A Beginner's Guide to Still Life Photography in 2024

The world around you is full of amazing still life photography ideas; all you need is the right eye to capture them. What may look like a monotonous scene or everyday object can become beautiful in the right hands.

This genre of photography is great for beginners because it’s all about capturing everyday objects and making them beautiful by manipulating the lighting, angles, exposure and more. Plus, this art form doesn’t require any special gear or training to get started. A simple cheap camera for photography is all you will need. This is the ideal introduction to photography for the curious new artist. 

Plus, since all you need to get started is your smartphone, it makes starting a new hobby more accessible than ever. And looking at the world through an artistic eye helps you to find beauty in the mundane. According to Medium, when everyday objects can be inspirational and beautiful, you’re likely to feel less stressed out and more inspired.

So go on, start your still life photography journey by releasing the pressure of self-judgment and finding what excites you. There’s a big, colorful world out there for you to enjoy, starting through the lens of your camera.  

Jump to Section

• What Does Still Life Mean in Photography?
• Still Life Photography Tips
• Fun Still Life Photography Ideas
• Influential Still Life Photographers

What Does Still Life Mean in Photography?

Chances are you’re familiar with still life paintings– a vase of flowers or a stunning fresco painted on the walls of a church long ago. Still life photography isn’t all that different, but there are some more modern interpretations of it now.

A photo of your latte posted to Instagram is a more modern interpretation of this art form. Essentially, inanimate objects or landscapes are the most basic, fundamental subjects of still life photography.

Creative expression comes in how you choose to capture these objects. Playing around with lighting and angles is one way, but you can also arrange different everyday objects to play with the subject.

What makes still life photography beginner-friendly is that you don’t have to worry about capturing movement or models, which often adds another layer of complexity.

You can create your own beautiful images using objects around your house and shooting content on your iPhone to get started. You don't need to have the best camera for photography for this art form, though if you have one you can certainly still use it. It’s totally free and you can start whenever and however you want.

What are the two main types of still life photography? Still life photos can be broken down into two main categories: ‘Found’ and ‘Created’. The former refers to capturing a scene as it already exists (or how you found it-- for example nature), and the latter, to where where you are in charge of creating a scene by adding objects.

There are subcategories to still life photography that further differentiate your work. Tabletop photography involves capturing anything that can fit on your table or countertop and this is what most people think of when they first hear the words still life photography. 

Product photography involves capturing a specific product in a way that showcases that brand or product. It’s similar to a tabletop, but imagine shooting a plain can versus a can of Campbell’s soup where you can clearly see the label. Food photography is yet another subcategory and is exactly what you imagine. 

There are lots of ways to incorporate movement and color into a shot of food or a tablescape. Found object photography typically involves taking an object and placing it in an unusual context or background.

Still Life Photography Tips

Take a Photography Class

If you’re looking to take your photos to the next level or just want to learn a bit more, photography classes in Atlanta, photography classes in Seattle, photography classes in Los Angeles or photography classes near you are a great starting point.

In-person or online photography classes are a concise, hands-on way to learn about the basics of manipulating lighting, exposure, composition and more. If you’re still wondering how to shoot a still life photo, a couple of hours learning from an expert can equip you with new skills and inspiration to start creating your own still life photography at home.

If you’ve ever wondered how to become a photographer, this is the way to start.

Invest in a Tripod

You don’t need to be an expert in still life photography to benefit from a tripod, and it doesn’t have to be expensive. Amazon or Target carry inexpensive tripods that are adjustable and get the job done. 

Plus, many of them are designed to hold your iPhone now and collapse easily for storage and transportation.

This allows you to make small tweaks to your subject matter without worrying about capturing a different angle with each shot. Plus, it keeps your camera steady which is vital for getting a clear shot of your subject. 

Get Inspired

If you just start taking pictures of everyday items without any direction, you might find yourself bored or unsatisfied with your work. Check out famous still life works whether photographs or paintings to inspire you and give you direction.

Starting with objects that interest you is another great tip, so walk around your house or yard to search for a good starting point. You can start with still life photography for drawing as a way to explore other art forms as well. 

Experiment with Lighting

There are tons of ways to experiment with lighting in your still life photography. Just as the time of day affects the shadows, you can play around with direct lighting, back lighting and side lighting to add dimension to your shots.

Even adding colored lights can make your images more abstract and interesting. You don't necessarily need to invest in artificial light sources, but as you get further into your still life photography journey this can help you create shadows as you desire.

Use a Hero Object

You can add great depth to your still life photography by focusing your camera on one “hero” object. In the world of photography and advertising, a hero object is the most picture-perfect star of the show. 

