Back to Basics: How to shoot screens
Unsplash curator and contributor, Nik Jones, shares 6 tips on shooting digital screens.
Some of the most-searched-for photos on Unsplash revolve around tech — from photos of coding to images of go-to apps like Twitter or Instagram. Shooting photos of apps on your desktop or mobile screens is a great way to gain visibility on Unsplash — but taking a good photo of your digital screens can be trickier than it may seem. For anyone who’s tried, you’ll know all too well that the end result is often plagued with unfortunate glare or static lines across the image.
Unsplash Curator and photographer Nik Jones is no stranger to shooting her favorite apps — in fact, some of her most popular photos on Unsplash showcase tech. So we’ve asked her to walk us through some of her top tips to capturing great photos of screens.
Tip 1: Clean your screen!
First thing’s first: This may seem obvious — but I’ll say it anyway: Make sure your screens are free of fingerprints, dust, or smudges before your photoshoot. And even if they look fine at first glance, give your screens a good clean as your camera will pick up on everything. To clean my screen, I typically use the cloths you get to clean your glasses. If that doesn’t work, I use screen wipes designed for your digital screens to get off stubborn grime.
Tip 2: Set the scene
Whether you’re shooting your phone screen or your desktop monitor — pay attention to what else will make it into the frame. Is your desk littered with crumpled papers? Are any post-its with your passwords on show? Make sure the surroundings feel natural and intentional.
Tip 3: Use soft natural light
That pesky glare we mentioned? That can be avoided by shooting LCD screens in soft natural light. Artificial lighting will inevitably give off more glare — but if natural lighting isn’t available, be sure you experiment with the angle of your phone and camera. And make sure your phone never has direct light hitting it to avoid unwanted glare. The secret to getting great photos of your screens is truly all about getting the right angle.
Tip 4: Try a small aperture
Use a small aperture so the whole screen is in focus. If you're holding your phone in your hand, you’ll be able to retain a good depth of field while keeping the phone as the main subject. If you’re shooting your desktop, I typically make sure the screen isn’t too close to my camera, and experiment with the angles so you can minimize reflections and have a nice depth of field in the background.
Tip 5: Turn down screen brightness
To avoid overexposing your shots, turn down your screen brightness accordingly. This will ensure that your photos remain balanced. Another option? Shoot a few photos in dark mode.
Tip 6: Minimize reflections
While some reflections are okay, others can feel like they detract from the final image. To reduce jarring reflections, you can hold a dark reflector between your light source and your screen. You don’t need a fancy kit to achieve great results, I use a little piece of black card as my reflector which has served me well!
While taking photos of digital screens can take a little experimentation, it’s a great way to test your photography skills and try out new photoshoot ideas. It also happens to be a great way to fill gaps in the Unsplash library (which means your photos will get seen fast)!
Try it out!
Submit your very own photos of mobile or desktop screens to our new Digital Screens Topic for a chance to be featured on the topic (and have a higher chance of being promoted on the homepage Editorial feed).