.

The glossy finish creates reflections and a shine that can obscure your image. When considering glossy paper, always think about the lighting conditions your final picture will have.

You should also take into account the type of photo you are printing. If it has black colors and intense shadows, do not go for the glossy finish paper type.

If it is a colorful portrait taken in a studio and features professional makeup, a vivid background, and many details, then glossy papers might be worth a shot.

If the end result is being shown in an exhibition, glossy paper shouldn’t be your first choice. You will get glare from both the print and the glass.

Matte

Matte paper is manufactured from hot-pressed fiber. It doesn’t have a shiny coating, so it doesn’t create distracting reflections. It gives your images darker blacks than the glossy paper does, which makes it ideal for black & white photos.

It comes in various textures, and you can find even thick and dimpled versions that make your print look like a painting.

This means better contrast and finer detail. It makes matte paper the first choice for images rich in detail and texture.

Canvas

Canvas is a great option for images you want to print big or frame. A quality canvas print will deliver a matte-like paper finish, keeping the contrast and color.

The colors here are much more vibrant when viewed from a distance.

Small amounts of the canvas texture from the material come through onto the print. This can add to the texture of the print. It can also reaffirm the concept behind the image.

Canvas papers are made for inkjet printers. This paper type can weigh more than others, so you might have to change the paper handling of your printer.

Art

Art paper delivers a matte finish with a fair amount of texture, such as the watercolor paper option. These papers offer varying degrees of contrast and color.

Some can create a painterly look, and others may be rich in strong beige or yellow colors. You can find glossy, baryta, luster, and matte versions on art paper.

Landscapes can work very well with these papers. This is because landscapes often have large areas of flat colors.

Giclée Printing

Giclée is a French term and means “to spurt.” It is associated with the highest quality inkjet printing technique that can make your photos look like true art.

Giclée prints are created with very high resolution (1200dpi to 2400 dpi). For giclée printing, you need archival inks on acid-free materials. The inks used for giclée are not dye-based but pigment-based.

The paper you use for giclée printing should also be archival or museum-grade inkjet paper. These kinds of papers often come under the categories of cotton rag, matte, or canvas.

What does it mean when a paper is archival? It means that it is resistant to deterioration with outstanding longevity. This means that the paper doesn’t contain acid or lignin. This way, it can preserve the product for a long time.

Besides a high-resolution picture, the ink, and the paper you use, giclée printing has one more crucial factor. The printer should be a larger format model that can hold up to 12 different color ink cartridges.

Canon and Epson are both good starting points, but there are also other brands offering suitable printers.

Giclée printing is becoming an industry standard among artists and galleries because the final results look like fine art, but the production costs are lower. If you combine the right resolution, paper, ink, and printer, you get the highest quality prints possible.

Finding the Right Paper

The right brand of photo printing paper is out there, but it can be difficult to know where to start. Here are a few areas you need to think about.

Durability and Longevity

If you are planning to hang a photograph in direct sunlight, know that the colors will fade over time. A print from an ink-based printer will fade much slower than a print from a dye printer.

This is a huge problem in the art market and when selling photographs as artwork. Even the best printing techniques cannot provide the same longevity as paintings.

Good ink-based printers can provide you with prints that will last a hundred years and more. A dye-based print can last over 20 years, but its longevity depends on conditions like humidity, heat, and how much light it gets.

If you want to know more about longevity testing, check out Wilhelm Imaging Research. They’ve tested many different printer/paper combinations.

The longevity of a print will come down to the printer and paper combination.

For maximum longevity, look at the manual that comes with your printer. They will recommend the photo printing paper you should use alongside it.

Whiteness

The whiteness of the paper depends on the amount of whitening agent it contains.

White paper can be a great material to print on, but be wary. Those whitening agents can change color very fast.

A few weeks is all it could take for the color to shift to yellow, creating a subtle change. If you want to be certain your image will look the same over time, go for a paper without artificial brighteners.

