Set Up Your Room For Your Social Media Shoots
You don't need to build a photo or video studio in your home – just get these elements in place
‘Influencer’ may no longer be a favourable word these days, but we’re still all following our favourite YouTubers and Instagrammers – it’s a guilty pleasure. I have to admit, before I discovered “what’s in my bag” videos, I was photographing my bag contents for my social media accounts. While they turned out to be the most engaging posts I made, my objective was to see how much I could cram into bags of various sizes. But I digress.
In order to craft an attractive image, it wasn’t just the contents of my bag that mattered. Likewise with beauty, fashion and lifestyle influencers, who know the importance of lighting, angles and backdrops. But you don’t have to invest in expensive equipment such as a diva light to get your money shot. I’ve styled for and edited food and decor magazines, and written the occasional beauty supplement – not to mention watched hours of makeup videos and liked countless OOTDs (outfit of the day) – and here’s what I picked up working with professional photographers.
In order to craft an attractive image, it wasn’t just the contents of my bag that mattered. Likewise with beauty, fashion and lifestyle influencers, who know the importance of lighting, angles and backdrops. But you don’t have to invest in expensive equipment such as a diva light to get your money shot. I’ve styled for and edited food and decor magazines, and written the occasional beauty supplement – not to mention watched hours of makeup videos and liked countless OOTDs (outfit of the day) – and here’s what I picked up working with professional photographers.
2. A neutral, subtly patterned surface makes for a good background
Doing flat lays? If you have a plain floor, you don’t need a backdrop stand and screen. The floor will provide enough space and distance from your camera. Note the difference this photo on a clean, white floor makes…
Doing flat lays? If you have a plain floor, you don’t need a backdrop stand and screen. The floor will provide enough space and distance from your camera. Note the difference this photo on a clean, white floor makes…
… with this one on a striped rug…
… and this on a coloured sheet.
3. Think about your mirror placement
If you set up your video camera right in front of the mirror (using the surface of the drawer), as in this room, you can look into the mirror as you film your makeup how-to, without looking away from the camera.
If you set up your video camera right in front of the mirror (using the surface of the drawer), as in this room, you can look into the mirror as you film your makeup how-to, without looking away from the camera.
Although, also, in this room, you’d best move the large mirror away from your viewfinder as reflections in the background can be distracting for your viewers/followers. Luckily, this mirror isn’t fixed!
4. A neutral palette is ideal background
No contrary colours to give your face a green cast. The room above – apart from being so enviably instagrammable – is ideally set up for OOTD, beauty and flat lay shoots, actually. It’s got enough space, softly-filtered sunlight, and that just-right neutral palette.
4. A neutral palette is ideal background
No contrary colours to give your face a green cast. The room above – apart from being so enviably instagrammable – is ideally set up for OOTD, beauty and flat lay shoots, actually. It’s got enough space, softly-filtered sunlight, and that just-right neutral palette.
5. Add some personal yet accessible accessories
These put a stamp on your brand, while at the same time reassure your followers that they too can achieve your effortless style if they keep following your channel and liking your posts.
These put a stamp on your brand, while at the same time reassure your followers that they too can achieve your effortless style if they keep following your channel and liking your posts.
Note the fresh, holistic touch of the scent-diffusing reeds, the illuminated initial, and the cutest decor accessories, all sitting on the quirkiest shelf that’s reminiscent of a playground swing.
Here’s another bedroom that’s got the right mix of elements for a social media photo shoot. But you don’t have to be confined to the bedroom…
A cosy corner with the right elements will do.
Or a home office.
Or even your walk-in wardrobe.
TELL US
What do you post on your social media, and have you used your home to photograph your posts?
TELL US
What do you post on your social media, and have you used your home to photograph your posts?
Whether you’re photographing a flat lay or your newest recipe, or filming a beauty video, sunlight is the most flattering illumination. It won’t cast a strange hue on food or skin. Want a filtered glow? Make sure you have sheer window treatments, as in this room above.
Tip: Doing beauty videos or images? A soft pink wall will bounce back the sunlight to make you look healthier and more glowy. There’s a reason ageing actresses prefer pink lights around their vanity mirrors.