Portrait photography is one of the most interesting types of photography. What makes it even more rewarding is the fact that you are making someone else beautiful through your camera. Interestingly, there are several things that one should keep in mind in order to get that “Wow” effect in the final portraits. Let’s take a look at a few Quick Tips!
Choose the Right Subject
Your subject is the heart and soul of a portrait composition – the right face will determine the success of your shoot. That’s why you should spend much of your time and effort finding the most suitable subject for your assignment.
Define a Character
Choosing a subject alone is not enough. In portrait photography, every subject has their own individual character. A female portrait with gentle and soft skin defines a character which is very different from a wrinkled, older gentleman. Both are great subjects for portrait photography, but you have to select the best according to the composition you are have in mind.
Try Different Angles and Poses
To add flavour, spice and freshness to your portrait photography, never fear to experiment with position. After you have finalized the model, experiment with different poses, angles and postures of the face and body. This will ensure that you not only end up with great portrait shots, but also very interesting ones. A natural pose is great, but you can also have fun directing unusual an unusual pose or stance.
Lights are Everything
The fate of your final photograph is largely determined by the lighting conditions. For example, if you have a very bright background, it may overpower your subject and result in a completely washed out photograph.
When you set up your portrait shoot, remember the following key points:
- Don’t use direct flash as it may ruin the photograph and leave you with an overexposed subject
- Use your photographic sense to make the best use of shadows
Having an Appropriate Background
Background can be sometimes as important as the subject itself. You could go for a beautiful bokeh blur effect, or a very high/low key approach with a black or white background. Either way, be sure to consider background in your mental checklist before pressing the shutter.
A great tip is to open your Aperture as wide as possible, to create a shallow depth of field and make your subject “pop” out of the background.
Looking for more information? Check out our article on 9 Tips for a Perfect Portrait Background.
Natural vs. Artificial Expression
There has always been a debate about natural and artificial expressions of the subject. The most difficult task for a photographer is to make a portrait shot as natural as possible.
To attain this, make sure your subject is comfortable and ready for the shoot. Don’t jump into shooting right away. Spend some time chatting and getting to know one another!
Share Your Tips
Do you have any more suggestions and tips for portrait photography? We’d love to hear them – feel free to share in the comments!