It's always fun to photograph people, particularly friends and family. But now you want your portraits to look more professional. Below are tips that will transform your snap-shots into beautiful photographs.
1. Generally, you do not want your subject in the middle of the frame. When you have a subject in the center, you photograph is not as interesting as it could be. By placing your subject on either side of the frame, you not only construct a more exciting photograph, but you now add context by revealing some of the background.
2. In regards to lighting, you want a soft light on your subject's face. You will usually want the light source to your back, because if the light source is behind your subject, they will end up being very dark (sometimes you may want this effect) and you will lose detail in their face. Outdoor lighting (natural light) is always best, and that is generally before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m.
3. Your camera may have a "Portrait" setting, creating a blurred background because it sets a shallow depth of field, blurring the background. This feature is very useful, and it will allow the viewer to focus on the subject. If you want to create this effect manually, set your aperture below 5.6
4. Don't be afraid to get close to your subject. Zoom in; fill the frame with their face. Also, photograph your subject looking somewhere else besides the camera. Always make sure that your subject is comfortable and having fun.
5. Don't forget that a portrait does not just have to be a subject's face. Challenge yourself to capture your subject without including their face. Can you tell a story using your subject's hands, feet, or possessions? Where do they enjoy spending time, where do they work, where are they in their element?
6. Explore your inner creativity. Have fun tilting your camera, or have your subject run around or jump up and down. If you use a tripod in low lighting, you can create a streaking effect using a slow shutter speed with a moving subject.
There are no set rules, so just have fun. Your subject may have some great ideas for specific shots or locations. It is always nice to send your subject a great photo of them after the photo shoot.
1. Generally, you do not want your subject in the middle of the frame. When you have a subject in the center, you photograph is not as interesting as it could be. By placing your subject on either side of the frame, you not only construct a more exciting photograph, but you now add context by revealing some of the background.
2. In regards to lighting, you want a soft light on your subject's face. You will usually want the light source to your back, because if the light source is behind your subject, they will end up being very dark (sometimes you may want this effect) and you will lose detail in their face. Outdoor lighting (natural light) is always best, and that is generally before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m.
3. Your camera may have a "Portrait" setting, creating a blurred background because it sets a shallow depth of field, blurring the background. This feature is very useful, and it will allow the viewer to focus on the subject. If you want to create this effect manually, set your aperture below 5.6
4. Don't be afraid to get close to your subject. Zoom in; fill the frame with their face. Also, photograph your subject looking somewhere else besides the camera. Always make sure that your subject is comfortable and having fun.
5. Don't forget that a portrait does not just have to be a subject's face. Challenge yourself to capture your subject without including their face. Can you tell a story using your subject's hands, feet, or possessions? Where do they enjoy spending time, where do they work, where are they in their element?
6. Explore your inner creativity. Have fun tilting your camera, or have your subject run around or jump up and down. If you use a tripod in low lighting, you can create a streaking effect using a slow shutter speed with a moving subject.
There are no set rules, so just have fun. Your subject may have some great ideas for specific shots or locations. It is always nice to send your subject a great photo of them after the photo shoot.
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