2007-04-26 16:42:54 · 4 answers · asked by Bobba Fett 2 in Consumer Electronics ➔ Cameras
Although I'm only an amateur, I've recently started taking some high quality portraits and here's what I've found:
1) The setting is all important-pick something with an interesting background (like sides of buildings) or one that looks nice when blurred out (like trees)
2) If doing a head shot-stand far away and zoom as much as you can (hopefully you have a tripod). This will get a tight focus on your subject while completely blurring out the background.
3) If shooting outside and there are shadows on the subject, you can use a flash to "fill" in the shadows even in broad daylight (although you must be closer for the flash to work so you'll need to play with focus).
4) Don't put your subject smack in the center of your picture. And turn the camera to some odd angles--this gives life to some of your shots.
Hope this helps! Happy photographing!
2007-04-26 16:52:03 · answer #1 · answered by DAVID3 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lighting, background, and above all, camera angle. The larger the F stop, the shorter the depth of field, so compose and expose accordingly. This will soften (or even blur) the background so as not to distract from your subject. And for cripes sakes, hold the camera in the portrait mode and not the land scape mode.... I see so many well meaning amateurs holding their cameras over my shoulder in the land scape mode when I am taking the bride's pics at a wedding for example. They get wonderful snap shots of the wall, church background or what ever, but you can hardly see the poor little bride in the picture!!!
2007-04-26 17:08:31 · answer #2 · answered by Dusty 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There have already been a lot of good comments and I agree with them. One thing that I don't see mentioned yet is timing. It is critical to learn when to press the shutter release because people's expressions change very quickly. One reply included the relationship with the model. I agree with this - you need to develop a rapport with the subject so that they feel at ease. Then as they relax and start to open up and show you their real self (not the forced "say cheese" smile) then you can take some good photos.
2007-04-27 04:16:46 · answer #3 · answered by Karl W 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
light the subject from both the left and the right. Don't use a flash that is mounted on the camera.
2007-04-26 16:50:15 · answer #4 · answered by Sheep Cloner 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