You recently happened to observe images, videos, multimedia content in style Aesthetic and it immediately fascinated you: you too, at this point, would like to be able to produce photos with a metaphysical and somewhat surreal flavor, but you don't know where to put your hands. No problem: in this tutorial you will find valid solutions to get started.
The type of visual concept referred to, in particular, is connected to the use of social channels, so I will begin to explain to you how to make Aesthetic photos through apps, and then continue with desktop software and solutions suitable for post-producing images online. Without forgetting that, if you are passionate about photography, you can also define the Aesthetic style directly when taking photos and, therefore, I will try to give you a hand in this sense too.
Are you ready to enter this fantastic world? If the answer is affirmative, take a few minutes to read the next paragraphs: you will see that your followers will immediately compliment you and ask you how you managed to make such beautiful Aesthetic photos. Now I just have to wish you a good read and have fun!
Preliminary information
Before addressing the technical issues on how to take an Aesthetic photo, I think you might be interested in an in-depth study on the subject, to better understand what Aesthetic is and the visual aesthetics (excuse the pun) that characterizes the movement, so where most photos of this type are used.
A E S T H E T I C S (you might find the term written just like that) is an artistic current that is born arm in arm with music Vaporwave: a sub-genre that established itself at the turn of the 80s and 90s, and then continued into the 2000s. The sound elements that characterize it are a mix of the iconic melodies of the two eras, that is funk, jazz, ambient music, rock progressive, electronic and pop music, proposed as samples rich in effects, with pleasure sarcastic and ironic, by artists who often hide their identity under pseudonyms.
With the Vaporwave you immerse yourself in a climate nostalgic, psychedelic, which corresponds to the historical period of the crisis of capitalism. It seems, in fact, that the name “Vaporwave” (from steam, impalpable cloud, effluvium) is a reference to a passage from Karl Marx's Communist Party Manifesto which reads: “All money melts into a cloud”.
As always happens, a specific one is also linked to the musical movement visual imagery, which reflects it and renders it immediately recognizable: in this case it is made of references to birth of the Internet, game and VHS, to dystopian scenarios and post-modern, which mix withclassical iconography, along with references to the Japanese culture of the turn of the millennium, so much to use calligraphic lettering, manga e anime.
They are widely used i fluorescent colors, or pastel, the technique of collage e photographs with unrealistic tonal relationships, made with colored filters, in which dazzling flashes of light are also found e disorders various. Just think, for example, of the photos lo-fi taken with Soviet analog cameras Lomo , where the photographic error is an added value. When it comes to visual aesthetics, in addition to photos, various multimedia contents are included: in this regard, read my guide on how to make Aesthetic videos.
This artistic current has, today, a notable impact on communication, within the social channels and on the Web, from TikTok, Tumblr a Instagram: in this regard, if you like it, it represents you and you think it can help you stand out, read my guide on how to have an Instagram aesthetic profile.
In this context, some influencers have cleared customs other visual variants related to Aesthetic, such as theArt Hoe, in which (always mainly through social networks) spontaneous works of art are collected or a selfie is used in front of the famous ones, and the style Vintage, linked above all to the aesthetic canons in vogue between the 50s and 70s.
To be found online, precisely because you intend to link your way of appearing and bringing you to culture Aesthetic, remember to use hashtag (#) that characterize the movement, or the currents connected to it.
App for making Aesthetic photos
The images that refer to the Aesthetic culture are widely used and widespread on social networks, so you'd probably like to know some app to take Aesthetic photos and share them directly online from your smartphone or tablet. Very well: here are which I can recommend.
VSCO (Android / iOS / iPadOS)
Among the apps for smartphones and tablets that in recent years have become iconic for reworking images with a precise style, there is VSCO: its Vintage-flavored filter presets have so depopulated that they have created one community online of passionate fans who exchange opinions and, above all, photographs.
If you want to use VSCO, and know how to take Aesthetic photos to share on social channels, start by downloading the app from the Google Play Store, if you use a device Android (or from an alternative store, if you don't have the services of Google), or from the App Store, if you were using a iPhoneand or a iPad.
