🏫🎓BIC University 🎓🏫

[danielledanielle]

Welcome everyone to BICU Thread!  The only university that's pretty much accept all, serve all. (That's right, there's a 100 percent acceptance rate. )

  

WHAT IS BICU?

• Compounding of various threads (coming soon) to address some beauty basics and further highlight the 🤌🏽🤌🏽 of the BIC.
• Discussion/Exploration in the beauty space where members can post/comment on things they feel the have an expertise on, aka mini member masterclasses.  (Updated to say: think of it as TED talk x BIC 🤣)
• School spirit... Feel free to share any fun beauty gifs and pics here repping BIC  

 miss ya @JeffreyBD 

For a mini masterclass, posting styles suggested are:

• Essay
• Q&A
• Step by step, how to (think like a wikiHow)
• Photo journal
• Listicle
• Dealer's choice (a blend of the above...hey, if you want to teach an all gif lesson, go for it)

The goal is to have a well of personalized info that can be drawn from whenever.  Following social media can be helpful, but it's also nice to have real person tips and tricks.

[itsfi]

FLATLAY SKILLSHOP 101  

MODULE 3: Arrangement & Editing ~ February 3 - 16

• Beware of ... Glare, reflection, and photobombing your own shot with your thumb, foot, etc.

It happens. We've all taken photos where there's a glare or reflection. Or, one or more body parts ends up in the frame. Sometimes we catch them, sometimes we don't. Not all of these need to be edited - sometimes the glare, reflection or photobomb adds something to the photo. On occasion though, you may be able to crop or edit out the thumb, foot, etc. that accidently finds its way into your frame. Or, you may need to reshoot the photo to get it the way you want.

One way that I've been able to minimize the occasions where a glare, reflection or photobomb can happen is to take a test shot and see if any of those elements are present. When I first started taking photos on BIC, I would set up my layout, take a photo, and then look at it to see if there were any elements that I didn't like or want in my frame. I'd also take a look to see if there was anything out of range or that didn't suit my eye or my preference for how I wanted the shot to look. I would then reset the layout or I'd keep the layout but shoot from a different angle or position. I'd repeat the process of looking at and assessing the photo. It seems onerous. It was. But, that's how I personally undertook my flatlays in the very beginning. I took photos in the same spot and over time, with enough shots, I generally got an idea for what I was working with regarding angles, reflections, shadows, etc. at a certain time of day and how I needed to get the photo(s) I wanted or found acceptable. 

Another approach is to layout your products and set up your shot and then take as many photos as you can. The idea here is that with so many photos taken, you'll have more options to choose from. You'll also have more photos to look through but if you have the time and patience - and attention to detail - this can work out well. 

• Arranging Your Flat Lay / Framing Your Shot 

This is where playing around with different arrangements and practicing different layouts over time can be helpful - for both learning different options for how to frame your shot and find your style. There are a few general approaches to arrange your photos:

1.  Linear - the items in your flat lay are placed in straight lines, arranged parallel or perpendicular to one another. This creates a very neat and organized look. 
2. Random - for this arrangement, there's usually one product that will serve as the focal point of your photo and is typically placed front and center of the frame to stand out. Everything else - other product(s) and prop are then placed randomly around that product. You'll edit that randomness to create a more cohesive "random" looking shot. 
3. Reflecting Real Life or In Practice / Use - the core of this set up is to arrange your products how they would be used or how you might expect to find them in real life. An example of this is have your makeup compact and/or lipstick coming out of your purse or various pieces of makeup coming out of your cosmetics bag.

Other concepts to consider or think about as you set up your flat lays (or as you try different arrangements) to see what suits your eye and as you work on developing a style that is unique to you, include:

1. Balance: Items are placed in such a way as to create a symmetrical look and feel to the entire shot/frame. 
2. Rule of Thirds: Your frame is divided horizontally and vertically into thirds. The technique is well described with examples from some fabulous BIC members here --> A Year of Beauty- Photography Challenge-... - Beauty Insider Community
3. Negative Space: Not every empty space in your flat lay needs to be filled up. You can create a beautifully artistic shot with keeping empty space in your frame empty.
4. Layering / Stacking Products or Layering Products & Props: This can be d`one or practical as well as artistic reasons. They're also not mutually exclusive - layering products and prop for practical purposes (e.g., to keep a product in place / from rolling off the table or to minimize glare, reflection or photobombing) can create a very aesthetically appealing photo.