Brands

For respected brands, there are a few names you should consider. These include Hahnemuehle, Red River, Moab, Ilford, Inkpress, Museo, and Innova.

Some of these offer sample packs, allowing you to experiment with a few different types.

Handmade or specialty papers can be fun. Be wary of papers that shed off a lot of dust, as these can block your printer from working correctly.

It is much better to use paper that has been tested. You’ll know its longevity and durability.

What Do You Need to Invest When You Print Your Photos?

• Printer. You may think that a printer will be the highest cost you will incur. Well, as an initial payment, you are not wrong. Inkjet printers will need you to buy and top-up ink levels. Some printers will not work unless all the colors are present. They even stop working before the ink has run out, so read reviews and do your research. The Epson PictureMate PM-400 Wireless Compact Color Photo Printer won’t disappoint you.
• Ink. Ink will be the most expensive area when it comes to printing, as each photograph will use a lot of colors. There are ways to refill the ink at home. This is messy but offers you the printing at a fraction of the cost. The Canon CLI-42 8 PK Value Pack Ink and the Epson T069120-BCS DURABrite Ultra Black & Color Combo Standard Capacity Cartridge Ink are recommended choices.
• Paper. You will find there is a higher cost for a higher quality paper. A cheaper paper will deliver an inferior image. The affordable, ordinary paper will give you great results. Keep the expensive paper for exhibitions or the selling of your prints. The Canon Matte Photo Paper is a good option for printing your photos at home.

Conclusion

Now you know enough about printers and paper to print from home. Always consider where you want to use the final prints as it influences your paper and printer choices a lot.

The key is to try to find a good combination of photo printing paper and printers for the best images. Take the time to figure out what works for you because every photographer has different needs when it comes to printing their art.

Check out our Photography Unlocked e-book to take print-worthy photos every time!

These works are wall arts. Either for a private client or a gallery. Fine art images can resemble some meaning. Or they can be as abstract as you’d like.

Online Marketplace

Etsy

Looking for inspiration for your fine art photography? Check out these Cheat Sheets for easy tips and tricks to take your creativity to the next level.

What Is Fine Art Photography?

Fine art photography contrasts against representational photography, such as photojournalism.

It combines photography and conceptual ideas as a process. This is where the artist or photographer tries to express their perceptions and emotions. These are then shared with others.

Commercial photography is not equal to fine art photography. Even though both sets of images are saleable, fine art photography is not commissioned, while commercial photography is.

This is not to say that fine art does not overlap documentary photography. It’s hard to draw a line between genres. It’s also hard to decide what can be considered as a fine art photography project. Most of the times we say that a fine art photography project has a conceptual background. And it’s also acclaimed by viewers, practitioners, and the art world.

The concepts seem to come from different places and the end result is often different. Even if the processes are the same.

What Makes Photography Art?

In this article, we try to define what makes a photograph fine art. We look at messages within photographs.

Fine art images do not always portray some kind of direct message to the viewer, this is what we find.

We came to the fact that the fine art photograph is so due to evoking emotion. These emotions tie us to the images and help make them more relatable

The conclusion is that intention plays the biggest part of what makes a photograph fine art.

Fine Art Vs. Commercial Photography

There are some main differences between the two concepts.

Fine art photographers have more control over their photos than commercial photographers.

Commercial photographers depend on their employer’s vision and rules. They can’t be as flexible as fine art photographers.

Also, there is a huge difference between them, regarding time. There is no such thing as deadlines and schedules in fine art photography. In commercial photography, you have to adapt to the schedule of the company.

Commercial photography is more reliable when it comes to money. Fine art photographers sell their work too, but it doesn’t mean a steady income.

7 Fine Art Photography Tips to Get You Started

Art is subjective in nature. Its meaning is different for everyone. So it’s not going to be easy to create perfect fine art images, as in this genre there is no such thing as perfect.

First, you need to accept this fact.