Once this is done, complete the registration using yours Google account, or another of the suggested methods, then press theicon X, located at the top left of the display, to close the screen where you will be offered a subscription to VSCO, at the price of € 1,83 per month or € 21,99 per year. If you are not interested in this option, you can currently continue using it free of the app, with no additional bonuses (knowing that you will be denied access to many filters).
If prompted, verify your contact used to log into VSCO and, on the screen Manage permissions, activate theswitch next to the options for which you intend to grant access to the app.
Follow the procedure and, if you wish, enter additional information in the form Edit profile. This is all important because VSCO is also a social channel, in fact you will find a Feed (by tapping on the symbol of Home) with the creations of the community.
After configuring the account, go to the bottom of the screen and tap on the symbol +, then choose an option from Take a photo e Import.
Once you have captured the image, tap on it and, again, choose an item from Create a montage, Post to VSCO o Modification. Since you will want to apply Aesthetic effects to the photo, opt for the latter hypothesis.
In the editor that opens, you will be able to choose from a gallery of filters, to be applied directly to the photo and then adjusted in intensity by tapping on the filter itself.
Alternatively, or overlapping the filters, you can intervene with the classics Instruments for editing images: among them, very interesting for the realization of Aesthetic effects, is the tool Split shade. It will allow you to choose two different colors to apply to the brighter areas and shadows of the photo, playing on a surreal result.
It does not end here: by tapping on the symbol of + (Create a recipe), in fact you will save the filters and tools used to edit the photo as your own personal preset, convenient to use again in case, for example, you want to create for your profile Instagram a series of images with their own formal coherence.
To add just some automatic contrast variation to the image, you can also take advantage of the tool Magic wand, located at the top of the display.
When you are satisfied with the result, you decide for the option Save, then get ready to save the photo to your device, and / or choose the voice Post to VSCO, to share it with the community linked to the service, or for both preferences.
Snapseed (Android / iOS / iPadOS)
Among the best apps to process images, it should be mentioned Snapseed, owned by Google. It contains several options, including advanced ones, all of which can be exploited for free.
Get started right away by downloading Snapseed from the Google Play Store if you have a device Android, or from the App Store, for iOS/iPadOS.
Then launch the app and tap anywhere on the display to open a photo from yours Gallery (granting the application permissions to do so). On the screen that follows, you will be able to scroll through a series of Effects, located at the bottom, then choose which one to apply to the photo.
Otherwise, to get a more personalized result, touch the item Instruments, also located in the lower part of the display, choose some of the options among those present that seem most attractive to you to take photos in Aesthetic style. Among these filters, which are superimposable, I recommend Vintage, Grit, Retrolux, Grunge, Black, Vignetting e Double exposure.
Each of these options has detailed adjustments, within the individual menus, which will allow you to achieve almost any type of aesthetic.
When you feel satisfied with the result, you can tap on the item Export, which you find at the bottom right, then decide whether to opt for the item Save, obtaining a copy of the photo, on the wording Export, to save a copy and also make changes, or select the entry Export as, to save the image in a specific folder. Alternatively, you can also share directly the photo online or with your friends.
Other apps
It may be that the solutions just suggested do not satisfy you completely, so I suggest you other apps suitable for creating Aesthetic photos.
- Glitch Cam (Android) - an app designed to apply noise effects on images and lots of stickers in the typical Aesthetic style.
- Vaporgram (Android) - this app is truly curated in all aspects, starting with the user interface that resembles an old Windows operating system. The effects to be applied to the photos, as well as the stickers in full Vaporwave taste, the only drawback, some advertisements inside.
- Collage Photo Editor, Collage Maker (Android / iOS) - in addition to editing your photos, do you want to create collages directly from your smartphone, using those present in a vast library? Here is the app that's right for you.
How to make Aesthetic photos from PC
If you prefer to intervene on your photos by observing the changes on the comfortable monitor of a computer, know that even in this case you can unleash your creativity: read on to understand how to make Aesthetic photos from PC.
