You know that feeling when the sun comes out, just for a bit, and suddenly you want to reorganize your whole life? Same here. Spring hits and suddenly I’m all about clearing the clutter, refreshing the space, and setting things up to run smoother—especially in my office. Because let’s be real: when you’re trying to send off client USBs, those pretty little gift boxes and bits of packaging have a sneaky way of disappearing.
Between restocking supplies, updating my editing style, and squeezing in a day date for inspiration, I’ve been thinking a lot about how we, as photographers, can push ourselves creatively. Today I’m sharing five practical, storytelling techniques you can use to add creativity, variety and depth to your photos—whether you’re shooting clients or your own kids at home.
If you’d rather listen to the audio version, check out episode 5 on the Better Photos Podcast here or scroll to the bottom!
Let’s dive in.
1. Create Depth with Layering
Layering is one of the most powerful ways to bring dimension to your photos. And no, I don’t just mean layering blankets for newborn sessions—although yes, that counts too.
Think of it as adding foreground, middle ground and background to your images. This gives your photos that rich, immersive feel where the viewer’s eye is guided through the frame.
A few easy ways to add layers:
- Use grass or flowers in the foreground, your subject in the middle, and trees or buildings in the background.
- Get cinematic with people in different planes of action—someone walking in the distance, a child close to the camera, someone peeking out a window in the background.
- Play with textures—like a baby wrapped in soft knit, lying on fur, surrounded by siblings.
- Adjust your aperture to create that dreamy bokeh. Bring your subject closer to the lens, shoot wide open (like f/1.8), and let that background melt away.
Layering makes your photo feel more like a scene in a film—not just a single moment, but a story happening all at once.
2. Tell Stories with a Beginning, Middle and End
You don’t need a full-blown photo essay every time you pick up your camera, but training yourself to see a story in small sequences can totally shift your approach.
A story can be as simple as:
- Clothes on the floor → putting on shoes → running outside to play.
- Ingredients laid out → baking with flour flying → enjoying cookies.
Once you get in the habit, you’ll start to notice these micro-stories happening all around you, and they make your galleries feel intentional and emotionally connected.
Try practicing this with your phone during everyday moments. Once your eye starts seeing stories, you’ll bring that same mindset to your client sessions too.
3. Add Movement for Energy and Emotion
Movement makes photos come alive. Whether it’s a blur of motion or a perfectly timed action shot, adding movement adds energy, playfulness and realism to your work.
Here are some fun ways to play with motion:
- Slow your shutter speed to 1/50 and have your subject run past you for that dreamy blur.
- Move with your subject while shooting to keep them sharp and blur the background.
- Ask clients to jump, twirl, spin, skip or toss their kids. It’s all about creating natural interaction and beautiful shapes.
- Use burst mode to shoot a sequence and then create a GIF or stop-motion effect in editing (I use InShot for this).
One tip? Outfits matter. Flowing dresses and skirts add gorgeous movement. Jeans? Not so much.
4. Capture Genuine Candids
Candid photos are where authentic emotion lives. But getting a great candid shot doesn’t just mean sitting back and hoping for the best. It’s about anticipating moments and using gentle prompts to spark natural reactions.
Some prompts I use:
- “I have a secret.. when I count to 3, you’re going to run and tickle dad.”
- “who can ___ the fastest/slowest?”
- “On the count of three, go whisper something silly in dad’s ear.”
- “look at who has the stinkiest feet”
I’m not after the fake ‘say cheese’ grins—I want the in-between glances, the shared giggles, the way a dad looks at his daughter when she’s not watching.
When things don’t go perfectly (like a toddler meltdown), I still keep shooting. Because those quiet, comforting moments—hands soothing a back, a little head resting on a shoulder—are just as powerful as the big smiles.
5. Use Wide, Mid and Close-Up Shots to Tell the Full Story
In video editing, every scene is built with wide, mid and close-up shots. You can use this same technique in photography to make your galleries feel cinematic.
Here’s what that looks like:
- Wide shot – shows the full scene (a beach, a room, a park).
- Mid shot – captures connection and interaction (parents walking hand-in-hand with their child).
- Close-up – focuses on emotion and detail (tiny sandy toes, windblown hair, fingers gripping a shirt).
This approach adds depth, context and emotion to your galleries, and helps your work feel more polished and intentional.
Bonus tip: If you’re after convenience and variety, a 24–70mm zoom lens is amazing. But for buttery, high-quality images, I still reach for my prime lenses every time.
All my amazon faves can be found here.
Weekly Challenge: Tell a Story with Three Shots
Your creative challenge this week is to capture a three-photo story from your day. Think of a moment that has a clear beginning, middle and end. Maybe it’s your morning coffee ritual, your kids getting ready for school, or a quiet wind-down moment at bedtime.
Need help getting ideas? Use ChatGPT to brainstorm scenes based on your day or lifestyle—it’s a great tool for sparking creativity when you’re feeling stuck.
And remember: the more photos you take, the better your photos will get.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re shooting personal moments or client sessions, these techniques—layering, storytelling, movement, candids and framing—can help you level up your photography. It’s not about making everything perfect. It’s about making photos that feel honest, creative and full of life.
And next post, we’ll dive into editing techniques to bring those stories to life even more. Check it out here.
Got a question or something you want covered on the podcast? DM me on Instagram at @brittanyporterphotography. I’d love to hear from you.
