How I take and edit minimalist photos

Taking photos is a beautiful way to document our lives, tell a story, or create a work of art. If you've followed my journey as an author and blogger, you've probably seen my photos in my book, Sustainable Home, as well as my Instagram page and blog. I have a very distinct look and feel of all my pictures that many would call natural and minimal, and as requested by many, I'm here to share a bit more about how I take and edit my photos in order to create a minimalist aesthetic.

Check out the video above for my post-processing flow, as well as details on the equipment I use and some tips summarized below. If you’re interested in getting more examples, I have an extended cut of this video on my Patreon community as well, where I go over three more examples of photo edits, including one photo off of my cell phone. Do not be intimidated and think you have to purchase my exact equipment or a super expensive camera either - it takes time and practice to become a good photographer, and you can take amazing photos with what you may already have!

This video is also sponsored by Skillshare - find more details below on how you can get a free trial of Skillshare Premium to continue learning from experts in fields such as photography, design, and more.

How I take minimalist photos

To start, here are some details on how I take my minimalist photos, from equipment to general photography tips if you’re new to using a camera.

Camera equipment

Camera

Any DSLR, mirrorless camera, or even cell phone will work - I currently use a Canon 5D Mark II with the 24-105mm lens

If you have the budget, other great camera options that I’ve heard great things about are the Sony A7 models, Canon 5D Mark IV, and Canon EOS R

Do consider renting or borrowing cameras to find what you like, and consider buying used for a good deal

Remember that becoming a good photographer is not dependent on the camera but on your skillset, it takes time, practice, and patience

Tripod

A tripod will help with still life photography, long exposures, and keeping a steady position as you take photos

Here is a newer model of the tripod I currently use - this company offers repairs too

Photography tips

Lighting

It’s all about light - if you want a clean, white, minimalist photo background, have plenty of light if you’re indoors

Shooting outdoors is best in foggy or cloudy weather, or in the early morning or late afternoon to avoid harsh sunlight

It’s best when your light source is coming from the side or from behind - straight on can look a bit harsh unless it is diffused

Composition

When it comes to minimalism, less is more - how can you evoke this concept in your photos?

Consider shooting singular items, negative space, or finding simple shapes and patterns

Practice makes perfect, so be patient as you develop your own style and always seek inspiration

How I edit minimalist photos

Now that you’ve taken your photos, it’s time to edit and post-process them to create a clean, minimalist look. Watch the video above for the full process, and consider checking out the extended cut for more examples with the link here (the photo of Cooper below was shot on an iPhone 6 and is edited in the extended cut!).

Software

I currently use Adobe Lightroom to edit my photos on an older MacBook Pro

Alternatively, you can use VSCO or Lightroom on your phone or emulate my edits with any similar photo editing program

All of my photos are shot in RAW format from my DSLR - these larger size files have more data to make editing more powerful

Things to consider while editing

To create a natural yet minimal look, make sure your photos are properly exposed yet not too contrasted - default camera settings are quite contrasted and bold, so tune down contrast, highlights, and shadows a bit

Play around with each setting to understand what they do - turn the dials all the way up and down to see their opposite effects

About Skillshare

Whether you're a photographer or want to learn skills in productivity, Skillshare has an assortment of classes to explore. There's a specific photo editing course called 'cinematic styles in adobe raw' that's a perfect fit for getting better at photo editing, as becoming a decent photographer and editor doesn't happen overnight. I'd highly encourage you to learn from the experts with Skillshares variety of classes, and the first 1000 people who click the link here will get a free trial of Skillshare Premium, and after, it's less than $10 a month with an annual subscription.