In years past, cinematic photography was a photography genre not widely practiced by most photographers. However, that approach has changed dramatically in recent years, and today, it’s one of the trendiest types of photography, regardless of experience or skill level.
What exactly is cinematic photography? It’s a style of photography that focuses on telling a story by accurately capturing the mood and ambiance of a particular scene. It gets its name because it tries to replicate bits and pieces of what film does, but through still photography instead.
In this article, I’ll discuss five tried-and-tested techniques for cinematic photography that yield wonderful results. Additionally, I’ll share the best way to display your cinematic photos once you’ve shot them. Now, join me as I dive in and discover more about cinematic photography ideas!
Check out the video above by Karl Shakur to learn how to make your photography more cinematic.
Table of Contents
- Understand Narrative Composition for Cinematic Photography
- Cinematic Photography Lighting Techniques That Enhance Mood
- Choosing the Right Settings and Equipment for Cinematic Photography
- Creating Depth and Perspective in Cinematic Photography
- Emotional Storytelling Through Portraiture
- How to Showcase Your Cinematic Photography
Understand Narrative Composition for Cinematic Photography
Photo by beyzayalcin via Shutterstock
The first step in cinematic photography is identifying your subject or subjects. The subject will serve as the focal point of your image, helping you tell the story you want to share with the audience. The more attention you give to your subject and the more you can draw the viewer’s attention toward it, the more visual appeal your image will have.
One way to accomplish this is through narrative composition. Properly framing your subject will naturally highlight it, guide the viewer’s attention, and create more interest. Feel free to use both natural and artificial objects as frames. Trees and rocks create gorgeous natural frames, whereas buildings and windows are common artificial frames. Framing elements can also add context and depth to a scene to better tell your narrative.
Establishing a clear visual hierarchy is equally important for digital storytelling. Understanding how to arrange the different elements (subject, foreground, background, etc.) within the frame to best convey your message is essential.
Cinematic Photography Lighting Techniques That Enhance Mood
Photo by Gorodenkoff via Shutterstock
How you decide to light a scene will also greatly affect the mood and atmosphere of your pictures. For example, by manipulating light intensity, you can instantly change a photo’s overall look and feel from bright and happy to dark and mysterious. Lighting is especially important in documentary and cinematic photography.
You always want to have two cinematic photography lighting techniques in your arsenal: natural and artificial. Natural light is when you harness the sun’s power and use its various qualities to your advantage. Most people think you can only use natural lighting outside, but as seen in the photo above, you can also use natural lighting from windows when shooting indoors.
Artificial light sources are also crucial. They allow you to get the perfect shots to tell your story regardless of natural conditions. Moreover, you can use artificial lighting to create dramatic effects and enhance the impact of your photos.
Choosing the Right Settings and Equipment for Cinematic Photography
Photo by Song_about_summer via Shutterstock
Another cinematic photography tip is investing in the right gear. The equipment that makes the most difference is your camera and lenses. I suggest getting an interchangeable lens camera, such as a DSLR or mirrorless camera, instead of a point-and-shoot camera.
The safest bet in terms of lenses is owning the holy trinity of lenses. The holy trinity includes a standard-length zoom lens (approximately 24-70mm), a wide-angle lens (approximately 10-24mm), and a telephoto lens (approximately 70-200mm). With these three lenses, you can shoot all types of photography. Other useful gear for cinematic photography are lens filters, tripods, and external displays.
Don’t sleep on the importance of camera settings, either. For cinematic storytelling, you should know how to adjust shutter speed, aperture, and ISO to create your desired look. Experimenting with different aspect ratios is another way to create cinematic effects and boost visual storytelling. Alternatively, you can change the aspect ratio and crop your images in post-production.
Creating Depth and Perspective in Cinematic Photography
Photo by Eyeforyou via Shutterstock
Incorporating elements in the foreground and background that create depth and perspective can add intrigue to your cinematic photography. Foreground elements are a fantastic way to lead viewers into the scene, while background elements add a sense of size.
You can also use the aperture setting to play with depth of field. Using high apertures (low f-stops) allows you to use shallow depth-of-field effects (bokeh effects) to isolate subjects from their surroundings and create a sense of intimacy and mystery. This technique pairs particularly well with portraits and macro photography.
Other effective strategies are exploring perspective and scale and using layers. For instance, different angles and viewpoints add dynamism and interest to compositions. At the same time, layering adds complexity and hidden elements.
Emotional Storytelling Through Portraiture
Photo by Anna-Kuzikova via Shutterstock
Whenever people are your primary subject, cinematic photography is an excellent way to connect with your audience by evoking emotions. Let’s look closer at how you can tell stories through portrait photography.
The first way is to capture candid moments. Authentic lifestyle photography showcases real emotions and expressions that convey deeper narratives. Next, don’t be afraid to direct your models during a photo shoot. Understanding when and how to communicate with them to produce specific gestures and emotions will lead to significantly better results.
Two more tips are paying attention to small details and using post-processing. Subtle changes in facial expressions, body language, and environmental cues can drastically change an image. Similarly, photo editing and color grading are artificial tools that can positively impact your cinematic portraits.
How to Showcase Your Cinematic Photography
If you want your cinematic photography to truly connect with viewers and make a lasting impact on them, you should print your photos. Studies show that people spend much more time looking at physical prints than digital images online or on social media platforms.
With that in mind, one of my go-to resources for customizing and ordering beautiful prints is Artbeat Studios, an online printing company I’ve worked with many, many times over the years.
The team at Artbeat Studios cutting-edge techniques that result in incredibly detailed prints with astounding colors and long-lasting durability. In fact, these metal prints are scratch-resistant and can withstand moist environments like bathrooms, so you and your loved ones can enjoy your images for years to come. As I explain in my video above, Artbeat Studios can even work this magic with iPhone photos.
So, how do they do it?
Artbeat Studios creates stunning HD Metal Prints by combining top-tier equipment, premium materials, and expert color management. They utilize state-of-the-art Epson printers, regularly upgrading to the latest technology, and print with genuine Epson archival inks on high-resolution Epson transfer paper. But that’s just the start…
To ensure unmatched vibrance, clarity, and durability, they exclusively use Chromaluxe aluminum sheets—the industry leader in metal print quality. The most critical aspect of their process is precise color management, though. By working in the Adobe RGB 1998 color space and continuously calibrating their printers and monitors, Artbeat Studios guarantees accurate, vibrant colors across all displays. The result is a print that lasts over 65 years—making them an ideal choice for both home and commercial applications.
In other words, if you want to level up your cinematic photography game, give printing your images a try. I’m confident you’ll discover that the results you get from a partner like Artbeat Studios will knock your socks off!
A quick heads-up: If you snag something through our affiliate links or check out our sponsored content, we might earn a commission at no extra cost to you. But fear not, we’re all about recommending stuff we’re truly stoked about!
Learn More:
Hero photo by Roberto Vivancos via Shutterstock
