How to get “clean” photos

While on your daily social media scroll, you most likely come across tons of aesthetic photos that have this distinct “clean” look. If you’ve always wanted to get this visual style for your photos, today’s featured video by UK street photographer Roman Fox is worth the watch.

As Fox noted in the intro, the term “clean” may mean different things to different photographers. But personally, he considers it as being free of any visual distractions or clutter. As such, the subject or visual narrative is already clear, so the viewer doesn’t need to figure out what’s going on in the photo. This is why “clean” photos are also often described as minimalist.

But simple and minimalist in photography doesn’t mean it’s downright easy to achieve. There are actually a lot that can go into a clean photo. The environment you’re shooting in, for example, plays a big part in it; it can be challenging, if not impossible, to create a clean photo in a chaotic setting. Of course, composition is also by far the most important element in minimalist photos, as it allows you to be selective in what you include and exclude in the frame.

Fox explains these factors — and several others — in ample detail in the video, so make sure to watch everything and take notes!

Are you struggling with creating “clean” or minimalist photos? What aspect do you think gives you the most difficulty? Tell us about it in the comments!

• Posted on November 8, 2024