What Is Double Exposure Photography And How To Create Double Exposure

Use The Tilt-Shift Effect

You don’t need to get into freelancing or invest in a tilt-shift camera to achieve this effect. Photoshop has a great tilt-shift tool that will transform your photos into soft works of art.

If you want to be extra creative, blur one of your photos instead of the entire image. Or blur everything except for one important detail.  To use this feature, go to Filter > Blur Gallery > Tilt-Shift.

Create A Fake Reflection

Shooting through windows is a fun photographic technique. But there are other ways you can create reflections. One of them is creating a double exposure with the help of a separate window photo. Take photos of different reflections. Merge them with photos of people, animals, or simple objects.

This will create moody – often abstract – photos that will add a spark to your portfolio.

I love using photos of surfaces with raindrops and bokeh, as you can see. They help to add interesting textures to my multiple exposure photography.

Create a Double Exposure Diptych

Diptychs are photo collages made of two separate images. These are a dream come true for those who love artistic photography.

You can take these collages to the next level with the help of double exposures. If you have two double exposures you’re happy with, see if they complement each other. They might look appealing next to each other. Or they might tell a clearer story about your subjects.

If they do, place them side by side to create the ultimate double exposure diptych. Two, in this case, is much better than one. This is a great way to show off those multiple exposure photos.

Experiment With Simple Portraits And Detailed Textures

If you don’t know what to do with a simple portrait, merge it with a photo of detailed textures. Sand, raindrops, rocks, wood, etc., are ideal for this. Combining something plain with something complicated will give you a balanced result. It will also save a lot of simple photos that you might discard.

I have saved hundreds of photos by taking the time to experiment with them in Photoshop. And those spontaneous creations are some of my most popular double exposure effects.

Convert Your Results To B&W

A lack of color will strengthen the emotions in your double exposure. If you want to express yourself in a vulnerable way, experiment with this.

I love converting my double exposure photos to B&W. It gives them a unique depth and allows me to experiment with something akin to film photography.

Combine Two Things That Mean A Lot To You

Nothing is as impactful as a photo of something (or in our case, several things) that mean everything to you. For example, nature is something I care about. My love for biology and the world inspires me to work with details that reflect these passions. Because of this, I often include nature in my double exposures.

What do you love? Is there a way you could combine your interests with the help of this technique?

Start A Themed Double Exposure Project

This requires much more commitment than other ideas. But it’s guaranteed to inspire and excite you. Think of a photo series based on a specific theme. This can be plants, architecture, family, a season, and so on. You can even work only with white background photos or use only dark backgrounds for your double exposures.

Don’t choose something that’s too advanced. Challenging yourself too much will discourage you. Instead, find a theme that speaks to you and gives you the perfect amount of obstacles to overcome.

This balance will help you work on any long-term project. Especially one that demands a lot of imagination and practice.

Work With Silhouettes Only

As you now know, there are no strict rules in double exposure photography. Many artists choose to work with silhouettes. But there are just as many who enjoy blending two images without making any separations.

What if you worked with silhouettes only? It would give you a fun and doable challenge. And an opportunity to show very creative sides of yourself. Use silhouettes of yourself, other people, or random objects. Anything else that catches your eye can create unique composite images.

Express An Emotion Through A Self-Portrait

Try a self-portrait double exposure. Sometimes I create emotional double exposures. I tend to combine portraits with photos of nature that speak to me for those. Feeling lost reminds me of lonely roads, while joy makes me think about fields in the summer. You may have completely different associations with these emotions. This is exactly why you should experiment!

In double exposure photography, there is always room for your perspective. You will create one of the most unique double exposure portraits. And have the chance to accurately document how you feel.

Merge Two Photos Of The Same Person

Two images of the same person in one photo can express confusion, curiosity, or a search for meaning. If these topics inspire you, you’ll have lots of fun with this idea.

Don’t be afraid of going the extra mile. As you can see in the photo below, I merged two photos in only one area. And then I converted my results to black & white.

Pick Two Random Photos

If you want to have fun, merge a few random photos. I do this when I have interesting photos that I’m not sure what to do with. A random process doesn’t mean it’s not meaningful. Your results might create a story of their own, one that others will find encouraging.

A lot of my double exposures were happy accidents. But they led to great feedback and even greater creative growth. Try and forget about any other double exposure ideas. Shoot interesting textures, shapes, and forms instead.

Make Simple Objects Look Fascinating

Take photos of everyday objects you usually take for granted. Try to make them look like something else. For instance, a silhouette of a dull-looking building in your area could become the outline of a starry sky. Like the photo below.

This challenge will enhance your imagination.

Use An Animal Silhouette

People and objects are often featured in double exposures. If you want to stand out, create a double exposure using photos of animals (bonus points if you use ones of your pet!) Though the results of this experiment may not end up in your portfolio, they’ll let you have lots of fun.

If you don’t own a pet or have any photos of animals, use a website like Unsplash. There, you’ll have access to thousands of free photos to use in your experiments.

Merge Two Double Exposures

This is great for those who enjoy experimenting with a lot of elements at once. The results may look messy at first. But a few adjustments will result in something both abstract and impossible to ignore.

When I merge several double exposures at once, I tend to use photos that have similar colors. This usually guarantees that the results won’t look too dramatic. If this isn’t possible for you, change the opacity of one of the double exposures or use the tilt-shift tool.

Instead Of A Silhouette, Use A Shadow

Outlines of any kind are fantastic to work within double exposure photography. Shadows are as effective as silhouettes in this genre. And they’re fascinating to work with. Take a photo of someone’s shadow and transform it into any story you want.

Try double exposure portraits. You could turn it into a heroic tale or a thought-provoking experiment. Or even something that doesn’t look like a shadow at all. You can do anything your heart desires with outlines of this sort. All you have to do is go out, take photos of a few shadows, and turn them into something beautiful.

Let Others Know What Makes You Laugh

Double exposure photography is often associated with serious and emotional topics. But it doesn’t always have to lack humor. What makes you smile or laugh? This is the ideal opportunity to create something funny, touching, and memorable.

This can be a season, a family member, or something completely different. You can use your sources of happiness to create something that will put a smile on someone else’s face.