Author: Christina Greve

How To Create With What You Have Available

During times of lockdown and uncertainty it’s incredible important to take mindful + purposeful action. There’s so much going on that’s out of our control, so let’s focus on bringing as much good into our lives as possible.

While I was working behind the scenes yesterday making everything ready for my upcoming Online Photography Course, I was reminded how CREATING is such a great way to find comfort, calmness and hope.

If you’re staying at home because your country is in lockdown, this is a unique opportunity to boost your creative mind and practice your creative skills. More than ever, it’s time to think outside the box.

So if you’re thinking “how can I create, style and shoot photos if I cannot go out and buy flowers or food?” or “What should I photograph if I’m in lockdown and can’t go out?” Then I hope you will be inspired by this post.

A few weeks ago, I had some friends over for a fun evening. We danced, sang, talked, laughed and cried. Good times. Amazing memories.

One of my friends gave this beautiful bouquet of pink Lilies. Because of everything that has happened since, I never got around to throw out the bouquet. It’s still standing in my studio, dried out, almost colourless and looking a bit sad to be honest.

I looked at the dead flowers and the fallen petals and decided to see what I could do with it. “Let’s create with what you have available” I whispered to myself. This is a fantastic way to experiment and just use what you got. This is like the ultimate creativity test. So I gave it a try and here’s the results.

It was not easy to begin with because in my opinion the flowers had turned ugly. So I was skeptical and I was quick to judge the assignment before I even started it. But as I got more and more into the challenge (with some great music playing in the background to encourage me) I forgot about limitations, lockdown – I forgot about time and place. Such a freeing and uplifting feeling.

I experimented with both the dark and moody style as well as the bright and airy style. My favourite image is the one below. I’m so happy that I now have a photo I love – a photo infused with wonderful memories of friendships and creativity.

I took some photos of the bouquet just standing in the vessel and then I took some more of the petals that had fallen down on the table. I used a 100mm macro lens to get up close. I wanted the texture of the flower petals to be the main focus of the story.

So if you, like me, are at home because of the lockdown, see this as an opportunity to challenge your creativity and up-level your photography skills.

Look around you. What do you have in your home that you can use? What about broken eggshells, used paint brushes, left over food, yarn, a cup of tea, a handwritten note, or some greenery from the garden. Once you start looking, ideas will come.

Challenge yourself to think outside the box and experiment with a new type of photos. Play with compositions, simplicity, light, styling and editing.

  • Create to calm yourself and take purposeful action.
  • Create to find happiness in simplistic + mindful activities.
  • Create to get closer to your photography goals.

If you love FOOD, LIFESTYLE & STILL LIFE photography and want to take better photos. I’m here to help.

Join my upcoming Lifestyle Photography Academy. Now, more than ever, is a perfect time to join an online program. You can study without leaving your home.

In the program I’ll take you behind the scenes to uncover the how-to’s of capturing BEAUTIFUL images using simple + easy-to-follow steps. If you’re ready to transform your photography together with other big-hearted creatives, now is the time to enroll.

In the meantime, take really good care of yourself and stay safe my friend.

Love, Christina

Coping With Fear, Uncertainty And Lockdown

Yesterday, I shared my thoughts on the current world situation over at instagram. Because of all the positive responses I got, I decided to turn my thoughts into a longer blog post. I want to be here for you and support you during this very unreal situation.

I think the fear of the unknown is the ultimate fear of them all. The uncertainty and unpredictability of the Coronavirus is suddenly our new normal, so if you feel fear, stress or anxiety I get it! It’s totally understandable because the situation make us feel a lack of control.

When we feel powerless we stop focusing on our purpose and our goals but the truth is that, although the situation is uncertain, you can decide to take back the power of your thinking and make the best of a bad situation.

“When you can’t control what’s happening, challenge yourself to control the way you respond to what’s happening. That’s where your power is!”

Accept what you cannot change

The very first thing you need to do in order to cope with chaos and uncertainty is to accept the current situation. Accept what you cannot change.

The best motto for dealing with any crisis is this “It is as it is“. Meaning; the sooner you accept reality and what you cannot change, the sooner you can get through it and work with what you actually can change.

