How to Achieve High-End Photo Effects on a Budget

Have your photos been asking for some spice lately? Maybe you’ve even caught yourself drooling while scrolling through your photography wish list. 

But what if I told you don’t need to spend an extra $5K on a brand new lens or camera to create photos that pop.

There are affordable, everyday items you can access to enhance the creativity of your shots. I have tested and experimented with these hacks myself and would love to help you out to think outside the box!

Crystals and Prisms

For dreamy, ethereal photo works, try crystals and prisms. Simply hold a crystal or prism in front of your lens to distort colors and create effects.

One of my favorite compositions is to shade the side of the lens with a crystal or prism with your subject in the center of the shot.

Photo by Sally Ann & Emily May

You can even try with multiple crystals. Position them around the border of your lens, and let them reflect your source of light to create a hint of magic.

Wine Glass

Photo by Sally Ann & Emily May

Who knew you can find a camera hack inside your kitchen cupboard? Simply by holding a wine glass in front of your lens, you can unleash a torrent of glimmer, shiny effects, and reflections. Decorative textures on the wine glass create an even stronger creative effect.

What I love about using wine glasses is how creative you can be. Play with the angle. Change directions of the glass. You’ll be sure to get different results every time.

Clear Plastic and Tissue Paper

Photo by Sally Ann & Emily May

Sandwich bags, plastic bags from the grocery store, tissue paper—don’t throw them away. (Ok maybe get a fresh new tissue paper, snot on your lens would be gross!)

You can attach them to your lens to create an elegant but natural filter. This is easiest way to get those hazy, moody photos. And you’re not just limited to sandwich bags, plastic bags, or tissues, you can use almost any material that is thin and see-through.

My personal favorite is a plastic bag. They help diffuse the light while creating gentler edges around the frame. With a colored bag, they can even work as a vibrant color filter.

Net Surface

Photo by Sally Ann & Emily May

Can you mention an item that has a net-like surface? It could be anything from a tennis court net, tea strainer, fishnet stocking, to barbecue grill surface. 

Use natural or continuous light and let it flow through the net. 

Keep in mind, the light source needs to be quite strong to create a net-like shadow in front of the subject’s face.

D-I-Y Backdrop

Imagine shooting in a Brooklyn brick wall rooftop, on top of marble counter tops, or surrounded by dreamy large art deco windows.

A photographer’s haven, right?

What if I told you you could shoot there for free...almost.

1. Go onto a stock photography site like Unsplash or Shutterstock. 
2. Look for the backdrop you desire and download it. 
3. Print it out on coated rolled canvas so you can clean and re-use it. 
4. And when it comes time to the shoot, shoot closer to your subject and let the background blur out.

No one will tell the difference.

Make Your Own Reflector

Whether you’re shooting indoor or outdoor, reflectors are essential. They help bounce light so we can control how the light reflects on the subject.

And it’s actually pretty simple to make on your own.

1. Go to your kitchen and grab some aluminium foil.
2. Head to your storage and cut a large piece of cardboard depending on how big you want your reflector to be.
3. Finally, wrap the cardboard with the foils.

I've actually had to use a metallic silver jacket instead of a reflector once. The foil on ca

Conclusion

Don't think, just shoot – Lomography

Photography can be expensive, but you don’t need to spend a fortune to achieve a high-end photography look. Photography is unique in how it opens itself to creative tricks and solutions . And the best thing is that there’s no right or wrong. Just let your artistic instincts flow and let yourself create. 

Written by Emily May

Emily May Gunawan from Sally & Emily photography duo was born in Sydney and raised in Jakarta, positioning her and her sister Sally to engage with both Western and Eastern worlds. Since establishing her career in 2012, they have gone on to work with global brands including Adidas, Tim Tam, to NYLON Magazine in a wide range of capacities both for print and digital publications as photographers, creative directors, to videographers. Sally & Emily’s images are fuelled by self-discovery and contemporary femininity, taking inspirations from their diverse cultural heritage and personal stories. View their works at www.sallyemily.com and follow the journey at www.instagram.com/sally_emily