Tips and Techniques for Portrait Photography
Posted on May 30, 2009
Filed Under Camera Problems, Canon Problems | Leave a Comment
Portraiture can be very rewarding. It is an opportunity to display someone’s best side (literally), to create an image that says something.
The first rule of good portrait photography is LOOK at your subject.
This sounds obvious but take a browse through all the shots you have of your family and friends and see if they don’t have a sameness about them. Cut off head and shoulder shots, uncomfortable posing, goofy expressions, mug shots, empty staring, frozen smiles..?
Each person has some unique quality that deserves photographing. It doesn’t have to be perfect skin, a remodeled nose, pouting mouth, stunning eyes. There should be some aspect or quality to the person that conveys his or her individuality best.
Sound challenging? It isn’t if you follow some basic tips.
Do Not Use a Flash Directly at the Subject.
Flash is light at its most boring. Very rarely it can really raise an image into stunning life, but usually the use of available light is superior. A flash firing removes any relaxed atmosphere you may have built up with your subject and gives the shot a bland look.
Use a Telephoto Lens. 105-135mm is best.
Wide angle is a big no-no.
Compose Vertically.
Turn the camera on its side. A protrait photograph generally encompasses the head and upper body and sometimes includes the hands. Portraits almost always look best when taken vertically. Framing horizontally wastes space on each side of your subject and can ruin the “feel” of the image.
Dress Your Subject Up if Possible.
If this is a semi-formal portrait you can have some say in the clothes. Solid, dark or light colors work best. Stripes, checks, swirls, and patterns confuse the viewer’s eye. Strong colors can can overwhelm the skin tones. A scoop or vee cut is usually better than a round cut. For older women or men, cover up the shoulders, for young women leave them exposed.
Try to use the available light to good effect.
Position the person where the light is soft and coming mainly from one direction. This usually gives more attention to the eyes and creates a moody feel. You can use a reflector on the shadowed side to ‘bounce the light’ if the contrast between highlight and shadow is too strong. A simple reflector can be made by covering a sheet of cardboard with aluminum foil.
Choose Your Subject’s “best side”.
People really do have one. Get one shoulder turned towards the camera so one side is favored a little. Try the pose the other way and figure out which is best.
Let Your Subject be Seated.
This helps put them at ease by haviing somewhere to “be” and assists you in being able to direct them more easily. Direct your subject.
In a portrait photo, you’re dealing with minor movements and shifts of position and angle. Try to get the shot from a little above the subject to open the eyes more. Lower the shoulder closest to the camera, get the head straight or at an engaging angle. Lower the chin a little.
Some people look better when they smile but some do not. Often you achieve far more interesting nuance and expression with no smile. Tell the person to think of something they like doing. This will bring up subtle lights in the eyes and shifts in the mouth lines.
If you have included the hands in the shot, make sure you check them. Hands can look ugly or awkward. A lightly closed fist is usually neutral. Position the hands either in the lap on on a knee and check how the shot looks. Cut them off later if they don’t work.
If you’re shooting candid portraits the same tips apply but in these shots you have to move around to get the best angle.
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