40+ Genius Camera Hacks That Will Greatly Improve Your Photography Skills In Less Than 3 Minutes

Professional photography gear costs thousands of dollars, but you can take stunning pictures by spending only a fraction of the cost. If you have the time and the patience and aren’t afraid to get your hands dirty, simple DIY hacks can achieve similar results to spending big bucks on advanced kits.

To make you a better photographer, A&D has collected some of the best DIY camera solutions tested to work. From softening the pop-up flash to transforming a 50mm lens into a macro one, these genius tips and tricks will take your pictures to another level. Remember, photography is a playground, and there aren’t any right or wrong ways to approach it. If it works, it works.

Continue scrolling to learn the DIY hacks, and vote for your favorite ones! (H/T)

01. Use Tinfoil To Create A Wall Of Bokeh

COOPH

02. Use A Sifter For A Genius Shadow Hack

Christina Key

03. Use A Fish Tank To Get That Underwater Shot

COOPH

04. Use A Piece Of Cloth And Cardboard To Create A Portable And Inexpensive Seamless Background System

Taylor Mathis

05. Use A Plastic Bag For A Soft Box Effect

Sheldon Evans

06. Remove Tourists From Your Pictures Using These Simple Steps

windsywinds, toomanyadapters

07. Use A Towel As Video Slider

Sheldon Evans

08. Get That Perfect Top-Down Photo For Your Instagram

happygreylucky

09. Manipulate Visual Perception Using Forced Perspectives

COOPH

10. Don’t Be Afraid To Add Lights With Regular Bulbs

FriendOFGay

11. Cut Out A Heart Shape In A Cardboard For A Heart-Shaped Bokeh

globetrotterdiaries

12. Easy Macro Lens Hack

COOPH

13. Use Your Sunglasses As A Filter

COOPH

14. Instant Fake Macro Bokeh

Sheldon Evans

15. Use A Plastic Bag Smeared With Vaseline For A Soft-Focus Lens Effect

freepeople

16. Use A CD To Create Lens Flares

Sheldon Evans

17. Create A Sparkling Ring Of Fire

COOPH

18. Add Steam With Regular Appliances

nicolesyblog

19. Cut Different Shapes In A Cardboard For A Window Shadow

Learn photo editing

20. Cut Out Your Own Bokeh Shapes

howaboutorange

21. Use A Sandwich Bag To Create Hazy Photos

Jesse David McGrady

22. Create A Different Self-Portrait Using Lace

Maddie Lullaby

23. Create An Arty Filter With Colored Plastic Bags

COOPH

24. Reduce Camera Shake With A Bag Of Lentils

techradar.com

25. Use A Coffee Hood As Lens Cap

Peter McKinnon

26. Blank CD Case Is The Perfect Rain Guard For Your Lens

techradar.com

27. Create A Soft Box Using A Shower Curtain

COOPH

28. Colorful Filter

Olivier Schmitt

29. Get A Black Tile For Product Photography

COOPH

30. Use White Sheet As A Reflector Reflector

5-Minute Crafts

31. Use Windows For A Softening Effect

Jessica Kobeissi

32. You Only Need A Few Simple Items To Capture Highspeed Drops

COOPH

33. Use A Hair Dryer To Get A Stand Out Selfie

Clicknetwork

34. Use Plastic Props To Create ‘Wildlife Photography’ At Home

Satyajit Sardar

35. Use A Short Triangular Prism To Reflect Background

Mathieu Stern

36. Create A Camera Filter For Funky And Colorful Photos

elyanaivette.com

37. Use Glasses To Add ‘Filters.’

Wolfeye

38. Create Your Own Color Lens Filters

my23skidoo

39. Use Cloth To Achieve The Soft-Focus Lens Effect

freepeople

40. Lighting Trick

Jwalt Photography

41. Mimic Film Burn With A Matchstick

Sheldon Evans

42. Light-Painted Background

COOPH

43. Use Torches To Add Lens Flare

Peter McKinnon

44. Turn Your Smartphone Into A Pinhole Using Cardboard

COOPH

45. Add Vaseline To Create a Vignette

COOPH

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