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By the end of this list you’ll have twenty ways to actually use your camera roll instead of just scrolling past it! No fancy gear required, lol!
These pics ideas came from scrolling through hundreds of pins over a few late nights. A lot of them looked so pretty but needed a studio, a drone or three assistants!
So those got tossed. What’s left are the ones that work in a regular bedroom, a regular pool and a regular front porch.
Some of these are for solo shots. Some work better with a friend holding the phone. A few need nothing but a timer and some patience.
Are you ready to actually use your gallery for something other than screenshots? Grab your phone and let’s get into it!
Under each idea you’ll find the little details that make the shot work plus a link to a full tutorial if there is one.
PICS IDEAS
Golden Hour Silhouette Shot
We’re starting off strong with the golden hour silhouette. The sun sits low, the light turns orange. Suddenly everyone looks like a movie poster!
Stand with the sun directly behind you so your outline goes dark and crisp. Honestly the dog looks more majestic than either of us ever will, haha!
- Shoot twenty minutes before sunset
- Faces go dark, outlines stay sharp
- No filter needed for this one
Flat Lay Coffee Table
How cute is a flat lay coffee table shot? Mugs, a magazine and a candle arranged just right makes the whole table look like a lifestyle blog!
Shoot straight down from above so nothing gets lost to a weird angle. That candle in the corner always steals the show.
- Shoot straight from above every time
- Two mugs read cozier than one
- Books stack better than magazines flat
Candid Laughing Portrait Pose
Candid laughing shots beat posed smiles every single time. Ask a joke right before the camera clicks and the fake smile disappears completely!
Not that I’m complaining, lol!
The best ones happen mid laugh, not right after it.
Window Light Bedroom Portrait
Window light in a bedroom is basically free professional lighting! My own bedroom faces east, so mornings are the only window I get. Pull the curtains halfway and stand a few feet from the glass. It wraps around a face so softly that nobody looks tired, even on a Monday, lol!
- Free light, zero equipment
- Best between nine and eleven in the morning
- Sheer curtains soften harsh sun
Jumping Action Shot Outdoors
Jumping shots outdoors are ridiculous in the best way! Bad hair, weird faces, flying limbs. Somehow it always turns out great! Burst mode is the whole secret. Take twenty in a row and one will actually be usable, haha!
- Burst mode saves this shot
- Ten jumps gets one good frame
- Open grass works better than pavement
Cozy Blanket Fort Photo
A blanket fort photo is basically instant cozy. String lights, a pile of pillows and one soft blanket draped over two chairs does the whole job.
This is the shot I take every time it storms outside. Same energy every single time, lol! Who doesn’t love that?
- Storm day, fort built in ten minutes
- Fairy lights beat lamps for this
- Any old sheet works fine
Poolside Floatie Overhead Shot
OMG! Are you guys seeing these overhead pool floatie shots right now? A bright floatie against blue water looks incredible from directly above! Worth every bit of the awkward request, haha! It’s one of the easiest vacay these to pull off, honestly.
- Balcony angle beats poolside every time
- Bright floaties read best from above
- Midday sun keeps water true blue
Hammock Between Palm Trees
A hammock between two palm trees is the whole vacay these dream in one frame. Swing gently for a little motion blur so it looks even more relaxed. Somehow the picture still turned out great! Nobody even noticed he was snoring.
Sunset Cocktail Table Flatlay
Sunset mocktail flat lays are almost too easy to make look good. I never plan these, they just happen when the sky cooperates. Two drinks, a sliver of ocean and that pink sky do all the work. This one gets saved to everyone’s phone within minutes of posting! Am I right?
- The sky does most of the work
- Side angle keeps the horizon in frame
- Condensation on the glass adds shine
Bathroom Mirror Outfit Check
Bathroom mirror outfit checks are the original mirror these classic. My bathroom lighting is honestly criminal without help! A ring light clipped to the mirror edge fixes almost every bathroom’s harsh overhead glow. Good lighting matters more than the mirror itself, honestly. It’s a five dollar fix for a real problem.
Elevator Mirror Full Outfit
Elevator mirrors give a full outfit shot without asking anyone to hold your phone. I’ve gotten some genuinely unflattering shots this way, lighting included. Stand slightly off center so the doors don’t frame you like a mugshot, lol! Someone always walks in right as you snap it! Who hasn’t been there?
Vintage Mirror Bedroom Reflection
Vintage mirrors add character no phone camera can fake on its own. A thrift store find with a chipped gold frame beats a plain flat mirror every time!
Angle the mirror to catch a window behind you for a soft glow. She asks about the frame every single time.
Infinity Pool Ocean View
Infinity pools with an ocean view are the whole reason people book that room upgrade. I always end up flat on my stomach chasing this angle. Shoot low, right at the water surface, for maximum drama. It looks like the pool spills straight into the sea! How cute is that?
- Shoot low for the horizon blend
- Late afternoon light avoids harsh glare
- Still water reads calmer in photos
Airplane Window Cloud Shot
Airplane window cloud shots are peak vacation these material. I learned the hard way that every shot comes out smudged otherwise. Wipe the window first. Clouds stacked like cotton under a wing never gets old! That one lesson cost me an entire flight’s worth of blurry photos, haha!
Cliffside Overlook Silhouette Photo
Cliffside overlook silhouettes are dramatic without much effort at all. My arms are always out wider than they need to be. Stand right at the trail’s edge and let the sky do the rest. It works every single time regardless of the actual view! Same!
Beach Footprints Sandy Shot
Beach footprints in the sand look simple but photograph beautifully. My own shadow ruins this shot more often than I’d like to admit. Fresh wet sand holds the print shape longest, right where the waves just pulled back. Not as easy as it sounds, but worth the extra try, lol!
- Wet sand holds the print best
- Bare feet photograph better than sandals
Family Portrait Formal Pose
Traditional these start with the formal family portrait, the one everyone still frames. A shared color palette photographs so much cleaner instead. Stand tallest in back, shortest in front. Nobody argues about the order that way.
Grandparents Front Porch Photo
Grandparents on the front porch is a shot that ages beautifully over the years. Natural light, a porch swing and zero posing instructions works every time! Some things just don’t need updating. How cute is that?
Holiday Table Family Gathering
Holiday table gatherings are chaos to photograph but somehow always turn out charming. Shoot right before everyone eats, when the table still looks perfect. Someone always has their mouth full in one shot. That’s the charm, haha!
Classic Cap Gown Portrait
Last but definitely not least, we have the classic cap and gown portrait. Diploma in hand, tassel dangling just right. That grin says it all!
Shoot against a plain wall or a row of trees so nothing distracts from the moment. This one gets framed and mailed to family for years afterward. Grandma still has hers on the fridge.
