DIY $10 Photo Shoot: Extra and Insta Worthy

Want those over-the-top, super stylized instagram pics? Yeah, we do too.

In fact, our love of being extra on insta has grown from in-the-moment to stylized and staged.

At least once a month, Sydney and I plan out a themed photo shoot.

But looking extra doesn’t have to break the bank. In general each of our photo shoots cost about ten bucks.

*Sydney and I both had to work at NTV News on New Year’s Day, making celebrating with champagne at midnight just not realistic. But that didn’t mean we wanted to miss out on those fun party pics.*

Here’s how we do it for ten bucks or less:

1. Research - free

When I did the pin up photo shoot last week with TymaPhoto, Braeden suggested spending time looking through insta or Pinterest for inspiration.

This is how we came up with the Kissing Booth idea.

2. Set the Scene - $5 to $10

Most of the time, this is just a cute mural on the wall or a wooded back drop, but not when you want to be extra.

This requires work. And a theme. And good lighting.

For the Valentine’s Day kissing booth, we dumpster dove and found two wooden pallets. Using some watered down paint we had lying around, we white washed one of them.

We stacked the pallets using zip ties we already had. It’s not super sturdy, but it works for pics.

Taking advantage of the Target dollar bins, we grabbed pink metallic fringe ($3), pink paper hearts ($1) and a Happy Gals Day banner ($3).

Pro Tip: We used a GoPro Hero 7 Silver, tripod, spot light and ring light but when first starting, use your phone on a timer, prop it on a chair piled with books and pull your house lamps to light the scene.

3. The Perfect Outfit - Ideally free

Getting a great outfit to complement the scene is critical when shooting an over-the-top pic.

Keep in mind, sometimes the most trendy styles aren’t always the most photogenic.

A lot of times these themed shoots require outfits that most likely won’t be worn again. Hit up thrift and resale shops or browse through your friend’s closet. Don’t break the bank just for a pic.

Pro Tip: If your scene is really busy, stick to solid colored clothes. This will help you stand out from the background.

4. Props free to $10

“What do I do with my hands?”

It’s the most common question I hear when filming interviews for the news or photographing friends.

Problem solved. Having a prop is the perfect. This can be nearly anything. A hood on your coat, sunglasses, a floppy hat, noise maker, wine glass, piece of pizza or glittery hearts.

5. A BFF

So cheesy but so true. They’ll help you build the backdrop, allow you to borrow their clothes, share the costs with you, be in the photo with you or take the photo of you. Mostly, they’ll make the entire experience fun and something you’ll want to do time and time again.