“Face reality as it is, not as it was or as you wish it to be”

The solution is on the other side of panic

When the world is chaotic be the calm rock others can look to for guidance. Don’t ride the wave of panic. Create your own wave of optimism and share it with those in need of comfort.

As long as you stay afraid, angry, sad, frustrated or in panic over the situation, you will be in pain. You have to protect your energy. Don’t waste your precious energy resources on negativity. It is as it is and you will get through this. And you get through it by focusing on what you can do.

You are stronger than you think and you have all the resources inside of you to deal with this unusual and demanding situation. Your strength is found in you being calm. 

Don’t take part in creating panic. Reduce how much of your day you spend talking about your fears and the Coronavirus. 

Limit your family’s exposure to news coverage

Reduce how much you watch and read the news. Stay updated every day about your country’s regulations but when you’re updated stop reading and watching. You need to protect your mind and your nerves.

Be mindful of your thoughts. All fears stem from how you think about your current situation. That’s also why you need to limited your focus on the negative news. Spend time on activities that helps you think happy thoughts. Do what you love.

Lockdown = guilt-free slow living

If you’re on lockdown with your kids, remember that this is a unique chance to spend quality time with them and be fully present. Slow down, bake, paint, play, draw, read stories and dance.

Help your kids focus on the positive parts of life. They need you to take leadership in the most optimistic way.

Count your blessings because there’s so many wonderful things in this world. You can choose to be fearful or you can choose to be grateful.

The bottom line is that finding thankfulness for the “little” things like hugging your pet, holding hands, having roof over your head, being loved, being alive, having friends, walking in nature and listening to music, is what will get you through this.

Keep working on your creative goals

Personally, I will continue to work on my creative goals and my business. It might feel like the world is standing still at the moment, but it’s very much moving and I wanna be ready (not behind) when everything gets back to normal again.

The lockdown is a perfect chance for you to dedicate time to your passion and hobbies. Take an online course, do a creative challenge, re-design your website, create inspiring content for your blog or re-think your business model. Spend your time doing what you love because is’s not only beneficial to your mind and health, it also makes you a great role model for your family and friends.

If you love photography, why not join me and other fabulous creative women from all over the world in the Online Photography Academy Program. This is a fantastic way to spend your time during lockdown, and grow your creative skills while being in a supportive and positive group.

Focus on your health

The lockdown is a great chance to focus on your health and boost your immune system. Personally, I see this as a great opportunity to live more simplistic and healthy. So I’m doing a juice and water fast. I have fresh juice in my fridge and I just take one out when I need it. No cooking, no shopping needed.

It’s extra important to get as much sleep as possible, especially if you have flu like symptoms or feel anxious. If you have a hard time falling asleep I recommend going to bed with a glass of warm milk (or tea) with honey. It calms the body down and helps you ease into sleep. Listen to a sleep visualisation or sleep hypnoses.

Last but not least, move your body. Normally, I go to the gym several times a week and work with my personal trainer. Now that I can’t go, I do what I can at home. One of the best benefits of exercising is that it helps you feel mentally strong as well.

I recommend doing HIIT or Yoga. Both types of workouts can easily be done at home and will help you stay calm and connected with your body + overcome stressful times. My favourite workout youtube channels are:

For Yoga check out; Yoga With Adriene

For HIIT Workout: Heather Robertson

That’s it for today.

Stay safe my dear friends❤️

Love, Christina

PS. Like this post? Come join the conversation on Instagram. I would love to connect with you.

How To Find Amazing Photography Props Like A Pro Stylist

If you’ve ever scrolled through Instagram or Pinterest, looked at a photo and thought to yourself; where does this photographer find ALL these beautiful things? Then this post is for you!

I’m one of those photographers who love to do all styling myself. In fact I think it’s WHY I love photography; so I can “paint” with things and then freeze the moment.

There are undoubtedly a handful of things that go into making a stunning photo; great light, good composition, captivating storytelling and then of course styling with beautiful props.

Therefore, if you truly wish to up your game as a photographer or stylist you must explore the art of prop hunting. And in this blog post I will give you my best tips for scouting and starting your own prop collection.

