The camera is one of the most beautiful inventions. The power to capture the most important moments in your life and immortalize it through a picture is a camera’s greatest gift to humanity. That is why social media is filled with images — be it your sister’s graduation, your best friend’s wedding or your life-changing trip around Asia.

Summer has already ended, and the rainy season has started. Though some may enjoy a hot cup of coffee or binge-watch their favorite Netflix shows indoors, adventurous people like you would instead enjoy the rainy weather outside and see it through the camera lens. But how do you bring out the magic in photos even when it’s raining?

Once the rain starts, there are risks shooting outside., Taking extra preparations can still let you take awesome photos. Here are 8 amazing rainy day photography ideas to help you nail that IG-worthy shot!

1. Bring an umbrella

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Treat your camera like your baby, always have a handy umbrella with you. If you want to make your photos pop, bring a colorful umbrella and include it in the photos. There are also beautifully-shot photos under the rain where people use a transparent umbrella. You can use that to add a more sentimental feel in your rainy OOTDs.

2. Use a waterproof bag/sleeve for your shooting gear

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A camera sleeve in Lazada sells for PhP409. And if you are going to shoot using your smartphone, a waterproof phone bag is also available in Lazada for Php126. But if you’re doing a spontaneous shoot and you don’t have your protective gear with you, you can DIY a camera sleeve using a plastic bag to shield your camera. How? Place the whole plastic bag on your camera with the bottom part on the lens area and the opening on the side of your viewfinder. Then, put a rubber band near the end of your lens to keep the plastic in place. Once the plastic and rubber are in the lens’ position, just poke a small hole in the plastic bag so the lens can still see clearly.

If the sleeve gets compromised or damaged, Remember to turn off the camera before immediately removing the battery, memory cards, and lens. Inspect the camera body for water, and do the rice method, wherein you will bury your camera (or any electronic gadget) as it the rice will soak the water. For good measure, leave the camera buried for a week.

3. Put moisture-absorbent packets in your camera bag

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Do you know the little sachets found in shoeboxes? Remember to save those instead of throwing them away. These small things we get for free help prevent moisture and condensation. If you’re doing a rainy day shoot, place these things in your camera bag to prevent dampness and moisture when you store your camera inside.

4. Shoot images from inside the car

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If you’re hurrying to take photos because you need to be somewhere in the next five or ten minutes, shooting from the car can be the most practical way for you. And most of the time, this is also the safest way since you stay dry and still gives you a unique perspective. While you may not be included in the photo, this helps you navigate the place that you want to shoot, giving you a variety of views in the area. Just don’t click and drive. Make sure a friend is behind the wheel as you snap away.

5. Don’t forget about reflections

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One of the things a rainy day can give you that a sunny day can’t are puddles and small pools of water. Using their reflections is a great rainy day photography idea that can make your pictures look like it was taken by a pro. When you’re shooting on a rainy day, it’s hard to capture the actual raindrops. So to give clues that your picture was taken on a rainy day, take photos of reflections. Reflections also mirror the beautiful environment of the place and can elevate the beauty of your shots.

6. Backlight the subjects

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One of the most effective ways to capture a beautiful rainy day is by backlighting the raindrops as they fall from the sky. The first thing to do is to look for a light source, such as your car’s headlights or a streetlight. The light passes through the raindrops, making it the brightest in the photos.

If you want to have a photo taken under the rain, stand in front of the light source and have something that will reflect the light. The reflector can be a white wall or a white umbrella. If you’re looking for something to use in the long run, you can order a 32-inch reflector from Lazada for PhP525.00. The reflector helps light your face, making the rain stand out as well.

7. Increase your aperture

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Shooting on a rainy day can give you dark photos. While this can be part of the ambiance, you don’t want to take pictures that will make people squint, right? So to avoid taking dark images, widen your aperture to f/8 to let in more light. And if you’re shooting with your trusty phone camera, it is important to take note that older phones do not have the capacity to do so. Otherwise, explore your camera settings and shoot away.

8. Be on the lookout for rainbows

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As the famous saying goes, “There’s always a rainbow after the rain.” Wait for the rain to let up and for that rainbow will show up. A rainbow can be the focus or one of the elements in your photos.

A good tip in taking a photo of a rainbow is finding a good background to complement the view. Since a rainbow is not an opaque or a solid object, finding a background that will help it stand out can balance the light in your photo. Make sure that you follow the rule of thirds. The rule of thirds is done by mentally dividing your image into a 3 X 3 grid. Position the important elements in your image. Then, place the subject of the photo along with the points where the lines meet. This helps the photographer capture a shot that seems natural and effortless. You can also improve your smartphone photography skills by turning on the grids of your camera settings so you can see the lines.

Don’t stop taking photos even when the rain comes. Chances are, you may even get the hang of taking photos during the rainy season and may even find yourself waiting for the drizzle to arrive. And if you’re ready to share your beautiful shots to the world, you may want to start a travel blog to show off your hard work. Nonetheless, whether your pictures are posted on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, your own blog or just stored in your camera, the important thing is you took risks and made the most out of this rainy season. From praying for the rain away, you may even find yourself praying for it to stay.

A Beginner’s Guide on Taking Great Rainy Season Photos