November 12, 2010
Portrait Photography -5 Tips You Should Know
Many photographers view portraiture as one of the most challenging styles of photography. Getting great pictures of people showing their true personality takes lots of practice. Of course, that doesn’t mean there aren’t a few things you can implement into your photo routine that will help push your portraiture to the next level. Here are a few hints on how to create striking portraits with minimal experience and no fancy equipment.
Go for Candid
There is no shortage of photographs that feature a smiling subject looking directly down the lens. Pictures like this have their place, but they don’t let the subject express the personality. Candid photography is the art of capturing your subject when they aren’t paying attention. Taking candid photos is becoming increasingly more popular at weddings and other events because they better reflect the actual day. What’s more interesting – a photograph of a mother staring at a camera, or one of her singing a song to her child?
Cover it Up
A very easy (and cheap) way to make your next round of portraits visually compelling is to try partially obscuring your subject. This technique will let you draw attention to certain features like eyes, mouth or hands while leaving a sense of curiousity with what’s being hidden. This is also a great technique to try with color. Try giving your subject a brightly colored scarf and see how one prop can open up a world of creativity. Then, when you frame the image, use a picture frame that brings out the color in the scarf.
Get Out of the Studio
Instead of taking those boring “sitting in a chair” or “looking out the window” portraits we’ve all seen before, bring your subject into strange and fun environments and work with them to use what’s around you. For example, for an engagement photo take the couple to a place that they like to spend time together like the park or the beach. Think outside of the box at every opportunity.
Get Creative With Light
If you’re trying to make your subject look natural, then even lighting is the best type of lighting to use for portraiture. But that doesn’t mean that there aren’t other ways to add light to a subject. Play with the lighting and try things like only lighting part of your subject or casting shadows on them to see what it will do. Using light in different ways can do a lot in creating unique and memorable portraits just by using simple things like a table lamp or floor lamp. And when you go to frame your portraits, choose frames like gallery picture frames that have simple clean lines that let your portrait get all of the attention.
Capture Their Personality
Have a conversation with your subject before you shoot and try to get a bearing on “who” they are and what they’re interested in. A portrait should tell a story about what a person is on the inside as well as the outside, and these little clues can help you formulate ideas for bringing the internal person out. You can also use the information about them to select more appropriate props that better represent their interests and hobbies.
One of your primary roles as a photographer is to show “who” a person really is in addition to what they look like. Taking portraits can be tricky initially, but by using these tips you’ll be well on your way towards taking better portraits that your subjects will love. And don’t forget to always clearly understand the expectations for the photo shoot so both you and your subject will be happy with the final images. Keep it fun and be creative and your sessions will always be successful.