Thinking Inside the Box to Create Outside The Box

A few weeks ago a friend of mine sent me a sample of the holiday card that she made for her daughter and  I was floored! It was an image where people were sitting inside what looked like 9 boxes (think the Brady Bunch). It was fun and whimsical and I wanted to do this!! I had seen this type of photography the previous year around the Holidays and loved it then too, but placed it on my "photography to do list" and  forgot all about it.

Well, if you all know anything about me by now, you know I LOVE a creative challenge. So what did I do?  I built a box of course! Ok, I didn't actually build it. My very handy husband built it for me and I painted it. It was completed within 2 days of when I first laid eyes on my friends card. 

Now I am hooked! Here was my first try at photographing "Inside the Box". These models were VERY cooperative! 

Then I got brave and found myself some live test models!  It was fun and and creative and made me want to do more!

So how does it work? Well, first you need a box, some good lighting and a steady tripod to keep your camera from shaking or moving. Of course I used my amazing Sirui Usa Tripod, which completely did the trick!!

I find that having some concepts and mini stories in mind before the actual shoot will help focus the session. But it is always important to leave room for spontaneity. It is in the spontaneous moments that I find the true smiles and personalities come out, making the photos full of life and joy.  

However, the actual photo session is just a small (yet obviously important) piece of the puzzle. AFTER the clients go home is when the magic of Inside the Box happens. In order to create a fun and interactive composite where it appears that people are inside multiple boxes and interacting with one another, hours and hours of editing must be applied. 

For all my photographer friends, I have created some videos to help you get started. This was the first time I have ever created videos of myself editing, so there are some places where the audio cuts out. Eventually, I will redo the videos, but for now I think they serve the purpose. As of right now there are 5 videos. If you go into the comments of the video you will see the links to all the rest.

PHOTOGRAPHERS: If you are a photographer and are interested in learning the process and talking with other creative, like minded people, then consider joining our new Facebook Page: Inside the Box Creative Photography and Portraits. I am giving away a Free 9 Box Photoshop Template along with guidelines on how to build the box and edit the photos. 

I am also offering a variety of Inside the Box Photoshop Templates in my store at Alissa Beth Photography. 

FAMILIES: If you are interested in booking an Inside the Box photo experience for your family, you can contact me directly at [email protected].

Before I say goodbye for now, I want to end where I started. Over the last 3 weeks I have spent hours relearning some Photoshop skills, building a store, starting a thriving facebook group online, and thinking up fun and clever ideas to use Inside the Box. I certainly have been spending hours inside my own thinking box, learning and growing so that I can continue to think outside the box creatively! 

All photographs are the property of  © Alissa Rosenberg from Alissa Beth Photography and Long Island Fine Art Photography. Reproductions and downloads without permission is prohibited. 

However, you are welcome to share this post on your own site or through social media. :) ​​​​