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Article Series: Photography Tips
I Want Some Photography Tips and Ideas
How
To Take Fabulous Portraits
The definition of a portrait
is a formally posed picture. Outdoor portraits are often
posed against
relevant or beautiful backgrounds, and are known as "location
portraits." Fine indoor portraits can easily be made
by window light. Flash can be added to fill dark shadows
in portraits, but if flash is used as the main light source,
it should be off-camera and diffused by a bounce card for
best results.
Choose a fine-grain
film for almost all formal portraits.
Overexpose by about V2 f/stop to minimize skin flaws. Use
at least an 80mm lens or zoom setting for closeups of heads,
because shorter focal lengths tend to exaggerate the size
of noses. 28mm or 35mm lenses or zoom settings work well
for location portraits showing, say, a landscape in the background.
The
aim of most portraits is to capture a flattering likeness,
plus show something of a personality on film. Some portraitists
have a strong personal style while others are unobtrusive.
The best way to relax anyone and get spontaneous expressions
is to talk about whatever you can bring up that interests
your subject. During the course of a session, there may come
moments when silence is appropriate, but, in general, don't
ever let people stiffen up and start worrying about their
appearance in front of the camera. Talking is good; having
music in the background is relaxing, too.
Soft
lighting works great for most portraits.
A carefully angled reflector may be helpful to "fill" (lighten)
the shadows on the dark side of a window light or outdoor
portrait.
With 35mm cameras, single portraits call for vertical compositions.
Suggest and shoot several different poses - some with the
subject's eyes looking into the lens, and some with the eyes
looking slightly right or left.
Everyone can be made to look interesting in a portrait.
Do this by angling the subject so the existing or added lighting
is flattering, and by keeping your finger on the shutter
release so you can capture fleeting animated expressions.
Some
helpful tips: Pose a big person with his or her left
shoulder turned away from the camera, but with the head facing
the camera in order to create a slimming effect. If someone
has a big nose, photograph him looking straight at you. If
he has big ears, shoot a three-quarter profile view. Aiming
slightly down on everyone except bald men is flattering.
For someone who is truly a model type, photograph the person
from all possible angles. Some of those pictures should be
good for exhibit or your portfolio. Take plenty of pictures
in any portrait session. Shots that were made near the end
of a shoot are usually the best because, by then, both you
and the subject are warmed up and relaxed. You will soon
learn to sense when you have caught what you want in the
camera.
Whenever you are shooting formal portraits, it is best to
mount your camera on a tripod. With a tripod, you can preselect
and compose backgrounds in advance. A tripod also helps hold
your focus, eliminates blur caused by camera shake in low
light and windowlit situations, and frees you to concentrate
on nuances of expression. In addition, using a tripod leaves
you free during the shoot to talk to your subject(s) and
put them at ease.
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SolveYourProblem.com : 2007
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