• Putting It All Together

Lighting, angle, props, background, arrangement, editing.  It's time to put it all together. 

ASSIGNMENTS:

📚  Assignment No. 1:

Try at least one, if not all three, of the different approaches to arranging your flat lay. Linear - Random - Reflecting Real Life

📚  Assignment No. 2: 

Try at least one (or all 4) of the additional concepts for arranging your flat lay shot. Balance - Rule of Thirds - Negative Space - Layering / Stacking Products & Props.

📚  Assignment No. 3: 

Put together a frame that incorporates all of the Modules and your personal style.

Examples for Assignment Nos. 1 & 2 will be posted shortly, as a reply to this post.

[itsfi]

Module 3 Examples (for Assignment Nos. 1 & 2)

Linear Layouts:

Spoiler

And, linear with a twist:

Random:

Spoiler

In Real Life:

Spoiler

In Real Life + Linear
In Real Life + Random

Other:

Spoiler

Random with layered / staggered pieces (Patrick Ta Cheek Duo over MAC Luxe Lucky palette)

Rule of Thirds

These photos ⬇️ are more included because I'm very happy that Rhode is making its way to Sephora. 😉🙌 @danielledanielle @ather @peculiarzmakeup 
Random
Rhode layout cropped

[ather]

@itsfi  Oooo I love this lesson! What’s your favourite layout? 

I really like the in real life layout! It is so refreshing! And it’s nice to see how people have their products in their house. Gives me a sense of who they are! I love it! 😍 

[itsfi]

Awwww, thank you @ather! I look through these frames and there are a host of things that it brings back (like what I did with setting up the shot or where it took place) and I also look at it with an eye of editing the photos or if I could, rearranging them just so. 😆 I do appreciate the memories looking back at these photos has brought back and I also appreciate seeing how I set up certain shots and thinking through how I would modify them now, and why. I wasn't going do these flatlay skillshops but those two things I've gotten from it personally, along with a few other takeaways, have been lovely. 

I wholeheartedly agree - I do enjoy seeing in real life layouts, with or without editing. That's not to say I don't appreciate and enjoy more staged photos, because there are some that I absolutely am floored and inspired by - whether they're doing it as part of their livelihood or just because. There's a few folks, outside of BIC and in it, whose photo aesthetic and their eye for capturing a look, are just so beautiful. Some are editorial, some have a sense of calm to them, some action packed or with movement (in a still frame, no less). Each though has their own look and feel and you see it.  A couple I've seen them do their thing live, either in a video or in person, and it's incredible. 

But I got sideways of your ask; sorry about that. I like the in real life shot of the foundations - a lot of things just came together for that shot to happen - it's one of those shots where I couldn't have staged it to look this way even if I tried. I was just sitting at the end of my bed and took the shot just to see if the lightin was good. I like the Rule of Thirds shot because it took me a lot of time and a lot of test shots to even understand the rule and I had much help from two very patient friends here. I also like it because if I look at it a certain way, the lighting in the  back makes it look like there's some movement (but there's not). I like the general layout of the background and side pieces in the in real life + random shot becuase it is how a part of my table looked but my brain is telling me "you need to edit this, this, and that; move this here and then shoot it." Ha! But I can recall what was going through my mind when I did take the shot. Ahhh, all these lessons learned just looking through these now. 

[itsfi]

FLATLAY SKILLSHOP 101 

MODULE 2: Background & Props - January 20 - February 2

This is probably the module that may garner the most interest. I get it, it's more fun and glamorous. If lighting and angles are the foundation and structure, background and props are the interior design part of building a house. 