Starting your prop collection doesn’t have to be expensive. If you’re willing to spend some time looking for those little treasure you will be able to find priceless props that will look amazing in your food, still life and interior photos.

Where to Look For Beautiful Props

Props can come from anywhere and it doesn’t have to cost you anything. So take inventory of what you already own, what you have in your kitchen cabinets, in your basement or loft. I’ve gotten some precious vessels, cups, cutlery and plates from my grandma and some handmade table runners from my mother-in-law, so if possible ask around in your family to find charming treasures for your prop collection.

Flea Markets & Antique Fairs VS Second Hand shops

To be honest I tend to avoid big Flea Markets and Antiques Fairs that often happens during the weekends, because I get stressed out with all the people and the higher prices.

I like to shop in a calm state of mind, so I can focus. Therefore, I prefer to go hunting in second hand shops on a weekday morning when the shop is quiet and the dealer is more likely to reduce the price.

Shop in Small Towns To Find Cheap Treasures

I will often drive out to nearby towns – away from the big city. The smaller the town the better the deals – and often they also have better things. A good tip is to do some investigating before you make your trip. Google around and find out where you can find some little-known second hand shops in places you maybe normally don’t shop.

Visit Antique Dealers to Become a Better Prop Hunter

I also like to visit Antique dealers because even though they are in the more expensive end, you can be lucky to find something amazing. To me buying antique props and furnitures are an investment. I can use it as a prop, but I can also sell it again for a good price, because antiques rarely drop in value if you take good care of them.

Another great thing about visiting antique shops is that you start to get a sense of how things are priced and what the real value are on specific things. That means, when you’re out hunting for props in more primitive second hand shops and flea markets you can spot a good bargain when you see it.

Shop Props Online

I also have some favourite places to shop online; Etsy and Ebay. A little warning though; it can be very time consuming because you have to look through so much crap to find the winning props.

Ebay is fun because you can bid on many of the things and be lucky to get a really good deal. Etsy is great for finding handmade things, ceramics, linen and ribbon + it’s a wonderful feeling to support creative makers around the world.

What Props Should You Look For?

You can look for whatever your heart desires. Building a prop collection is very much based on your style and taste. But to make the props look beautiful in your photographs there are two important rules to keep in mind:

1. Avoid props with too much shine. Look for a matte finish because this will be easier to work with when you style. Shiny things will often catch the light and can take away attention from your main subject. If you do get a prop that is shiny make sure to photograph it on overcast days.

2. Stick to a classic Color Palette. When I started my prop collection more than 10 years ago, I didn’t have any plan in mind. I didn’t know that having a cohesive prop collection is key to great styling. I just grabbed what I thought was pretty no matter if it was pink, polkadot red, bright yellow or full of whimsical patterns.

So I had to learn the hard way! Every time I was trying to style a flower image or a food image I struggled. Something was not working. It looked messy and confusing. The colourful props was competing for attention with the main star of the photo.

I finally discovered that if I kept my props in neutral colors, styling was much easier because everything all blended in nicely and the food and flowers got all the attention. I no longer had colourful props that was competing for attention.

How To Store Your Prop Collection

One of the challenges many photographers face is space limitation. I have many students that live in small spaces and are very conscious about what they bring into their home.

The good news is that you don’t need a large collection. Actually, you can have a fantastic prop collection in a box, or you can dedicate ONE shelve to it. You only need a few plates – preferably some small plates because they are easier to style. You need maybe a pretty scissor, 2-3 pieces of cutlery, a couple of vessels, 1-2 cups, a tea towel, and a linen napkin. That’s a great starting point.

You can truly get a long way with just a few pretty props in neutral colors. Keep the styling simple and stick to a strict color palette.

Always take a few test shots to see if your prop is actually working great with the camera. The camera tend to love pieces with texture and calm colors, so if you keep that in mind it will be very helpful.

If you ready to dramatically improve your photography and dream of a career as a Food Blogger or a Lifestyle Photographer. Then check out my creative LIFESTYLE Photography Academy – it might be just what you need to up-level your creative life. For a limited time only you also get access to AMAZING BONUSES.

This program will help you increase your skills in styling, visual storytelling and working with digital photography. No more guessing – you’ll discover ALL the secrets! Read more and secure your seat here >>