Before you start
Equipment needed: Any interchangeable lens camera (ILC) and external flash (optional)
Objective: Learn how to take interesting portraits
Time required: 15 minutes to read Taking photos of still objects and scenery is relatively easy because the subjects don't move and you have certain degrees of control. But things can get tricky when it comes to photographing people. Some individuals are camera shy while others tense up in front of the lens. A good portrait not only shows the physical best of the subject, but also capture their emotions So, how do you capture a good portrait?
In this lesson, we'll teach you how to use lighting techniques and tips to make your portrait shots more interesting.
It's in the eyes
As the old saying goes, the eye is the window to the soul. It's scientifically proven that humans are most attracted to the eyes of the subject when looking at a picture. So, it's important to concentrate on this aspect if you want a good portrait shot.
Use manual focus on your ILC when the autofocus function on your camera tends to focus on the ears or nose instead of the eyes. If the environment is dim, use a fill-in flash to illuminate the subject. This also helps to add a slight sparkle to the subject's eyes which will make them look more lively.
Alternatively, you can choose to isolate the rest of the subject's profile and show just the eyes if you want a more impactful picture. You can choose to use a scarf to cover the rest of the face, or simply go closer to the subject and frame just his eyes for the shot. Experiment with different poses to see which results you like best.
Lighting is key
Photography is all about lighting and it plays a very important role in portrait photography. Different kind of lighting techniques deliver varying looks, and depending on how you want to portray your subject, you can choose to use natural lighting or the flash.
Harsh lighting creates dramatic shadows on faces, whereas soft lighting flatters the features on the profile and can help hide some flaws. If you are shooting outdoors, avoid the afternoon sun as the light source is directly overhead and it won't make your subject look good. The best times to take portraits shots are early morning or evening when the light quality is warmer and softer.
If you are shooting in a room, position the subject near a window to allow natural light to illuminate his profile. Windows can be great diffusers, so you'll get soft, equally distributed light which is more flattering.
Tip
When photographing people, don't position them facing the sun because they'll squint. Instead, ensure the light source illuminates from their sides or back. In some case, having a silhouette of your subject may make for an interesting shot.
Use a telephoto lens
If you subject is tense when you point a camera near him, try using a telephoto lens. This creates a distance between you and the subject and could put him at ease. However, don't stand too far away or you won't be able to talk to him properly. Most photographers may choose a 85mm or 105mm lens for portrait shots, but you can also experiment with different focal lengths.
Another advantage of using telephoto lenses is that it creates better depth-of-field for your shot. You can easily blur the background by using a small F number to make the subject stand out more.
Engaging conversations
Another way to make your subjects feel more at ease in front of the camera is by talking about things they are interested in. If you're shooting someone you've not met before, do a little research and see where his interests lie and steer the conversation toward that. Slowly, the subject will lower his inhibitions towards you.
Once the subject is relaxed, you can raise the camera to your eyes and focus on him. However, don't take the photo yet. Continue the conversation and be ready to shoot. When the right moment strikes, press the shutter button to capture the shot.
Mini assignment
This assignment requires you to use the techniques taught, such as deployment of fast shutter speeds and panning, to take shots of subjects in motion. Experiment with various exposure settings and see what kind of results you can achieve.
If you want your pictures to be evaluated, resize the images (as shown below) and rename them as such: _.jpg, such as johndoe_portraits.jpg. Also, write a short caption on which method you employed so we can provide you with a better evaluation.
Send the pictures to us and we will give you feedback on your shots and how to improve on them.
Resizing pictures
If you are using Adobe Photoshop or Photoshop Elements, open the photo in the program and go to Image > Resize and set the width to 1,000 pixels. Use the Save As option and save the picture in JPEG format with the compression set at 6 to minimize file size for sending over the Web.
Alternatively, you can use Windows Paint and go to Image > Attributes and resize the image as mentioned above. Again, use the Save As option and save it as a JPEG image.