• Using What You Already Have On Hand - Background and props can be found among the things you already have in your home. I find those to be some of the best things to use, as it's unique to you (versus copying what someone else has or has used). It also provides a glimpse of your own, individual style, and personality and that's always fun. Those are some of the things that my eyes often gravitate towards.

• Keeping It Simple vs Being Extra - Sometimes less is more. Other times, more is more. One thing to keep in mind with either approach is the proportion of the props to your products. 

ASSIGNMENTS

📚  Assignment #1 - Focus on Background. Lay out your products on one or two backgrounds. Remember to try the shots from different angles as well as head on and overhead. If possible, try taking photos with the background with different lighting - natural and artificial. Post a photo of the same products on at least two different backgrounds - the photos can be either a flatlay or head on set up, your choice. 

📚  Assignment #2 - Focus on Props. Pick out your props.

• 2a - Take a flatlay shot with your products and prop(s). Make adjustments for lighting and angles, if and as necessary.
• 2b - Take a head on photo with your products and prop(s).  Adjust for lighting and angles, if and as necessary.

📚  Assignment #3 - Putting it together - Background and Props. If you'd like, you can change out any or all of the components used thus far - products, background and props. You don't have to use the the same products, background or props as you did for Assignment #1 or Assigment #2. However, the same products, background and props should be used for both Assigngments #s 3a and 3b

• 3a - Arrange everything together in a flatlay
• 3b - Arrange everything together in a head on shot.

I'll include examples of for these assigments in a reply to this post shortly. 

Questions after completing Module 2:

1.  With respect to Assignment #3, what did you like about each shot (3a and 3b)?

2.  With respect to Assignment #3, what, if anything, would you change or do / set up differently for the photos for parts 3a and 3b. NOTE: If you're pleased with your photo, it's absolutely fine to say, "Nothing" or "I wouldn't change or do anything different."

[itsfi]

MODULE 2 examples

Assignment #1: Background

Spoiler

These were fun to put together. The background of the first photo is a box from a special edition Shu Uemura shampoo and mask set that was available at Sephora during the holidays a few years back.

The background of the second photo is a DIY project consisting of a piece of cardboard (possibly a Sephora shipping box) and washi tape.

Assignment #2: Props - 

From a previous set up

Spoiler

Props + Products - Flatlay

Props + Products - Head On
There's a different look and feel to the photos. With the inclusion of the box in the head-on frame, the focus is divided between the products and everything else. With the first photo, the flatlay set up, attention is given more to the product themselves. 

These photos were from a few years back. If I had an opportunity to re-shoot, I would:
- flatlay shot: rearrange the sticker and post card (the props) so that only part of the sticker sheet appears. I'd also lay the products around the post card.

- head-on shot: ditch the box. Similar to the flatlay changes, I'd place the sticker sheet behind the post card, only having part of it peeking through. I'd keep the post card where it is, propped against the wall, but I'd arrange the product to the side of the post card, possibly including a product or two in front of it if it didn't obstruct it too much.

For this BIC U course

Spoiler

The Sephora shopping bag makes for one of the best backgrounds and prop. 

Assignment #3: Background and Props - I took 3 sets of photos for this assignment, with small adjustments made to the layout. The First Set satisfies the assignment. The other sets / photos are just extra to show how making minor tweaks can change the look / feel of a photo.

Spoiler

First Set

Spoiler

Props here are the plant and the mug. I angled the flatlay shot so that I could get a better photo of the Bioderma.

Placed the Ami Cole lip oil on top the Sara Happ lip scrub to create a better line with the taller items likes the Summer Fridays sunscreen and the mug. Where it's currently positioned, the Rhode lip balm veers on blending into the photo.

Questions after completing Module 2:
First Set:
1.  The color scheme isn't bad. I just realized I forgot to include the Touchland hand sanitizer from Module 1 (it's being used). I can see how including it in these shots would have added more dimension and created a better looking layout. 

