Whether you’re an avid reader or collector or you run the social media of a bookshop, photographing book collections creatively can be tricky.
Don’t you worry, though! In this article, you’ll find twelve creative ideas to showcase your book collection through the camera lens. Some require a bit of production on set, and others some post-production skills.
Generally speaking, you can do all these ideas yourself without expensive photographic gear – all you need is your passion for books.
Let’s take a look.
A Colorful Flat Lay
Credit: Paige Cody
Flat lay is a type of still life photography where you arrange the objects on a flat surface and photograph them from the top down.
You can create your composition with objects that complement the book covers following a specific color palette.
Open Books Flat Lay
Credit: lil artsy
You can select books from your collection and open them on the title page, pages with illustrations, or pages where you’ve marked significant quotes.
If you use many books and open them where there’s plain text, you can create a pattern and make an almost abstract photo.
Otherwise, you can get close and arrange the books in such a way that you create a new discourse for the viewer.
A Suitcase of Travel Reads
Credit: Perfecto Capucine
What does every book lover bring along when travelling? Books!
Well, fill a suitcase with all your favorite books you would take with you if you were going to a desert island.
If you want to make a whole photo series, create a suitcase with the books you would take on different trips – one for a beach vacation, one for a romantic trip to Tuscany, and so on.
Clothesline
Credit: Kim van Vuuren
You can place a clothesline in the garden and hang your books on it for a whimsical and creative photo of your book collection.
Make sure it’s strong enough to hold them and hang only a few at a time – you don’t want them to get damaged.
You can hang different collections in different scenarios.
Book Levitation Photo
Credit: Lacie Slezak
If you’re looking for a unique way to capture your book collection, levitation photography is ideal.
You’ll need some editing skills to get the final look just how you want it, but it’s not difficult to do if you have the right tools and setup.
Start by photographing the background without any of the elements that will be levitating. Then, use strings to hang the books as you want them to be arranged – this can be one by one or all together.
Lastly, you’ll have to blend the images to create a levitation composite.
If you don’t have Photoshop or an editing program that allows you to blend multiple layers, you can work with a single layer and delete all the strings and supports used to hold the books in place.
However, this may take more post-production time. If you want more detailed instructions on how to create this effect, check out our guide to levitation photography.
Surround Yourself With Books
Credit: Marcelo Chagas
In a spiritual context, our aura is meant to be an invisible emanation surrounding us. This energy field reflects our emotional, mental, and spiritual state.
So, why not use this abstract concept to create a photo of your book collection? Choose a series of books that reflect your current mood and surround yourself with them, creating a sort of aura.
Then, photograph yourself from above.
Raking It In
Credit: Olly
Have you ever seen poker players rake in the pot of chips after a big win? Well, that’s the vibe you want to give this picture – only, instead of chips, you’ve won books.
Arrange your book collection on a table and sit behind it. Then, pull it towards you with a triumphant expression.
This will not only showcase your collection, but it will convey your passion for reading and learning.
Take a Shelfie
Credit: Wesley Hilario
Book lovers aren’t usually at the center of social media trends. However, over the past few years, there’s been an interior design trend that might be just the right one to showcase your fantastic book collection: the shelfie.
Shelfie photos feature carefully curated shelves displaying books and home decor items. The hashtag #shelfie has become popular for those wishing to showcase their personality or current mood through these images.
So, don’t be afraid to capture the bookshelves you have at home and even rearrange them so they can tell a story on your Instagram profile.
Stack Them Up
Credit: Leah Newhouse
Arranging your books in a stack is one of the most classic ways to showcase a collection. However, you can put your own twist into the picture to make the image unique.
Try rotating each book in a slightly different direction so you can still read the titles. Then, take the picture with a narrow depth of field.
You need to use a wide aperture and a long focal length to achieve this look.
A Book-Lover’s Still Life
Credit: Pixabay
If a simple stack isn’t cutting it for you, try arranging your books in a still-life composition with some closed and others open, positioned both vertically and horizontally.
You can also experiment with adding other elements—just make sure they’re arranged in an aesthetically pleasing way. Choose objects that complement the books to create a coherent and visually engaging image.
You can try following a theme that goes with the books you chose. Let’s say you’re photographing murder-mystery novels; you can put detective items or clues around your books.
Alternatively, you can use items that pair well with your reading habits, such as a cup of tea, a blanket, and your glasses.
Holding Your Stack
Credit: Melike Benli
Another self-portrait idea is to photograph yourself holding a stack of your favorite books.
You can pose in front of a solid-colored wall to highlight the stack, or surround yourself with more stacks on the floor. Alternatively, you could stand in front of your bookcase for a fuller backdrop.
A Road of Books
Credit: Laura Kapfer
We all know that you can travel to wonderful places through the power of reading. You can use this metaphor as the theme of your photograph and build a road with your books.
You can do this inside the house and have your books lead you to the door, or you can do this outside—choose the location you like most.
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