Today, we live in a world where picture-taking has become a part of our daily lives. When you go on your social media accounts, the first thing you’ll see are photos. Whether it is a travel photo, infographic photo, or news update image, photos are the asset that keeps the internet going.
But before social media entered the scene, we treated our photo albums as our “travel feed” and “highlight reels.” And every time you scan through your albums, you can’t help but feel nostalgic for that specific moment in your life. With the internet and digital photography, photo printing our photoshoots is slowly becoming obsolete.
But thankfully, professional and passionate photographers are doing their best not to let that happen. Despite online photo trends, many are now appreciating the beauty of vintage and nostalgic photos. Because of this, many are trying to achieve a vintage feel to their online posts. If you feel the same, this post is for you. Here are seven tips on how to achieve a nostalgic photo shoot.
1 – Shoot with analogue cameras
The first thing you can do to ensure that your photo shoot will emit a nostalgic vibe is to buy an analogue camera. After all, that’s the gadget our families used when we were younger. Analogue cameras’ settings provide an instant nostalgic and hazy vibe to any shoot.
In the last few years, disposable film cameras have become popular. But since each disposable camera only offers limited shots per piece and doesn’t have film refills, many suggest buying a good 35mm analogue camera instead. With a good 35mm analogue camera, you can shoot as you wish with film refills for your shoots.
2 – Try black and white film for your camera, too.
If shooting with regular analogue cameras’ film is not enough for you, why don’t you consider trying black and white film? Today, you can easily edit your digital photos with a black-and-white filter. But if you want to try shooting with that vibe manually, I recommend buying a black and white film for your camera.
It is a great and fun way to explore and practise how photos turn out when shooting directly in a black and white film. Try this if you and your friends aim for a nostalgic and vintage feel in your photos.
3 – Shoot in nature
If you decide to use film cameras in your shoot, why don’t you consider shooting in nature? Since you’re the one in-charge in the settings of your camera, it would be nice to use elements such as natural lighting and colours. If you want to get better results from your shoot, nature can surely help you out.
If you know an area with breathtaking scenery, use that location for your shoot. Your film camera will set the tone for the nostalgic vibe. All you need to do is take advantage of the lighting, backdrop, and subject.
4 – Dress the part
If you’re eager to achieve photos that look like from decades ago, you need to dress the part to make it work. If you don’t have an analogue camera for your shoot, that’s okay. There are many photo editing apps that you can use to emulate a nostalgic and vintage vibe anyway. What you can do instead is to work on your props and look to make them more credible.
You don’t have to spend money to dress the part. You can do it by simply borrowing your parents’ teenage clothes if they still have them. Or, you can use your grandfather’s flannel button-down as a layer to your outfit. If you have clothes that emulate a vintage yet classic feel, that will do, too.
5 – Adjust your aperture settings to blur out the background and focus on your subject.
According to experts, photographers that shoot people with analogue cameras use a larger aperture. They also say that if you look at many old film photos, you’ll notice how the background is always blurred. As a result, you focus your eye on the subject while the rest of the picture looks grainy.
Another reason old photographs are out of focus is that analogue cameras only have limited settings options. So instead, they adjust their aperture settings to emphasise their photo’s subject. They also recommend trying out different aperture numbers while experimenting with your subject’s focus.
6 – Move around and shoot from various angles
When you look at your childhood photo albums, do you notice how candid and free the photos are? You can see people’s genuine emotions and feelings during those moments because the pictures have various angles. Today, we’ve become more conscious of how we take our photos. It’s as if you’re doing it wrong if you take it from the wrong angle.
But since you’re trying to achieve a nostalgic vibe for your photos, it’s best to move around freely and shoot from various angles. Tell your subject to move while you take multiple shots from every angle you like. There’s no need to feel pressured to follow an angle trend.
7 – Avoid modern infrastructures as much as possible
Lastly, avoid modern infrastructures as much as possible. It would be nice if you could shoot in open-air or historic landmarks for a more nostalgic feel. Avoid using skyscrapers, subways, and modern sculptures as your backdrop.
However, if you want to achieve a nostalgic vibe with your photos while showcasing today’s changes, you’re free to do so too. After all, it’s your camera, your shoot, so it’s your call.
Try to appreciate the beauty of analogue and old-school photography.
I hope that you’ll be able to have stunning and nostalgic photos with the help of these tips. As you shoot, try to appreciate the beauty of analogue photography. After all, it’s now becoming a foreign and unusual activity in today’s digital and convenient world. Hopefully, you’ll be able to grow your interest and passion for old-school photography by trying these tips.
Written by Bianca Banda