2.  If I could reshoot these, I would have included the Touchland Peppermint Mocha Hand Sanitizer. 

Second Set

Spoiler

Removed the mug and replaced it with a mini Voluspa candle. Repositioned the Rhode balm at the base of the Bioderma micellar water. The candle is unlit in the first photo; lit in the second.


Swapped out the travel sized Bioderma for a full size to show how proportions can change the look and feel of a layout.

Questions after completing Module 2:
Second Set:
1.  I like the look and feel with shooting in the landscape format - it feels less scrunched up.

2.  If I could redo this layout, I would move the Rhode balm closer to the center, but would probably need to relocate the lip scrub and lip oil, since the Sara Happ name would likely be obscured by the Rhode.

Third Set

Spoiler

These shots were taken in a portrait (versus landscape - see below) format. The Ami Cole lip oil is in different places in these photos. I prefer the second one as it showcases all the products more clearly. In the first photo, the Ami Cole almost gets lost between the plant and the Bioderma.



The landscape format here allowed me to get in closer and include more of the prop (plant) in the photo. It feels less scrunched up than the two pic prior to these two. 

In the last photo, I swapped out the full size Bioderma micellar water for the travel size. Both these last two shots are not great proportionally but I like the first one better - it looks better to my eye.

Questions after completing Module 2:
Third Set:
1.  I like the second and third photos best.
2.  I'd like to see how these photos would have turned out if I had more light coming in when I took the pics.

[itsfi]

FLATLAY SKILLSHOP 101

MODULE 1: Lighting & Angles - January 6 - 19

• Finding The Right Light For You 

            -  Natural vs. Artificial Lighting

            -  Time of Day & Positioning 

            -  Tips & Tricks to Improve Your Lighting

• Knowing Your Angles

            -  A View From Above

            -  Tackling it Head On

            -  Unique Angles

EQUIPMENT / SUPPLIES NEEDED:

- Camera

- Products - My recommendation is to select 2-6 items. This will help you work with products of different shapes and sizes.

ASSIGNMENTS:

There are 4 assignments in this module. Post your photos for this Module 1 here, including the Assignment #.

In a reply to this post, I will include notes on how I approached these assignments, with some examples. 

📚  Assignment 1 - Find the best light in your home (or wherever you will be taking your photos for this Module) for taking photos.

• Natural light usually offers the best lighting. If you can find a spot in your home where you can get natural light AND there's space for you to lay out your products AND take photos, that's your spot.
• If you are not home when it's light out, then find the space in your house with the best lighting and space for taking photos. 

NOTE: if you're working with natural light, the "best light" may depend on the time of day the photo is taken. If the light is too bright, your photo can come out overexposed. If there's not enough natural light coming in, your photo can have a hazy or dark look to them.   

📚  Assignment 2a - Flatlay shot - After finding your photo spot, lay out your products flat on a surface and take photos.

• How should I set up my products? However you want. For this first part though, let's go with laying out the products flat on the surface. If the surfaces where you will take photos are uneven or you run into problems with your products rolling off the surface or not being able to lay flat, place a towel - dish towel, bath towel, washcloth - on top of your surface to make it easier to lay the products flat against it. 

📚  Assignment 2b - Flatlay at an angle - If you are finding that taking the photo directly above your products is showing shadows or one of your products is causing a glare or reflection, try angling your camera slightly - instead of having your camera directly over the photos, tilt it slightly up and towards you.

📚  Assignment 3 - Head on shot - In the same spot where you took a photo of the flatlay arrangement, now arrange your products for a head-on shot - stand your products up and take your photos "head on" - level your camera with the products and point your camera directly at the products. 

Assignment 4 - If your the set up of the room where you are taking your photos allows for it, try taking your photos with the light source at different positions - if natural light, with the window behind your products or to the left side or the right side, above your products and/or in front of your products. If you're not using natural light, do the same but with the light source behind coming from behind your products, to each side of your product, above your products and/or in front of your products.

Questions after finishing Module 1
1. Based on this exercise, where (and, if applicable, when / what time) is the best lighting in your home (or wherever you are taking your photos) for your product photos?