For example, if you were capturing a bowl overflowing with juicy strawberries, the hero berry would be the most red, even, “ideal” strawberry of the bunch and you would place it on its own in the front of the shot.Focus your lens on that single berry, with a more blurry, less focused background that contains the bowl of other berries.

Explore Masculine and Feminine

While many still life photographs and paintings involve feminine items, like flower vases or bowls of fruit, it can be fun to switch things up and shoot more traditionally masculine items.

Head to the garage or tool shed and capture items like a hammer, ax or other woodworking tools for a less-expected subject matter. 

Or, combine masculine and feminine objects for a balanced shot. If you’re lucky enough to have grandparents still around, you never know what relics you might find in the garage or basement.

Fun Still Life Photography Ideas

Breakfast Table Shot

It doesn’t have to be breakfast specifically, but capturing an overhead shot of your meal is a popular and modern version of still life photography. Play around with angles and only include portions of objects in your shot from above, like a newspaper, a bubbly latte and a croissant.

Choose a Color

Rather than aimlessly choosing objects to shoot, decide on a theme to capture in your still life photography. This will guide you in selecting subjects and even lighting choices. The theme could be a color, for example pink, where you gather pink glassware, fabrics and fruits to incorporate into your shot. 

Choosing a single color palette allows you to get playful with different shapes and textures, adding uniqueness to your final product. Conversely, still life photography in black and white can really showcase expert use of light and shadows, making a work of art instantly moodier.

Seasonal Shots

Your theme can be anything you want it to be, from a season to an occasion. Evoke feelings of summer with colorful, juicy produce and lush flowers along with green vines or grasses. Autumn offers a colorful array of gourds, pumpkins and leaves that clearly say “Fall is here!” 

You can even choose to represent occasions with your still life photography. A wedding shot that involves the cake or the rings on its own is an artful way to commemorate a special day.

Capture some more peaceful birthday photo shoot ideas that don’t necessarily include smiling photos of guests to help the guest of honor remember their special day and the decor.

Make the Most of Nature

Still life photography doesn’t have to be done inside. Take a walk around your yard and use the natural light to capture artistic shots of leaves, blossoms and more. Overcast days or golden-hour provide better lighting than unfiltered bright sunlight which can be harsh and difficult to photograph. 

There are so many stunning flower photography subjects from tiny wildflowers to a field of massive sunflowers that are begging for you to pull out a camera and capture their beauty. This is a great way to experiment with macro photography as well.

Seek Out Old Objects

The more unique and worn an object is, the better it photographs, at least with still life photography. Age and use adds texture and differential coloring which is more pleasing to the eye. Things like rust or flaking paint look stunning behind the camera lens and add movement to a relatively basic shot. 

Repurposing Toys

Whether your old childhood toys or your child’s favorite play set, capturing the tiny world of toys is a fun way to get into still life photography. Use tiny dolls or other miniature objects and capture them as though they are life size. Or recreate iconic photographs using dolls instead. 

Influential Still Life Photographers

When you’re exploring photography for beginners, looking at works by famous artists can guide and inspire you in your own work. Even if the medium is different, you can experiment with subject matter and colors that famous painters like Van Gogh, Frida Kahlo or Georgia O’Keefe found inspiration in. 

Turning your favorite still life painting into a photograph is a great way to start honing your craft and figuring out what excites and inspires you.  Check out some of the more well-known still life photography gurus to see the possibilities and height of creativity in some of these masterpieces.

Klaus Pichler became famous for still images of rotting food, showing that beauty can come from unexpected places. Hardi Saputra on the other hand creates dream-like, ethereal still life images using inexpensive items or things you have laying around the house. 

If you find yourself wondering: “what is the style of still life photography?” Well, there’s no simple answer, and some of the most creative minds in the field have taken this art form in vastly different directions.

Henry Hargreaves shows incredible imagination and finds inspiration in unique places. His “Last Meal” series consists of overhead shots of the last meal request from prisoners on Death Row and is a prime example of famous still life photography.

Paulette Tavormina, a lifelong photographer, loves to create lush, colorful images from food, flowers and other trinkets. Her images are artistic and pleasing with plenty of depth to keep your eye flickering back and forth.

Start simple with your own still life photographs, and as you gain confidence and skill you can delve into the more complex world of these influential artists.

If you’re looking to dive into the world of photography, still life is a great place to start thanks to its similarities to paintings, making it easy to find inspiration. 

Chances are good you have already captured a few great shots on your camera roll without even knowing it. Remember, you don’t just have to capture the world around you as it is, but instead you can capture it how you want it to be with still life photography. 

For even more fun photography ideas, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!