Second, you need to try avoiding clishés.

Third, read our article with 7 tips on how to start fine art photography.

You should follow the work of famous photographers. And although shooting in black and white can make your images look more artistic, experiment with colors too. You can use shutter speed and unique color grading and post-processing styles to alter reality. You can also try using the same subject for an entire project.
Following these tips and having an artist statement is a good start. 

Make Sure to Avoid These 10 Fine Art Photography Mistakes

Here is a list of ten mistakes that fine art photographers make.

For example, you don’t need to invest in a lot of equipment immediately. You should experiment with your gear while making for example self-portraits. You can learn a lot about how you can express yourself while photographing yourself.

You shouldn’t be centering your subjects all the time. Your images will look boring if you always place your subject in the middle of your photo.

You should also avoid taking photos mindlessly. Think it over!

You shouldn’t always shoot in auto mode and should avoid shooting only horizontally all the time.

Also, you shouldn’t stick to one photography genre. And stop expecting every photo to be perfect.

Inspiration for Fine Art Photography

Inspiration comes from all walks of life. Movies, visual art, and reading are huge sources.

You have no idea where your mind will go to when your thoughts and imagination take over.

When I studied photography, I looked at books on psychology and read Sci-fi novels. These gave me more ideas and inspiration than books about photography.

I didn’t want to look at what was already out there, it wasn’t helpful to me.

It let my mind reach places that other photographers hadn’t. In turn, this helped me create something original.

Psychology and Science Fiction are passions of mine. By using these topics meant I could work harder and stay focused longer.

21 Best Fine Art Photographers You Should Know

We all need inspiration, and this is what you’ll get from our article here. We have traipsed through the entire interwebs to find you this list.

We consider these fine art photographers to be the best in their field. You’ll find interesting portraits and scenes of fantasy. Something for everyone.

21 Inspirational Fine Art Photography Examples

Here is a list of 21 photographs for you to use for inspiration. They cover topics such as portraiture, landscape, abstract and surreal fine art areas.

Look at photo-sharing websites such as Pinterest, Instagram and 500px for further insight. It’s a great idea to get inspired from online photography magazines like LensCulture or British Journal of Photography.

How to Use the 7 Principles of Art and Design in Photography

You may think that fine art photography has no structure. It may look all over the place. But it doesn’t mean it didn’t come from a place of organization and research.

In fact, fine art photography needs a strong concept. Something that has been well thought about and processed until fruition.

Our article helps guide you through seven principles. These are things that photography takes from other art forms. Ideas such as balance, pattern, and movement.

Here, you’ll not only find out what they are. But also how to place them into your fine art photography work. Happy reading!

What Equipment Do You Need for Fine Art Photography?

Photographing With Minimal Gear: Why You Don’t Need as Much as You Think

Your camera equipment depends on what you are photographing.

The quality might differ from model to model. Unless you are creating a billboard, you don’t need a 50 MP sensor. Your creativity is the most important aspect here, the camera and gear are secondary.

Read our article here for help with keeping your equipment minimal.

The 10 Best Lenses for Fine Art Photography

Lenses, along with your camera, allow you to capture your fine art concept and turn it into an image. They are what determine the aperture and focal length.

Lenses are far more important than the camera you use. This is not to say your sensor isn’t important, as that denotes the resolution of the image.

A differential focus or shallow depth of field is best achieved with a fast or wide f/stop. A lens that represents this will be needed for a very small depth of field.

The focal length affects the workable distance between you and the subject. If the subject is close, then a wide-angle or 50 mm lens works well.

If the subject is further away, then a zoom or telephoto lens would work better. Be aware that the perspective changes with each of the lenses.

So does the distance between the subject and the background.

How to Photograph Fine Art?

10 Tips for Capturing Breathtaking Fine Art Landscape Photography

When it comes to landscape photography, this article suggests forgetting about the fine art label. Instead, concentrate on taking better photographs.

