Vintage stores and flea markets are fun places to go if you’re searching for a unique item to complement your wardrobe or an interesting piece of furniture for your home. I absolutely love the mystery and challenge of vintage shopping. Plus, who doesn’t enjoy hunting for a good bargain?
Here are some tips for taking photos that will help other vintage treasure seekers find great spots to shop.
1. Capture the store’s exterior and signage
Vintage stores are filled with fascinating historical items for sale, so it’s helpful for others looking for a rare item to know what the store looks like. Capture the exterior of the shop along with the signage.
2. Find the right light
One of the most important things to pay attention to when taking a great photo is finding the right light. If you’re at an outdoor market, you should shoot in the natural light before or after when the sunlight is softer and doesn’t produce harsh shadows. When inside a shop, turn off the flash on your camera and whenever possible, try to look for light coming through a window to illuminate the scene.
3. Stand in the corner
When inside a thrift store or entering an outdoor flea market, step back into a corner of the space and try to capture the large variety of products for sale in your frame. By including the various items for sale in one photo, someone viewing your image can see if the location is full of treasures or is a small shop that perhaps only specializes in certain types of vintage items.
4. Identify the time period
Capture the prints and fabrics that are helpful for identifying an era. Are there a lot of 1950s style items where there are crinoline underskirts or pastel colors? Or does the store have an ‘80s section where there are a lot of jewel tones and neon colors? Try getting a closeup of a fun dress or outfit on a mannequin, or a colorful shot of a variety of items on a shelf to identify the time period of the items.
5. Discover the accessories
Look for a store display that may have costume jewelry, scarves, or prized specialty vintage items. If items are in a glass display case, try to shoot from different angles to avoid any reflections from overhead lights.
6. Straighten up
When photographing a straight on view of display shelving, or a “shelfie,” make sure that the vertical lines in your image are going straight up and down. Try turning on the grid on your camera to help you keep your lines straight.
One more tip: Make sure that you have the business owner’s permission to photograph and respect people’s privacy as you take pics. Take some time to review our community policy if you aren’t sure about taking photos at the store.
Do you enjoy hunting for vintage treasures? Show us the photos you’ve shared on Google Maps in the comments below. We want to see some of your amazing finds!
