Creating Dreamy Images Using Cling Wrap
One of my passions as a photographer is memory keeping and documenting my own family life on an ongoing basis. Having a camera on hand all the time means we have an incredible tool to capture our own memories and preserve the little stories that unfold daily in our homes. Combine these images with an understanding of light and composition and you can create some pretty magical images! Today I’m sharing how I use cling wrap and a zip-lock bag to create fun dreamy images! // Words & Images by Bec Zacher. All images edited with Story Keeper Presets.
SHOOTING WITH CLING WRAP
I love getting creative with how I shoot and adding a dreamy effect to my images by shooting through things and having objects in the foreground of my lens.
A very simple and affordable way to do this is with cling wrap or a zip lock bag! I have been using this technique for years now in my personal photography and also at client shoots.
How to shoot with cling wrap -
Grab a piece of cling wrap and you can either scrunch it up a lot or leave it quite open. Place it in front of your lens as you shoot and move it around until you get the effect that you like. If it’s scrunched up, the effect will be more dramatic whereas a thinner single piece will create a softer effect. Try placing the cling wrap in the negative space area of your image. I find cling wrap works incredibly well when sun-flares are coming into my lens as the light refracts amazingly off the cling wrap.
You can also try placing it completely across your lens for a very soft effect or even smearing some vaseline on the cling wrap. The options are endless with what you can create with this technique! If you are wanting to experiment a little more, try some coloured cellophane or a nude coloured stocking over your lens for a very vintage feel.
How to shoot with a zip-lock plastic bag -
Cut the end or rip open one bottom of the bag. Place the zip lock bag over your lens like a cover and leave some plastic overhang at the end. Move the bag around as your shoot so that it covers parts of your lens and creates a dreamy blur around the edges of your image.
Shooting tips -
I suggest shooting with a wide-open aperture so that the plastic is blown out and creates a dreamy effect.
Find a location with direct sun or some great backlight. This will give you the sparkle effect as the light hits the plastic.
Have fun experimenting with this technique! If you love the look that you can create with cling wrap and you want to invest in some equipment that creates a similar feel, check out the Lens Baby Velvet range of lenses and the Omni Filter system.
Here are some of my own images below that have all been shot using cling wrap or a zip-lock bag. All images have been shot using a DSLR and a Mirrorless Canon R6 camera, mostly with a 35mm lens.
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Questions? + Join the Story Keeper Community
I really hope that you have found this helpful and gleaned some tips for yourself that you can start implementing today! I know you might have questions so come join the Story Keeper Private Facebook group where we all chat and share tips together and make sure you come join the Story Keeper Instagram community as well.