Putting your heart, soul, and passion into your work is the most you can do as a landscape photographer.

By creating an impact through emotion in your photography, then you are creating art.

How to Capture Stunning Fine Art Street Photography

Fine art street photography combines elements of traditional art, photography and post-production techniques, and street narratives.

One of our favourite famous street photographers is Brassaï. He blurred the lines between street photography and fine art with his images of Paris at night.

Here we have some tips on this topic.

For example, you just need to take your time for being able to capture the decisive moment. 

Be picky, and only invest time into the post-processing of an image, if you really love it. Be a perfectionist.

Pay attention to all of your senses. You have to take in the environment you are photographing in.

Also, if you switch between color and black and white photography. Look at your images in both, and decide which one fits it more.

How to Create Your Own Fine Art Portrait Photography

Portrait photography is the biggest area of conceptual and fine art.

In fine art portrait photography, sometimes less is more. Of course, you can decorate your model or anything you can imagine. But minimalism has its own place in this genre.

You don’t necessarily have to show the whole face of a person you are photographing. A faceless, minimalist image still shows a person, but it also leaves some mystery in the scene.

10 Tips for More Artistic Fashion Photography

Fashion photography captures the flamboyancy of hair, makeup, and clothing. These three things combined with the model and setting all come from a clear, creative vision.

The styling of the mise en scene denotes the mood and air of the model through poses and expressions. All together, they create fine art photography.

You will find a large part of fashion photography focuses on the fine art aspect. This is down to fashion houses not selling a product. They sell a mood and feeling.

They are creative and eye-catching, and sometimes shocking. This is because they have to be to stand out and grab attention.

Fine Art Food Photography Techniques and Tips

Food photography can fall into two different categories. Those images used for commercial and social media use. And those that follow something artistic.

An example of the latter would be to photograph the food as still life. It isn’t to say the two can’t coincide.

By placing the items with intent in a still life composition, you can recreate classical paintings.

To achieve this style, first, look at the light. Use one light source and keep the shadows and negative space. The contrast helps to give the image’s depth.

How to Use Creative Motion Blur in Photography

One way to experiment with fine art photography is motion blur. This is a technique you can use in many different ways.

You can photograph moving subjects over a period of time creating a long-exposure.

This is a technique that works well with subjects and backgrounds. Perfect when you experience different elements. For example, something moving next to something still.

Having that contrast is a great compositional tool. You could even move your camera. Either by moving in up, down or sideways as you press the shutter.

Even by zooming in while you photograph, you create the movement in the image.

Types of Fine Art Photography

What Is Fine Art Wedding Photography?

Fine art plays into wedding photography wonderfully. Think of it this way, a wedding is a grand tale of romance.

From the decor to the fairytale dance, capturing an artistic side of this already visually beautiful event just works together.

Fine art wedding photographers capture images that are intended to be appreciated as art, not a documentation of the event.

7 Tips for Stunning Fine Art Macro Photos

Macro photography and fine art photography can be merged.

You should shoot with a wide aperture, and in cloudy light. Also, look for lines and curves to engage the viewer.

Find simplicity for the best abstract fine art photography. Minimalism can highlight the beauty of a scene, giving it a unique expression.

You can play with the natural lights and shadows too.

Even intentionally moving your camera and blurring your image looks good.

10 Tips for Fine Art Architecture Photography

Architecture photography has a very big place in fine art photography. It is an area where you can take your time to plan and experiment, as they are static structures.

The perspective you choose can give precedent to areas of the architectural subject.  Here, you create a feeling and mood of the setting.

The building or structure needs to first evoke an emotion in you. How you interpret the subject through your initial impression is important.

Post-Processing Ideas for Fine Art Photography

Lightroom Vs Photoshop: Which Is Better? 

Regarding the post-processing of your fine art images, your possibilities are endless. You can literally do anything with you imagine.

Sometimes an image becomes fine art during post-processing. This means, that you add a whole new meaning while editing your image.

