Do you have any good tips of taking good portraits?

Question

Lighting? Indoors or outdoors? Modles face? Props? Just give me some basics on what I should do to get started. Can you shoot with any kind camera?

Answer 1

LIGHTING: If you don't have any of your own, work without it (in fact, do this even if you DO have your own). Wait until just before the sun goes down (when the light is golden and to the side). You will get a nice color and a nice QUALITY...this means that without fancy equipment, you can create shadow and dimension. What you don't want is a fully lighted face; no shadow, no features, no nothing...know what I mean? If there's too much light and the features are all blown out, it's boring (and a SNAPSHOT, not a PORTRAIT). Make sure you get outside into a nice area with a clean background (no poles, wires, cars, buildings, etc.) in enough time...don't wait until DUSK...it'll be too late.

IF YOU FIND THAT THE SHADOW ON ONE SIDE OF THE FACE IS TOO DEEP/DARK. Take a rectangle (about the size of a piece of lined paper) of white board, white paper, or cardboard covered in aluminum foil (shiny side up) and use it on the opposite side of the face (where there is shadow), out of the frame. This will "fill" the shadow in a bit, using your original light source, and reflecting it back into the shadow, dispersing it.

CLOSE UP: Get as close as you can without being obscene...if you're far away, you don't see detail, and that's boring as well. Get close so that the person comes out in the portrait...if he or she doesn't, what's the freakin' point?

PROPS: Don't do props...at least not until you're past the basics...they'll get in the way, look cluttered, AND unprofessional.

INDOORS/OUTDOORS: Avoid indoor portraits until you've been fully schooled in lighting. If you think you're ready, and you don't have any equipment, go to your university's photographer and see if he/she doesn't have some studio time to lend you, along with maybe some equipment that he'd be willing to let you experiment with. You'd be surprised at how nice they can be...especially if they're familiar with your photography teacher.

POSING: Depending on what kind of face you want your subject to make, ask him/her relevant questions. This doesn't mean you have to talk like the stereotypical "model photographers"...i.e., "Good...lots of movement....eyes like a tiger...good...good...now pout, sexy, pout..." (Ugg...gag me, please!) This means, if you want them to laugh, try and say something humorous--just enough to get a smile or chuckle (depending on what you want). If you want them to look thoughtful, ask them the one thing they'd change about themselves, or some other relevant question. If you want them to look confused, ask them what the square root of 695 is. :o)

Any more specifics, just ask! I LOVE PHOTOGRAPHY!

Answer 2

Some experts say it is best to take portraits outdoors in the natural light with probs which are dull and will not detract from the subjects face. They also say that doing this can require no flash or a low flash setting so you do not get harsh images. The image should be soft and flattering if possible in their opinions. To avoid harsh shadows on their faces outdoors, take your picture in the early morning or later afternoon or on an overcast day. I haven't read much about indoor portraits sorry.

You can shoot with any cam. It all depends on the quality you are looking for. Some lower market cams have low quality plastic lenses and poor quality sensors but are so cheap to buy. How much are you prepared to spend on the cam and do the pictures need to be very good is a consideration. Try this forum for help...
www.digital-photo-forum.com if you are not using a film camera.

Answer 3

shoot with the woods behind you. or go into the woods and sit doen and do a pose next the river. use them as a background. smile. dont shoot with your shoulders head on turn them a little in one direction. simple thinks like that will work. try a few poses that you seen on line and just see what works for you. keep in mind a lot of people dont like there own pictures. most people naturally think they may be bad when they are great. so take a few of each pose and see what works for you. also try changing your smile. maybe in one picture dont smile as big as another or not at all. some people look better when the dont smile and some people do so just go wit what works for you thats the main thing. if you are happy with it you know others will be. hope this works :-)

Answer 4

simple .. follow the rule of thirds .. black&white can give great appel to the portrait photography .. one side lighting can also add some extra effect ..