Portrait Photography Tips
Portrait photography has been around since the invention and popularization of the camera. It is one of the most challenging types of photography that requires good knowledge of lighting and composition techniques and the ability to understand human nature. We are not going to touch upon lighting in this article (that’s a topic for our next tutorial), but we’ll try to learn how to create the mood of a portrait.
Portrait photography is not all about capturing physical beauty of a person, but its main purpose is to reveal the subject’s personality and to create imagery. That is the most difficult task, especially when you work with people you don’t know, but probably that is the reason why so many photographers are interested in this genre. Every face is a constant supply of unique and ever changing subject matter.There comes some useful tips that will help you to create an exceptional portrait.
1. It is vital that a portrait photographer should take interest in their subject and be able to build rapport with a client.
Alex Lee recommends Meeting and Talking With the Client Before a Photo Session. ‘As a portrait photographer, I need to know my client, knowing their background, desires, pains, and motivations helps me create distinctive portraits.’
2. Alex Lee suggests that a portrait photographer should Give Freedom to Their Subject. ‘I give complete freedom to my client in term of clothing, makeup, and hairstyle. I give suggestions and recommendations, but will leave the decision to the client.’ This will contribute to capturing the essence of a person.
3. It is also important to start shooting at a proper time.
PhotographyTips.com helps you to choose When to Begin Taking Pictures ‘Different people have different techniques for doing this, one of which is taking a picture while the subject is planning on smiling and then take another couple while they are recovering. Or another way would be to tell a funny joke where they can’t help but genuinely laugh and smile.’
4. One of important elements in portrait composition is background. Remember that the background must compliment the subject. The subject needs to be separated from the background.
Philip Greenspun has a helpful tip on Creating a Controlled Background ‘You don’t have to build a special room to have a controlled background. There are all kinds of clever portable backdrops and backdrop supports that you can buy or build. If you absolutely cannot control the background, the standard way to cheat is to use a long fast lens, e.g., 300/2.8, that will create Fast telephoto lenses have very little depth of field.’
5. Alex Lee recommends Using Wide Aperture and there are two reasons why: ‘I use this to enhance my images, by selecting where I want to focus. I love focusing on the eyes. I like to see the eyes shine. Another benefit of the wide-open aperture is the soft gentle feel of the photograph. The depth of field can be very selective.’
6. Malek Tips believes that Fast Shutter Speed is Vital. ‘Facial expressions can change in an instant, so make sure you can snap quickly before the moment is lost forever’.
7. You can shoot a portrait from different points of view.
Kodak advises shooting from Eye level. ‘It’s the way we most often look at the world, so it conveys realism. Too low an angle in a close-up exaggerates the size of the nose, mouth, and chin. Too high an angle exaggerates the size of the head compared to the rest of the body.’ Still, Digital Photography
School has a fantastic tip on Photographing People From Different Angles. ‘Experiment with getting down as low as you can or find a way to climb above them and you might just find yourself discovering a new angle on your subject that adds that special something to how they express themselves in an image.’
8. Kodak has a good tip on Subject placement. ‘When a person moves across your camera’s field of view, the final image usually has much more impact when the subject is off-center. Leave the open space in the direction in which the subject is headed. Similarly, if a subject is looking off to the side, it’s best to leave more space in that direction.’
9. MalekTips recommends Considering NOT Filling the Frame. ‘If you are an amateur photographer, or even one experienced with digital photography but not in the possession of an image-stabilizing and leveling device such as a tripod, it is hard to take perfectly straight photos.’
10. Kodak has a good tip on shooting Vertical Portraits. ‘The majority of people pictures are horizontal in format probably because it’s easier to hold a camera horizontally. The horizontal format does work best for most group pictures. However, a vertical image can be very effective for pictures ranging from full-length portraits to tight facial close-ups. The unexpectedness of a vertical format can also give an image added impact.’
11. Some photographers believe that the best pose for a subject is a natural pose. But many don’t agree.
Titus from Photozo has a useful tip on 1-2-3 Rule Regarding the Body, Head and Eye Placement. ‘I frequently see portrait images breaking the 1-2-3 rule regarding the body, head and eye placement. In portraiture you can guarantee your subject a very boring and static image by having the body in the # 1 position, the face in the # 1 position and the eyes also in the # 1 position.’
12. And last but not least. The best way to start is to go out and start taking pictures. Study pictures that you take and figure out what you could have done better. Study all sorts of art work recognize what brings out an emotional response. Listen and learn from others and practice, practice, practice!
Technorati Tags: portrait photography, portraiture, photography tips, photography tutorials, photo new, digital photography
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