You can have a surrealistic idea, which can’t be photographed directly because it doesn’t exist in real, life. In this case, feel free to realise it with the help of a software.

We recommend experimenting with Lightroom and Photoshop, but you can try any other photo editing software.

How to Edit Black and White Fine Art Photography

Black and white images are very different from color photography. The input from the artist is much more important than the photographed subject.

Fine art photography begins in your head, not in the outside world.

You need to think in black and white, which means focusing on contrast, light, and texture.

Here, there are no stiff rules and techniques. The limitations are only down to your emotional vision.

How To Make Money From Fine Art Photography?

The business aspects of fine art photography might be challenging. Artists tend to focus on the creative side of the fine art world.

Many find it difficult to work with the business side. Making money allows you to continue your passion full time.

Here we have a few articles to help you price your fine art. You’ll also find help on how to sell your images and how to market yourself.

Creating an exhibition is also a great way to show people what you are doing and arouse interest.

You can aim to reach a high engagement rate online, and then start selling your prints. You can be your own art manager. Also, you can contract with galleries to sell your images.

How to Price Photography Prints

Now that you have created some fine art photographs, how will you know how you price them? One way is to look at what your competitors are selling and how much for.

Looking at Etsy, you can see many photographers’ work, which will be of similar sizes to your own art prints.

This will give you a competitive price, but it might not be realistic. Another way is to look at the amount of time it took you to photograph that image.

Planning, travel, and editing time all need to be accounted for. On top of that, the time it took to photograph the image will give you a number.

Decide how much you would like per hour and you will have a price. Have a look at our article for a more in-depth idea of how to price your work.

15 Easy Photography Marketing Ideas

In the act of selling your fine art photography, online marketing plays an integral part.

Without some kind of online presence, how will people learn about you and see your work?

If you don’t have something online, such as a website or selling platform, you don’t exist.

One of the most important things to consider is to sell quality, not quantity. Focus your attention on a few pieces, not spread out over many.

Do not sell yourself short. Make sure you raise your prices on a regular basis.

15 Best Places to Sell Photos Online

Making money from photography allows us to pursue our passion and turn it into a career.

But what’s the simplest way to earn money from photography? The answer lies in stock photography websites and online platforms.

Taking portraits of people or doing weddings can be fun. But if you don’t find pleasure in them, you can make money by selling your artwork online.

We collected 15 places we would recommend for you.

How to Start a Photography Business

When it comes to starting your photography business, you need to start small. You’ll want to make a full business plan before launching yourself out into the world.

Choose a name that fits your business perfectly. This might seem difficult, but it’s worth the time and thinking.

You have to have a plan for the target market, the finances, and the basic structure of your business. Also, define a long-term vision.

Take a look at our tips, to get informed about the things you should pay attention to.

Conclusion

As you can see, fine art photography is about endless creativity.

It’s about expressing yourself through images, without having to adapt to the customers’ demands and deadlines.

Although it means great freedom, you still need to keep in mind some rules and ideas. You need to learn what fine art photography is about.

This is the way to reach freedom where only your imagination can be the limit.

Online Marketplace

Etsy

Looking for inspiration for your fine art photography? Check out these Cheat Sheets for easy tips and tricks to take your creativity to the next level.

Don’t worry, that’s only if you don’t know what you’re doing. We have a few tips to help you capture masterpieces with professional results.

Stability And Versatility

Neewer 77 Tripod with Panoramic Ball Head

Capture stunning shots of artwork with ease using a versatile, lightweight tripod that can be adjusted to any height and angle. Perfect for photographers seeking stability and flexibility in their equipment.

Best Camera for Photographing Artwork

Some galleries and museums might use high-quality digitalizing techniques using digital medium format cameras. But most people don’t need this highly specialized equipment.

A digital SLR or mirrorless camera is the right choice for most people looking to shoot artwork. Compact cameras with manual controls will also usually work.

