Portrait Photography Tips – Get The Most Out Of Your Portraits
Taking portrait photos can be very rewarding. It’s a chance to show the best side (literally) of someone, and create a photo that communicates something unique.
The first rule of good portrait photography is look at your subject.
Although this may sound obvious take a look through all the photos you have of friends and family to see if there is a certain “sameness” about them. Head and shoulders, passport photos, awkward poses, uncomfortable expressions, blank looks, embarrassed smiles…?
Everyone has some individual feature that should be photographed. This doesn’t mean it has to be a $2000 nose job, pouty lips, bedroom eyes or perfect skin. But it should be some quality that best communicates the person’s individuality.
Sound challenging? It isn’t if you follow some basics.
Don’t Use Direct Flash.
Flash light is light in it’s most boring incarnation. Very rarely it can really raise an image into stunning life, but usually the use of available light is superior. Flash tends to give a bland look and the fact of the flash going off takes away any intimate atmosphere you may have created.
Use a Telephoto Lens. 105-135mm is usually best.
Wide angle is a big no-no.
Compose Vertically.
Tilt the camera to one side. A protrait photograph generally encompasses the head and upper body and sometimes includes the hands. These work best in a vertical format. Framing horizontally wastes space on each side of your subject and can ruin the “feel” of the image.
Get Your Subject Dressed Up if That’s at all Possible.
If this is to be almost a formal portrait photo you may be able to suggest what 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.
Try to place your subject in a postion where there is soft light coming mainly from one direction. This can give a moody feel and usually gets the eyes more attention. 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 actually have one. Get one shoulder turned towards the camera so one side is favored a little. Test the pose another way and try to figure out which way is the best.
Let Your Subject be Seated.
This helps them to relax and helps you to be able to direct them more easily. Give the person directions.
In a portrait photo, you’re dealing with minor movements and shifts of position and angle. Try to shoot slightly above the person to make the eyes open more. Lower the shoulder closest to the camera, get the head straight or at an engaging angle. Take the chin down a little.
Some people look better when they smile but some do not. You can get more interesting expressions and nuances without a 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 sometimes look awkward or even ugly. A fist that is lightly closed is usually neutral. Place the hands in the lap on resting on a knee and see how it looks. Crop them out 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.
