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The very exciting and unexpected discovery about macro photography, back when I first started exploring the genre, was the fact it opened up a whole new world of photo options. The reason this was so exciting for me was because I was a mum, and my kids were still young enough that I couldn’t leave the house to go take photos whenever I wanted. And they already had photographer’s child syndrome (can I get an Amen?!).

So yeah, I’d run out of things to photograph.

Admittedly, I thought macro was only about bugs and other tiny things. But I was desperate to take photos of anything, so I bought some inexpensive macro filters and started playing.

That was when I learned absolutely anything can be a subject for macro! You can get in close to an interesting element of a large object to create an abstract… you can capture the fine details and curves of flowers, leaves and other flora… you can use it as a portrait lens… and you can take close ups of the beautiful, sweet details of your baby. All just the tip of the iceberg!

So this week I went hunting in among our Grad’s community, with the goal to find some breathtaking macro images of a variety of subjects.

Before I share… if you’ve never tried macro and you want to… check out our beginner’s guide.

Related: Macro Photography – A Beginners Guide

Check em out, and please enjoy our tips!

1. Newborn Macro

What better way to capture those sweet details of our babies and children that grow faster than we can blink?

Check out this article for composition and tech tips on capturing your baby with a macro lens.

Related: Macro Newborn Photography Tips

2. Abstract & Everyday Objects

Get in super close with your macro to focus on details of an everyday object and create an abstract shot. In Connie’s shot below, low key lighting ensured reflection on the fork was minimal, and the light behind was rendered into a beautiful bokeh which really helped ensure an abstract feel.

The simplest of objects can be rendered beautifully by getting in close, or creating an interesting, outside the box set up.

In this shot, Dawn laid a piece of glass taken from a picture frame over the crayons, and simply spritzed it with water. Check out those reflections!! Amazing!

THIS is one of our favourite grad shot macro photos of all time! It’s a dandelion head, dipped in water, held above water using a clip, and captured with reflection. Amazing huh!

Wanna see the pull backshots? Of course you do!

Can you guess what this is? It took us a while, and in fact I recall we needed to ask in the end! It’s a makeup brush and a little loose cosmetic powder.

This one blew my mind… it’s the fluffy lid of a novelty pen. Check out the pullback shot below (yes, it’s not the original pen but the very same variety!).

3. Food

What better way to capture the detail of food than by getting in super close, especially very small food items. We love the low key lighting in this shot which goes so beautifully with the texture and rustic elements.

Related: Take Magazine Worthy Food Photos, Lifestyle Food Photography Guide

Choosing food with interesting form, rich colour or texture makes for a beautiful, frame worthy shot. I can totally see this on a wall in a restaurant!

4. Flora

Last but definitely not least, we looove macro flora photography! All those beautiful curves, sublime texture and delicious colour! Perfect form and repetition. Wilting petals and interesting imperfections. So much to capture!

Related: Macro Flower Compositions

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