2.  Do you have a preference for taking your photos overhead (traditional flatlay) or head on?

[CynthieLu]

📚  Assignment 1 - Find the best light in your home 

Spoiler

☀️ The best light in my apartment is ideally close to the windows of any room after the sun has finished rising but before it passes completely over it highest point in the sky. The windows in my place only face sunrise and after a certain point I lose the natural light I feel I like best.

📚  Assignment 2a - Flat lay shot 

Spoiler

I found I enjoy a good flat lay, on a table I like to stand directly above and take my shot. It's a method I use often for hauls etc...
Using my weekly capsule for this assignment 😉🤎

 

📚  Assignment 2b - Flatlay at an angle 

Spoiler

I liked trying this angle shot,  it  made working with the mirror in the compact easier. 😉

Its a very subtle angle shot, lol. But it looks nice I think. 

Questions after finishing Module 1
1. Based on this exercise, where (and, if applicable, when / what time) is the best lighting in your home (or wherever you are taking your photos) for your product photos?

Spoiler

I think for me anytime before the sun hits it's highest point in the sky make for the best pictures. The placement would be near or around the windows. In each room I have a place I gravitate towards that seems to get the kind of light in looking for 

2.  Do you have a preference for taking your photos overhead (traditional flatlay) or head on?

Spoiler

I prefer a traditional flat lay but I have experimented with standing my products up. I like both buuut flatlays are easier for me and therefore safe me time. 😉

[itsfi]

@CynthieLu, it’s so interesting (and helpful) that just the slightest adjustment, like taking the photo at a slight angle, can change a shot.  That’s some great light you’re getting -it’s bright but not so bright that you get that overexposure look. 

Ahhh, love your capsule choices  - and I love  your placement and layout of the Benefit and ONE/SIZE items. I sometimes find it hard to keep liners and pencils from rolling off a table when setting out flatlays. This is a fun and creative way to keep them still. I also like how you opened and placed the DM blush on the table. Great job! 

[Sunnysmom]

Thanks for all your terrific info @itsfi @danielledanielle . Keeping all of this! 

[itsfi]

@Sunnysmom, it's mostly the things I mentioned to you a few years ago, with some modifications.

[Sunnysmom]

I recognize some yes @itsfi . 🥰 Good to have a lot of it in one place too. Thank you kindly! 

[danielledanielle]

Assignment 1: I chose the floor in my living room initially, but then changed my mind and used my usual spot for haul threads

Assignments 2-3

BIC isn't letting me post them 😭

What I learned was that titling my phone forward could be helpful, the phone wasn't as visible in the object that way

This i liked, but then I also shifted my position and I looked it better IMO

I loved the looming negative space here

Definitely a callback to the A Year of Beauty- Photography Challenge- Year 2 

Looking at the timestamp, this was mid morning, which I knew is the best time, it's just not always feasible to do this because of work (boooo).

I am liking head-on more these days

[itsfi]

The natural light you get at that table is beautiful @danielledanielle. Yeah, work can definitely make it more challenging to catch the best light for photos. We'll have to try to see if we can come close to recreating it - maybe with a ring light or light from another camera? I love the set up you have with the table and the screen in the background - love for your haul posts and for these two pics as well.

The second photo, where you've moved positions ... it's so  interesting how it changes the look and feel of the frame. There's something very captivating about it to my eye. For your next haul photo, would be interesting to see how the photo would come out with your usual set up and shot, and then shifting your position as you did here. 

[itsfi]

Assignment 4  

I went with the same set up as the other assignment for this module, and took photos directly overhead, at an angle, from the left side of the table and then the right side of the table. Sun was out so I had indirect, natural light.

Spoiler

⬆️  This was taken directly overhead - my phone cover continues to photobomb the shot thanks to the reflective top of the lip scrub. This time my nails got in on the photobombing action. 


⬆️  Same set up. Taking the photo at an angle removes the reflection.


