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We’re not all Mario Testino, but with the help of our little filter friends, we sure can pretend. Photography is both an art and a science, a practice that’s nearly impossible to perfect on the first, or even seventh try. That’s why one of the social media sphere’s most popular and user-friendly photo editing apps, VSCO, started an Academy. The bi-weekly selection of free videos focuses on various aspects of photography like landscape, composition, and light.
With over 30 million active users on the platform and five billion photos shared on a monthly basis, it seems we all have a visual story to tell (or at least the need to document some really great latte art). So in order to help you tell that tale, we spoke to the experts from VSCO Academy in order to give you a head start on raking up the likes.
1) Get outside your comfort zone
This might seem counterintuitive, but one of the most important things you can do to up your editing skills isn’t actually editing — it’s experimenting. “Shoot photos in all sorts of lighting situations. Use your flash, and shoot things close up and in the dark,” says Jerad Knudson, a photographer and VSCO Academy member. “Take photos right before dusk when the sun casts long shadows, or photograph at concerts and try to capture silhouettes against the bright stage lights, all the while paying attention to the way the lighting affects the mood.”
Knudson cites the iconic photojournalist Ernst Hass putting it best when he says, “’The best zoom lens is your legs.’"
2) Stalk your favorite photographers for inspo
To become a pro, look at how other photographers use light and color. Invest in a few photography books (you know those gorgeous coffee table toppers) and browse social media. “A few of our favorite contemporary photographers for reference are Lukasz Wierzbowski, Amanda Jasnowski, and Lieko Shiga,” Knudson says.
3) Anyone can be photographed
The more different the features, the better. “Everyone’s unique and interesting,” says Max Cleary, a Seattle-based visual artist collaborating with VSCO in the company’s first tutorial. “You don’t need to dress up, or pose, or subscribe to some beauty standard to achieve a really good portrait.”
4) Should you use black and white?
Slap a B&W filter on a blemish, or to conceal some bland colors. It’s that simple, right? Not so much. “A great time to edit a photo in black and white is after shooting in bright daylight scenes where there are deep shadows,” he says. “While taking images in the sun, pay attention to the shape, form, and shadows that your subject is making. When you convert your image to black and white, those attributes will become enhanced. Many times portraits in direct sunlight can look washed out, but adding a B&W preset like B4 or X3 can make your images look moody and timeless.”
5) Don’t over-edit
Nothing is more off-putting than over-saturating your photo, making it look unnatural and forced. “One great thing about VSCO presets is they pay homage to the natural look of classic film. After you select a preset, tap it again for a slider to subtly decrease the preset’s effect. One of our favorite tools that VSCO recently released is the Clarity tool, which does a fantastic job of making an image clear and vivid,” Knudson says.
6) Zero in on a fave filter
“A few of our most popular presets are B5, A6, and G3. B5 has really great classic-feeling B&W tones, A6 has a subtle film aesthetic, and G3 is a solid portrait preset that also gives natural-looking skin tones,” Knudson says. Find one that works for you, and make it your social media signature.
7) Get weird
Great photography often means abandoning conventions. In their Photographing People series, VSCO’s tutorial features the hosts contorting themselves into unusual positions and playing with obscure angles. Grab a few pals who let you be your wackiest self, and just play around. You can finally forgo that stuffy skinny-arm pose.
8) Keep it simple
“It’s all about having fun with it,” says Elisa Richardson, VSCO's spokesperson. “The best photos aren’t what you’d think. We don’t see many posed.”
For portraits, a simple background allows the subject’s character to shine through. Clutter can look great as a flat lay (read: lipstick, sunglasses, nail polish, and a copy of Teen Vogue), but otherwise distracts from beautiful humans who translate strongly onto photos themselves.
Bonus Tip: Frame and hang your works of art
Don't relegate your riveting iPhone pics to the confines of social media. Hang them around your room or dorm for a meaningful feel that you can't buy in stores. Knudson suggests heading to to artifactuprising.com under the Wall Art section as your handy guide. “You can’t go wrong with any of the frames and sizes they have. All of their frames and matting show images with a simple, classic aesthetic. A good frame shouldn’t be too flashy, otherwise it can distract from the photo.”
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