Photoshop (Windows / macOS)
Photography enthusiasts know well Adobe Photoshop, the most complete and advanced professional image editing software around. If you are wondering how to take Aesthetic photos with Photoshop, know that, in addition to being possible, it is also advisable to use it, due to its versatility.
As is often the case with programs Adobe, there is no single solution to get to the final result: you can use all the tools you deem necessary. What I will illustrate remains one procedure among many, but it can allow you to already get a good image Aesthetic without too many steps.
If you don't have the software on your computer, read my guide on how to download Photoshop (know that, currently, the price starts from € 9,75 per month, for the first year of use, from PC e iPad, with 7 days of free trial) therefore, when you have finished the download from the official website and fine-tuned its configuration, from the main menu of the program, choose the item Fillet e poi l'opzione apri, then select from your computer some photos with which, for example, you want to make a collage.
In the example that I propose to you, I will keep one of the two as a basis, while I will select an element from the other, cropping it and copying it several times on the first image.
If you want to try it too, choose the photo to crop and select the subject with the method you think is best: if the background is monochrome, try with the Magic wand tool, otherwise with the Pen tool. To refine your selection, pick one selection tool from the left sidebar and then press the button for enhance the edges that you find at the top right (more details in my tutorial on how to cut out in Photoshop).
Then go to the voice Modification e scegli l'opzione Copy, open the image you want to keep as a base and, again by the wording Modification, select the option Paste. Make any changes you want to the new one Subscription, which will be created automatically. For example, you can delete parts of the image that you don't like or move the cut-out subject wherever you like, varying its size, from the item. Edit> Free Transform.
At this point, you could try to duplicate the obtained level several times, changing the location of the subject and its measures, to create a surreal effect. Go on the item Subscription and, therefore, on the option Duplicate Layer.
When you are satisfied, select in the Layers palette (bottom right) all duplicate ones and the first one containing the cropped figure, so go to the entry again Subscription, click on it and choose the option Merge layers.
That done, select the little one black and white circular icon in the lower bar of the Level palette (Create a new adjustment layer) and, in the drop-down menu that will open, choose the item Hue / Saturation. In the relevant tab, check the item Colora and move the sliders under the items Hue, Saturation e Brightness at will, until you get the desired aesthetic appearance.
If you want, apply other effects, finally merge all the layers, then go to the main menu, choose the item Fillet e poi l'opzione Save, or Save with name o Save for Web.
For more details on how to use Photoshop, please refer to the guide I dedicated to the program.
GIMP (Windows / macOS / Linux)
If you prefer a freely usable resource to process photos, you can always rely on GIMP, the well-known open source photo editing software compatible with Windows, MacOS e Linux, that does free many things that can also be done in Photoshop.
Start using GIMP to edit photos in style Aesthetic it's very simple: connect to the official website to get the program and download it following the advice I gave you in my tutorial on how to download GIMP.
After that, the process for a post-production with an Aesthetic taste, dedicated to a photo, is partly similar to that illustrated in the previous paragraph, regarding Photoshop. With the difference that, for example, to insert a color cast you can use the voice Color, located in the main menu at the top, and then the option Colorizza, choosing the tone in the function dialog box, picking it up with the Dropper, or by moving i Cursors.
For all the details, I invite you to read my tutorial on how to use GIMP.
Other programs
Are the solutions listed so far not enough for you? Well, here it is too other programs useful for photo editing.
- webGobbler (Windows / macOS / Linux) - Since collage features the Aesthetic style, this free, cross-platform software could really let you unleash your creativity.
- Adobe Photoshop Lightroom (Windows / macOS) - Many Adobe users don't like spending too much time on Photoshop, preferring Lightroom's quick touch-ups instead. By forcing your hand and your imagination a little, even with this tool you can get beautiful Aesthetic photos especially using the presets. More info here.
- XnRetro (Windows / macOS / Linux) - a free program that allows you to modify photos in order to make them look vintage.
How to take Aestethic photos online
In addition to PC apps and software, you may also find it useful to learn how to make Aesthetic photos online, editing your shots, or other images, without having to download anything and safely: here are my tips.