  
⬆️  Same set up, just moved to the sides and took my photos from a different position. Sometimes doing something as simple as that can change your shots, either with the lighting looking different or it taking care of any reflections/glare.

Some other layouts, shot from different angles/positions.

Spoiler

These two frames were taken in a different room with a window to the right of where I set up the products. First frame was taken directly overhead and you can see the light reflecting off the edge of top of the eyeshadow palette.

For this second frame, I moved to the left, to the end of the table, so that the light is from above the frame ever so slightly. I rotated the photo so that it doesn't appear sideways.

So, we've gone over taking photos with different lighting sources (natural light, artificial light) as well as taking photos from different angles or positions. For positions, we focused on situation ourselves in different positions in relation to the light and products. Another approach is to try taking photos of products with the light source in different positions. I'll use the photos in the first post about this course as examples.

Spoiler

⬆️  Let's be honest, these Hermes eye brushes are beauties and would look good in most any photos. This frame was taken early-to-mid afternoon. The table on which the brushes sit was placed in front of the window and the shadow was created by an object sitting on the table and/or part of the frame of the window.


⬆️  Same room as the photo with the Hermes brushes, but this is on a work table in another part of the room. The window where the table with the Hermes brushes was placed in front of is to the left of this work table and behind it. Photo taken late afternoon / early evening.


⬆️  Same room. The window is to the right of the nightstand on which the products were placed. I'm horrible with eyeballing distances but there's enough space between the wall where the window is and this nighstand to include a vanity table, the other nightstand and a queen sized bed. Photo taken at a slight angle, late morning / earlly afternoon.


⬆️  Still the same room. It's the same table from the first shot, but I'm moved it away from the window.. Light source is in front of the products/camera but further away from it.  This was taken about around sunset in the summer months. 


⬆️  This is a room on the other side of the house. Table is in front of the window. There's some shadows created from the set up of the proodcus and the indirect light coming in through the window.

I'll be back another day with a few more examples of photos with indoor lighting and how to use other light sources to add more light to your photos.

[itsfi]

Assignment 1:  

I am fortunate in that I can get a good amount of natural light in every room of my house during daylight hours. The bathroom, however, doesn't have a lot of surface space to place product so that was a no go.

I went through a process of elimination to narrow down the rooms that had a good natural light source AND enough surface space near that light source for me to lay out my products. That left the bedrooms and the kitchen. Of those rooms, the kitchen offered the most surface space and two other sources of light - recessed lighting and the light from the range, so I went with setting up my shots in the kitchen.

I ran into some issues with the weather - when I took the photos with the overhed shots, it was overcast pretty much all day. I had more sunlight coming in on the day I took the head on shots. 

Assignment #2: Flatlay (directly above products as well as with camera slightly tilted)

I chose a spot on my kitchen counter with the window slightly above where my products were set out and to the right of them - the lighting is natural and indirect. I placed my products on the counter and left them there all day, taking photos throughout the day when I was home. I took photos both (i) with my camera positioned directly over the products and (ii) at a slight angle - tilting my phone slightly up and closer to me. 

Spoiler

7:30AM

Spoiler

10:00 AM (and the rest of the day): I messed up with the spoilers but will try to fix it later tonight. For now, the rest of the day is all here.

Spoiler

Same set up but using recessed lighting:

Spoiler

1:15PM



Same set up but with recessed lighting:



3:00PM: The sun came out very briefly. 

Spoiler

5:30PM: The sun set shortly after 5:00pm and there was little to no natural light to be had after that, so these pics were taken with recessed lighting.

Spoiler

• Thoughts from Assignment 2:

          ⭐  For me, having even just the teensiest bit of sunlight produces a better photo. 

          ⭐  The lid to the lip scrub had my phone cover (and sometimes my fingers) photobombing every shot - tilting my phone just a little bit made for a cleaner shot, though my phone cover didn't look so bad. 

