Fun Photo Idea: Reproduce Old Photos

As part of my parents’ birthdays being this week—yes, both this week—I decided to try my hand at a fun project I like to call “reproducing old photos.” Above, me and my brothers at the bus stop before school.

Heh, so I guess the project itself is pretty self-explanatory: Find old photos, find the location, gather and/or make era-specific clothing and props, pose, have someone take the photo. If this is something you’ve never tried, I highly recommend it! Here’s why:

• It’s actually pretty good photography practice because you have to identify and replicate depth of field, saturation, etc.
• You get to relish in the nostalgia that comes with looking through childhood photos.
• Picking out the clothing at the store is hilarious.
• Posing as a six-year-old version of yourself is also hilarious.

Ha!

I will say…this was tricky work. Here are a few tips I learned from doing this:

• Choose a photo that would be easy to replicate. Does the location of the photo still exist? Is it a simple background? Could you duplicate the clothing and props rather easily?
• If you’re working with a photo of you as a child, keep in mind that your older self is bigger. Which, ha, messes with the composition of the photo.
• Can’t find the clothing and such you need at the store? Make stuff! Here are few examples from these photos:
• Our Disney shirts are all just paper taped to t-shirts.
• Bill’s patrol belt = duct tape + paper clips + Dad’s police badge
• Carl’s blue and red shirt = a blue shirt cut up and taped to a red one
• Carl’s tube socks = white socks + electrical tape

Anyhow, that’s it for now. I hope you’re feeling inspired to go on your own photography escapades now 😉

Happy birthday, Mom and Dad!

Love, Maurine