Portrait photography is very different from other types of photography. This is a special kind which is slightly more complicated than the others. Its main difference is that the model, its feelings, emotions, beauty come to the foreground, but among other things, there is also the background, the plot, and the idea of photography. To master this format and not make the most common mistakes, you need to remember and apply some rules of portrait photography for beginners.
Features of Portrait Shooting
The main task of a portrait photographer is to show a person and their appearance from the advantageous side and to convey the psychological state and show the inner world of a person in the photo. How to determine the success of a portrait photo? It instantly attracts attention.
Please note that a portrait photography does not always involve a face photo. It can be a shoulder-length, chest-high, waist-length, or full-length image. To get beautiful portraits, you need to look closely at the person and determine the most favorable shooting angles. The image of a person should not leave a feeling of incompleteness, so the photographer should not leave the subject’s arms or legs cut off. And for the result to be the most successful, you should learn how to select a background, adjust the light and work correctly with the photo model.
Tips and Tricks for Your First Photoshoots
Lighting is the main factor that must be observed to get great pictures. In our case, let’s consider creating a photo outside of a photo studio and without expensive and special equipment. If you position your model near a window, you get the right amount of natural light. The result is beautiful and natural images with soft lighting without harshness. Try to find such a position so that the model’s face is lit a little from the side; this will give the photo more volume. If you position the model so that the light from the window illuminates only one side of their face, you get a more dramatic portrait.
Another useful tip for beginners is to direct the focus of the camera towards the person’s eyes. Switch your camera to single-point focus mode and use an off-center focus point to focus on the sharpness of your eyes.
On the technical side, to set the ideal light for photography, it is recommended to use a reflector that works to fill in the shadows on faces and should be positioned so that the light reflects on the face. A focal length of around 85mm is the classic choice for portraits, and a larger aperture will brighten the image and reduce the depth of field.
Don’t be afraid to shoot from multiple angles. You can experiment with shooting from the bottom up and vice versa, take a photo from a place higher. You can also achieve good results by placing the subject closer to the edge of the frame while keeping the background visible.
Before a photoshoot, think about where you will be shooting. After all, the background can affect the mood of the picture, and the peculiarities of the environment can emphasize the individuality of a person. Try zooming in to get the model in close-up. When shooting portraits, the person should always be the focus. The background should not distract from the person you are working with; therefore, it is not recommended to shoot portraits against contrasting and bright backgrounds. For starters, choose calm and solid backgrounds that don’t distract attention.
Of course, both the photographer and the client want to get naturalness in the pictures. If the poses do not look completely natural, try to catch unexpected facial expressions when the person is not posing for you. If you still want to get the most out of staged portraits, place the model closer to the edge of the frame and ask to look away from the camera. However, when setting a shot, it is very important to consider the model’s gaze direction. That is, if a person is looking to the left, then there should be enough room to look on the left. The gaze should not be directed to the edge of the picture. You can also try experimenting with different emotions.
An important finishing step in your work as a photographer is good post-processing. Even not the most successful shots can be significantly transformed after adjusting the color balance, brightness, contrast, and retouching. However, everything should be in moderation to preserve the naturalness of your model. And do not forget that in portrait photography, you will have to learn the skill of seeing a person’s personality and conveying their emotional state, then the portrait will be filled with life and new dimensions.