If you don’t have a DSLR, a high-end smartphone can do the job if you don’t require large file sizes and detailed images. But it would help if you use a third-party app that allows you to set manual adjustments to get the best results.

Camera Settings

Settings are crucial to achieving the highest quality if you want to photograph art. Here are some of the adjustments you need to make before you press the shutter.

Use Low ISO to Minimize Image Noise

To achieve the cleanest look, turn off your Auto ISO Setting. Then pick the lowest ISO, which is usually 100.

A higher setting like 1600 is excellent for shooting in dim lighting but will give grainy results. That’s not suitable for reproducing artwork, especially because color accuracy and sharpness matter a lot!

Switch to a Narrow Aperture for Sharp Results

We know that using a wide aperture such as f/1.2 or f/1.4 creates a shallow depth of field. But that’s not an issue when photographing paintings because the canvas is flat.

Nonetheless, it would still be ideal to choose a narrow aperture such as f/11 or f/16. That way, you can ensure that even the most minute details stay sharp.

To guarantee your aperture value doesn’t change, select aperture priority mode.

Use White Balance and Color Management for Accurate Representation

Most digital cameras have a white balance control on the camera body or within its menu. The user can select settings from cloudy to sunny or flash to tungsten. They even have the option to choose Auto or Custom to match the scene’s lighting.

Many variables affect color balance in every step of the process. Using the custom white balance is an easy first step to managing image color.

A color checker is a handy tool for managing color if you are looking for an even more accurate result. It has panels of various colors, which you can use as a reference to correct your white balance.

You should also calibrate your monitor. Check your monitor’s color quality, contrast, and brightness. These steps are crucial to truly represent the qualities of an artwork.

Lighting for Artwork Photography

The standard lighting setup for photographing flat art uses two identical lights. You can position them at 45 degrees to each side in front of the painting.

These two lights need to match in wattage or output and be the same distance from the center of the artwork.

This lighting method provides an even wash of shadowless light. One light cancels out the shadows cast by the other light.

A setup like this requires quite a large room to get the lights far enough away from the artwork. If they are too close, you might see glare on the edges of your painting. Try moving the lights farther apart to reduce glare. Or use a longer focal length lens, like an 80-100mm lens. This puts the camera farther from the subject and helps eliminate glare.

You can bounce lights off neutral side walls or massive pieces of white foam core. Or you can diffuse them through white material for a softer look with reduced glare.

What if your artwork is behind glass? You can eliminate reflections by using black foam core in front of the camera lens.

Try not to mix your lighting sources. If shooting indoors with artificial lights, block off the windows. If you’re using natural window light, turn off any artificial lights inside.

Using artificial lighting offers consistent results. It’s also easier to adjust the white balance afterward. Natural light, however, is continuously changing in quality, brightness, and color temperature.

Many artists still get great results from photographing their work using natural light. This method works best indoors in a bright room with windows and neutral-colored walls. Apart from that, you should have enough space to set up a tripod several feet back from the artwork.

How to Photograph Artwork

Prepare the Scene Before the Shoot

Start by hanging your art on a neutral-colored wall. White, grey, or black often works. But remember that shooting in a room with bright-colored walls can skew the color balance of your photo.

Positioning the art in a vertical orientation makes it easier to have evenly balanced lighting across the work, especially if your primary source is coming from one side.

You can then rotate your photo in post-production to achieve the correct orientation.

If the work has a framing wire, hang it at a comfortable height and make sure it’s flat against the wall. If necessary, use spacers made of cardboard or foam core behind each corner to make sure it’s flush against the wall.

Use a level to check that your art is vertical. Then set up your camera so its lens height matches the center of the artwork. Get a measuring tape to keep everything straight, don’t eyeball it.

A sturdy tripod is essential for sharp photos and accurate squaring of the artwork. Use a cable release, mirror lock-up, or the self-timer to eliminate all camera movement.