Photopea
Among the best online tools free for the processing of images of various kinds there is no doubt Photopea: you can use the editor, which has a user interface similar to that of Photoshop (although not related to it and having some fewer functions) directly from the browser.
You will find only a few advertisements, minimally invasive, which can be eliminated by purchasing a paid plan, which costs for the single user $ 40 a year. In this way it will also be possible to access a greater number of actions in the History palette: to find out more, read the chapter dedicated to Photopea in my guide on online photo editing.
As for how to take Aesthetic photos with Photopea, connect to the official website of the Web application, then I refer you to the chapter where I talk about Photoshop, the procedure, according to the example I have proposed to you, is practically the same. Saving changes to the photo includes the download for free of the images on your PC. To translate the service interface into British, go to the menu More > Language, in high.
canva
A well-known tool dedicated to image processing and online graphic design is canva: perfect to use instead of Photoshop, makes it easy to work with and also get professional results, being able to move images directly into the editor and taking advantage of the extensive library of photographs, vector graphics and writings included.
Canva can be used for free, or unlock some functions For, at the cost of € 109,99 per year (€ 9,16 per month), Or 27 € to person, if you need to provide it to your team firm.
Returning to the tutorial topic, to edit a photo with Canva, create a account on the official website of the web application, then click the button Create a project and choose a format suitable for the final output of your photo, such as voice Instagram post.
If you want to upload a photo to Canva, use the icon Uploads and the key Upload multimedia content to upload, then choose the option Device and select the image from your computer (or use one of the other keys).
When the photo is available, drag it into the editor, adapt it to the size of the crop using the handles on the edges and click on the item Effects, so choose which one to apply: I suggest you take a look at the section Pop color for your photos Aesthetic.
In addition to the aforementioned menu, you can also take advantage of the voice filters, full of solutions that may be right for you, then apply adjustments. You can also create animations, for example . Gif.
Once you have enjoyed editing the image as you see fit, use the button Download and choose a format with which to save the photo on your computer, starting the download.
Other online services
Your curiosity does not run out and you want to know other online services to process your photos even in Aesthetic style: you are satisfied.
- Adobe Photoshop Express Editor - when it comes to post production, it is impossible not to mention the tools put in place by Adobe: here, then, is the Web version of the well-known PC program that allows you to work on JPG files.
- Pixlr Editor - offers various online tools for more or less quick retouching of images, including filters and color effects.
- PhotoMosh - a very simple online editor that allows you to upload images, apply many glitch-style filters, combine effects and adjustments to obtain the Aesthetic image as imagined. GIFs can also be created.
How to take Aesthetic photos
So far we've talked about post production and image editing, however you may also want to know how to take Aesthetic photos and get a satisfactory result immediately. Great: in this paragraph I will explain some photographic techniques suitable for the purpose.
First, if you have a camera that allows you to manually configure the shooting parameters, and other various settings, such as a reflex or a mirrorless, you should be able to change the white balance. By moving the cursor in the grid representing the function interface, it will be possible to apply a color cast already during the shot. Just pay attention to the fact that automatic mode is not selected for this function. Take a look at the proposals present online and compare the prices if you plan to buy one of these cameras.
See offer on Amazon See offer on Amazon See offer on AmazonKnow that many too smartphone e tablet it is possible to vary the white balance, especially if they are able to provide the user with Pro functions. In this regard, read my guide on how to take professional photos.
Vedi offers your AmazonYou can also think about buying, for a few euros, some LED photographic lights, to which you can change the color temperature of the light beam by means of a switch, preferably RGB. Place them on set for your shots - they're perfect for portraits.
See offer on Amazon See offer on Amazon See offer on AmazonFinally, there are the famous ones gelatin, now available for sale online in sets of various pieces, cut to fit the Speedlight of the most common external flashes.
See offer on Amazon See offer on Amazon See offer on AmazonAll these tricks and accessories can help you capture deliberately unreal scenarios and subjects: remember that much of the success of the shot will also be due to the composition you design.
How to take Aesthetic photos
