Easy Summer Photo Ideas

Summer is here and it’s time to get creative! Realistically, not all of us are jetting off to a tropical paradise with the most amazing locations. But you can still create beautiful photos without traveling far or breaking the bank. 

I’ve created a list of five easy photo ideas for summer if you are in need of some inspiration.

Lay in the grass

All you need is a small patch of grass! Whether that is in your own backyard or at a local park, you don’t need a lot of space to create an image like this. Play around with your angles and perspective in order to create a more dynamic photo. If you’re looking for props, try adding flowers or setting up a picnic.

I didn’t have much to work with and when I laid down in the grass my feet were actually hitting the pavement. However, cropping and angles will work wonders when you only have a small area to work with.

Pose with tropical fruit

Head to the grocery store and pick your favorite summer fruit— pineapple, mango, banana, coconut, ect. And then pose! Let the fruit do all the talking. By shooting against a wall, you could be anywhere.

To be honest, I didn’t have the energy to drive to one of my usual spots, which is typically a 30 to 45 minute drive. Instead, I actually shot this indoors and transformed the image with a little editing magic. I also added in some leafy shadows in order to create a more tropical, summery vibe.

Take this idea to the beach or in front of some palm leaves! If you’re unable to travel, there are still so many ways you can create a summer photo! All you need is a little bit of imagination!

Play with shadows

To continue off the last idea, simply just play with shadows! Summer brings the heat with bright clear days that create beautiful shadows. The best time to shoot outdoors is midday for those harsh shadows or later in the afternoon.

If you want to create your own shadows, try holding up lace fabric for a beautiful texture or playing around with leaves.You can also use paper or cardboard to cut out different shapes.

Again, sometimes I just don’t want to go outside, so a little editing magic always helps. Apply any shadow to your photo and adjust accordingly. If you have any external lighting like a speedlite or strobe, both are amazing for mimicking the sun.

Flower tops

Flowers will always be trendy in my mind. Last spring/summer, the flower top trend blew up all over social media. And while it might not be as popular as last year, there are still multiple ways to transform the flower top into your own creation.

Instead of just stuffing a bouquet in your pants, try adding a corset or a few more fashion elements to the look. My favorite is actually creating a top out of flowers right against your body! Use fake flowers and tape or glue to stick onto yourself or clothing that you don’t use anymore.

Seashell Fashion

This idea is all about perspective! When I picture a nice summer day, I always think of the beach and collecting seashells. Any kind of shell works and you can use it as a full outfit or a skirt. All you need is a helping hand to focus on the shell while you pose in the background.

If you mainly shoot by yourself, the best solution is to set up a tripod and change your camera to manual focus. Take a photo with the seashell as the focus and don’t change any settings when you take a photo of yourself. You’ll be a bit blurry, which is part of the idea, and then you can combine both photos in order to create the illusion that someone else is holding the shell.

This works with fruit too! Watermelon slices are a great alternative and the triangular shape perfectly mimics the shape of a dress. You don’t even need to be at the beach for this one. 

I hope you were able to find some summer photo inspiration! I’d love to see what you create. If you were inspired by any of these ideas tag #CreateWithChelle on Instagram!

For more ideas check out the #CreateWithChelle Blog Post Archive.