5 easy tips for taking pictures in small spaces

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5 easy tips for shooting in small spaces by Elicica Graves
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A little over a year ago my family moved from Texas to California, downsizing our living space by 50%.

We sold much of our furniture because there was simply no room for it and adjusted to smaller rooms and living areas. Our new little house has lovely light in two of the bedrooms and that is where I do almost all of my indoor shooting.  Sometimes I struggle to come up with something fresh and new in the same spaces but I have a mental game plan that I’m going to share with you that has really helped me to continue to produce images that I love in my tiny house.

Sometimes I struggle to come up with something fresh and new in the same spaces but I have a mental game plan that I’m going to share with you that has really helped me to continue to produce images that I love in my tiny house.

1.  Observe the light over the course of the day

The lighting in your image plays an enormous part in the feeling it imparts to the viewer. Is it lighthearted and cheery? Is it dramatic and moody?

I know that the light in my girls’ room starts the day rather soft. Mid morning it is flooded with beautiful cheery light, and the last light of the day gives me shadowy directional lighting. The fairy wings image above was shot using the last light of the day coming in from an east facing window. The next image with my daughter in the red dress was shot during the day when

The next image with my daughter in the red dress was shot during the day when light was filling the room. It has a totally different feel to it even though it was shot within two feet of the fairy wing.

shooting in small spaces tutorial

2.  Change your perspective

This is such a simple thing to say, but I generally like to sit back and observe and sometimes I need to remind myself to move in close to my subject. Maybe you are the exact opposite.

Either way, when you actively think about changing your perspective you will liven up your images. Try shooting from above your subject, lay on the floor, shoot them from one side and then shift yourself around them.

As you do so, pay attention to the lighting and how it falls across your subject. Try moving your subject closer or further away from your light source and see what works best.

taking photographs in small rooms tutorial

black and white child photography

black and white lifestyle photography

In this series of images, I shot my baby from directly above her, from the side, and then from in front of her. I love the variety of looks that I managed to get in only a few minutes of shooting.

3.  Change up the room

Don’t be afraid to move things around or rearrange furniture. I took this image while I was taking Megan Cieloha‘s Mastering Natural Light Indoors workshop. I moved the rocking chair out of the way and it felt like I was shooting in a new room.

using window light for your photography

Likewise, I will change up the bedding on my daughter’s bed to fit my mood or the feelings I want to evoke from my viewer.

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4.  Place limitations on your shoots

Most of my favorites images have been taken during the course of a CPS class. I’ve slowly come to realize how focusing on one or two things can drive growth and evoke creativity.

You can focus on almost anything that you want. I like to participate in the CM monthly challenges when I’m lacking inspiration. One week I focused on showing motion in my work.

lifestyle childrens photography by Elicia Graves

children in motion photography

You could try something like filling the frame with your subject, shooting shadows, pets only, serious faces. The possibilities are endless but it is really encouraging to see that you can come up with something new time and time again just by choosing one new thing to focus on.

5.  Revisit the past

When I’m feeling particularly uninspired, I will go back to some of my favorite images and attempt to recreate them.

I might look at them and think about what I could have done better when I shot them the first time around. Or try them in a different lighting situation to see how it changes the impact it makes on the viewer.

The most important thing is that you are picking up your camera and using it and not letting your small space hinder your creativity.

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About the Author
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Elicia Graves

Elicia, a long time art lover, began her journey through photography shortly before she became a mother. Drawn to black and white photography in particular, she has a very intimate, peaceful, and earnest style to her work. Her gear includes a Nikon D800 and three prime lenses, a 28mm, 35mm, and 85mm. Elicia lives in California with her husband and two daughters and enjoys running, reading, hiking, the beach, ice cream, the farmers market, and Anthropologie.

See more from Elicia at www.eliciagraves.com.

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61 thoughts on “5 easy tips for taking pictures in small spaces”

  1. Jennifer

    thanks for posting this. My daughter’s have unusually small sized bedrooms (even though the rest of our house is actually pretty spacious!) but great light, so I am always challenged by this. I am currently taking the MNLI class online (as a study along) and really love the way it is opening my eyes creatively speaking. Thanks again!

    Reply
    1. Elicia

      Thanks for the love Megan. 🙂 It is nice to know that I’m not alone in the small living quarters situation.

      Reply
  8. Martha

    Love them all!, Elicia! I especially love the one of your baby with just her hands. I so wonder what she is reaching for. I love all those darling wrinkles on her palm and the dimples on the back. Beautiful!

    Reply
  10. Heather Meyer

    Great post Elicia! Sometimes I totally miss the small spaces that could make a fabulous photo because I didn’t look at it the right way or didn’t move something. Our house isn’t tiny, but aren’t built spaciously.

    Reply
    1. Elicia

      Thanks my friend! You have to get creative when there are only a handful of windows in your house! But I know you know how to use light effectively! 🙂

      Reply
  13. Jill

    Love! I’m trying to master the light in my new house and this gave me great ideas. What lens do you use to get the full body shots in close quarters?

    Reply
    1. Elicia

      Thanks Jill! I use my 35mm pretty much exclusively! It is a fabulous focal length for indoors on a full frame camera. If you are on a crop sensor I would try the 24-28mm range.

      Reply
    1. Elicia

      Dang Mikki, you have me beat! We are like 1000. It is small but we are no less happy than when we had double the space!

      Reply
    1. Elicia

      Thank you so much Tiffany! I use the 35mm f1.4L pretty much exclusively on a full frame camera. I love that focal length.

      Reply
  21. Kristin Dokoza

    Great tips Elicia – I agree with focusing on one aspect of your photography at a time. So much can be discovered. Gorgeous images in your tutorial! Love those girls!

    Reply
  26. Jodi

    this is fantastic, elicia! thanks for all the great tips on shooting in small spaces… they really have me thinking. i am in LOVE with the picture of your baby standing at the edge of the bed holding the rail! the light and shadows are make the image so real and beautiful!

    Reply
    1. Elicia

      Thank you so much for your kind words Jodi! That is one of my top five favorite images that I’ve taken. <3 I'm glad you love it too!

      Reply
  27. Vaune

    Great post, Elicia! I don’t know you, but I think we just missed each other in LB meetup. How did we lose you to Cali?!?!

    Reply
  34. Sandy

    Love the magic you were able to create in small spaces! I’m inspired to experiment and see what kind of magic I can create in my own home. 🙂

    Reply

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