Check the level on your camera screen again to ensure it’s parallel to the shooting wall. When both the camera back and artwork are parallel to each other, the perspective should be close to correct. This also minimizes distortion.

Get as close as possible, leaving only a small amount of space around the edges of your artwork. You can crop this out later.

You can hold prints in place by attaching a large thin sheet of metal to your wall. Then use small magnets on the corners of the photograph. Remove the magnets later in post-processing.

You could also lean them up on a stiff board slanted against the wall and then parallel the camera back to this board. This method works if the prints are all the same size. If size varies a lot, then it is much easier to square up the work keeping everything in a vertical plane.

Consider the Direction and Quality of Light

Are you using window light as your primary source? Then position a large white piece of foam core on the opposite side of the window beside the painting. Doing so bounces some of the window light back to balance out the darker side of the work.

You can control the texture by changing the distance of the whiteboard from the work. You can also adjust the range of your work to the window.

Check out the diagram and samples below for a lighting setup to show more texture in a painting. Notice where the shadows in the image on the right are falling. This tells you where the light is coming from (in this case, from above).

I rotated the painting on its side, and the stronger lighting came from the left side. In post, I switched the image back to the correct orientation.

I think that the shadows look most natural on this painting when the lighting comes from above.

Use a Grey Card to Capture Colors Accurately

Including a white or grey card in one of your photos gives you a known reference point. You can use this while editing to clean up any color cast present.

If you use an “eyedropper” to read various tones in your photo editor, the neutral colors will have equal RGB numerical readouts. For example, pure white is 255 255 255, neutral mid-grey is about 120 120 120, while a very dark grey might read 50 50 50.

The point is that they are close to the same value, indicating no color cast is present.  In theory, when neutral colors are neutral, other tones will be more accurate as well.

Take a photo of the entire artwork and check that the exposure is correct. The best way to do this is to use your in-camera histogram. Usually, pressing “Display” in Review Mode will bring it up.

The histogram is a display of the tonal range in your photo. It should be roughly centered on a normal-toned subject. You can use the histogram in your image editing program to check exposure and contrast while working.

Check Focus and Shoot Fine Details

Expand the photo to 100% on your camera or computer screen. Check the focus at the center and in all four corners. Check your framing is as square as possible. You can use the Crop or Perspective tool for slight adjustments and squaring.

Consider moving in closer for a detailed shot rather than cropping or enlarging the overall picture. Doing so will give you much better sharpness and showcase the fine details of your work. It is also often a requirement for entering gallery exhibitions or contests.

Tips for Editing Images of Artwork

Use an image editing program to crop, remove distortion, retouch, and color-correct your image. Photoshop is the industry standard, and GIMP is the best free editor available. Most image editors like iPhoto will work with TIFF or JPEG. (For RAW files, you will need to use a RAW converter.)

Be sure to archive your original camera files and work on a duplicate. Do all your retouching on this master file at 50 or 100% magnification. When finished, make a copy, then resize this copy to the exact pixel size you need. Save it as a high-quality JPEG.

The JPEG is much smaller due to compression but still the most accepted format. Remember to save your image with the appropriate profile, sRGB or Adobe RGB.

Avoid resaving a JPEG and resetting the quality level more than once, as this affects sharpness. You may need to add a little sharpening if you have resized the file.

Make sure to check sharpening effects at 100% and 50%, but don’t overdo it. You can always add more sharpening later, but too much will make the image look jagged.

Conclusion

Most of us have taken photos of artwork at one point or another. If you want to get the best results, make sure you follow the steps we showed you.

Photographing artwork is quite simple, but it relies less on luck and more on techniques you can replicate from one painting to another. And with the techniques in this article, you’ll get perfect shots of paintings every time!

Stability And Versatility

Neewer 77 Tripod with Panoramic Ball Head

Capture stunning shots of artwork with ease using a versatile, lightweight tripod that can be adjusted to any height and angle. Perfect for photographers seeking stability and flexibility in their equipment.