          ⭐  Shooting with recessed lighting from that spot produced more shadows than I prefer. I will try it again this week but will take the photo standing from a different position (~ assignment 4)

Assignment #3 - same countertop but instead of laying the products flat on top of the counter, I lined up the products upright and against the wall. 

Spoiler

• Thoughts from Assignment 3

          ⭐ It was sunny on the day I took these pics and that made the resolution for every shot brighter.

          ⭐ The shadows when shooting with the recessed lighting still isn't ideal for me. I'll try doing something different with it over the next weeks, a la Assignment 4.

Assignment 4 photos with these same products will be put up at a later date (after I do the assignment, lol).

If you have questions about one of the assignments or a hiccup you are running into with taking pics that are not answered here, but you would prefer not to post the question on the thread, you can PM me your question.  I'll collect all such questions and aim to post responses to them in subsequent posts here (without identifying who asked the questions).  BIC has changed some of its setting, so please make sure that you are set up to receive a reply PM from me. 

FAQs:

Spoiler

What if I need more light for a better photo?

You can try using a light ring, the flashlight from another camera, or an actual flashlight. I'll try to put up some photos of this later in the week or over the weekend.

How many shots should I take?

That's up to you. There are different schools of thought on this one. Many people, most, will likely say to take as many as you can, hundreds, thousands. The rationale there is that you have a lot of options to choose from and you can pick the best shot. Completely fair point. If this is something you can do and it suits you, go for it; or if your career or work involves taking the "perfect" shot, then taking more photos / having more options makes absolute sense.

If I had more patience and time, both to take photos and look over them to find the most perfect one, I *might* take a lot more shots than I do. I've grown accustomed to not taking as many shots when I'm taking photos at home, so I don't take very many. If I'm taking photos elsewhere, I often take more than I do now, but not too much more. 

At the moment, I either (a) take maybe 2 - 5 shots and pick the best out of them or (b) take an initial photo, look it over to see what, if any, adjustment needs to be made - i.e., did I capture all the products in the frame or did I cut off one or more items? is the shot blurry? is that my hand, foot, etc. in the photo? and then either keep the photo and be done or make the necessary adustments and take a few more shots. If I'm taking photos in a place I'm not familiar with (e.g., I haven't figured out a set up or arrangement that I like or that's my signature set up), then I may take more photos - 10? 12? maybe a little more, at different angles and with different lighting. This is just the approach that works for me. I would do it differently if taking photos was part of my career or job. 

[itsfi]

FLATLAY SKILLSHOP 101 📷 

Happy New Year, BIC! Kids are heading back to school this month, and so are we here at BIC University! 

Next week, we'll be starting up with FLATLAY SKILLSHOP 101. A more detailed course description is contained in the spoiler. Topics are subject to change. 

SCHEDULE: 

➡️  January 6 - 19

     📸  MODULE 1: Lighting & Angles

• Finding The Right Light For You 

            -  Natural vs. Artificial Lighting

            -  Time of Day & Positioning 

            -  Tips & Tricks to Improve Your Lighting

• Knowing Your Angles

            -  A View From Above

            -  Tackling it Head On

            -  Unique Angles

➡️  January 20 - February 2

      📸  MODULE 2: Background & Props

            -  Using What You Already Have On Hand

            -  Keeping It Simple

            -  Being Extra

➡️  February 3 - 16

     📸  MODULE 3: Arrangement & Editing

            -  Beware of ... Glare, reflection, and photobombing your own shot with your thumb, foot, etc.

            -  Framing Your Shot

            -  Putting It All Together

A Year of Beauty- Photography Challenge- Year 2 can be a good resource. @Samtian mentions additional resources on the thread for more detailed information on some of the techniques that were a part of the monthly challenges.

OBJECTIVES:

🎯  Offer some tips, tricks, tools and techniques for taking flatlays

🎯  Provide a space to (i) practice taking and putting together flatlay photos, and (ii) work towards finding and developing your unique personal flatlay style.

EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES NEEDED:

📱 Camera - be it on your phone or DLSR [Note: I shoot 95% of my photos on BIC with my iPhone - it's an iPhone X so yes, it's old. Vintage, if you will. 😉 It's what I used for the very first photo I ever posted to the Community and it's what I use to this day. I share this because I want people to know that you can pretty much use whatever camera you have on hand to take good photos.]

💄  Products - select whichever products you feel comfortable using to do the assignments (ummmm, yes, there will be assignments - more on that in the FAQs below). You can use the same products for the duration of this skillshop or you can swap them out, as you wish.

       ⭐  Recommendation: Select 2 - 6 items to use in your photographs. My reasoning is this - having at least 2 items will give you an opportunity to learn and work with scaling and working with one item vis-a-vis another. 

EXPECTATIONS:

☑️  Be open - This skillshop will be about process as much, if not more than, the end results. You may or may not come away with "the perfect" flatlay set up or photo. If you do, that's fantastic! If you come away at the end of it with a tool or two to make taking flatlays easier or more convenient for you, or to make it more fun, even better! 

☑️  Have fun - Photography has been a hobby I have wanted to pursue for a long time. I fell into taking photos just by being on BIC - it combines two things that are of interest to me. I get that it can be frustrating if a photo doesn't come out the way you want the first tme or the 70th time. First, I would say that having a critical eye or setting a high bar for yourself is not a bad thing. I'd also say that we can be our harshest critic. It may be easier said than done, but try to cut yourself some slack when it comes to your photos. We're not professional photographers and we haven't been doing this for decades. This is "school" - the kind without grades or a final exam. The tips, tricks, techniques and takeaways from this are all meant to help make our photos better as we put them into practice.

☑️  Be collegial by being thoughtful (and helpful) with your feedback - Those who choose to share their photos are putting themselves out here. Feedback should be genuine and genuinely helpful. 

FAQs:

Spoiler

Did she say there's going to be assignments?

Yes, I did; and, yes, there will. 

Putting together flatlays are one of those things that are going to require some doing. So there will be assignments. However, at or before the start of every module, I will include a set of examples of how I approached or would approach the assignments. You don't need to go about doing it the exact same way, but there will be examples to serve as guides for you should that be helpful.

Do I have to post my photos? What if I'm not happy with how some of them turned out?

You don't have to post the photos for each module's assignments. As much as I would like for everyone who participates to do so, I recognize that some may not be comfortable with that, and some may just wish to see what others are doing and/or just pick up tips and tricks from what others are doing. So no, there's no requirement to post your photos. That said, it can be beneficial to get feedback from others. Also, if you are inspired by someone's photos and use them for your own photos (here or otherwise), give credit where credit is due. 

As mentioned above, I will post examples of what I did for the assignment - these will contain shots that I'm happy with and others that I'm less than thrilled with how they turned out. It's all part of the learning process. That being said, I've allocated about 2-weeks per session (including 2 weekends) to give folks time to take multiple photos for the assignments and have photos they are happiest with / that they feel most comfortable sharing, if at all. 

When should we post our photos?

You can post them anytime after the module has gone live / the assignment(s) has/have been posted. Each session is set up for approximately 2-week increments to give folks time to set up their shots for the assignment, take photos, retake photos, review them, and, if they choose to do so, to post them.

We all have different schedules and different demands on our time - I've included two weekends per session in the hope that it will provide more opportunity for everyone to find or squeeze in some time to complete the assignments. Also, if you are unable to post your photos for a session within that session's time period, not a problem. Just post it at a later date if you wish. Tag me [ @ + username (itsfi)] - I'll do my best to check back in here often but tagging me will help to remind me to do so.

Thank you to Dean @danielledanielle for her feedback on setting up this skillshop. 

Looking forward to class on Monday! Feel free to tag folks you think may be interested. 

[danielledanielle]

@CynthieLu 

@peculiarzmakeup 

@PDXXXX 

@Cissy63 

🤔

[Cissy63]

Thanks for the tag @danielledanielle!  I have always enjoyed learning something new 😀

[CynthieLu]

Thank you for the tag @danielledanielle this is really neat!