PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY

Portrait and People Photography

Photographs that show the expression of a human most likely using their face as the main focal Point

Get Close- Big mistake is not

getting close enough to your subject. Get close, fill the frame with your subject!

Settings

- Settings and scene can really add emotion to a portrait. Settings tell us information about the people and their way of life

Separate subject and background- Using a lower DOF allows you to isolate your

subject. Separate the subject from the background to highlight the focal point of your image

- This doesn’t necessarily mean setting your aperture to the lowest number possible, rather to a lower number (5.4-11) to give your subject separation from the background

- Pull your subject away from background to minimize distraction of background…or you as the photographer step back and ZOOM in on subject.

Props- Props help to give the

photographs a life and tell us more about the subject. Include props but don’t let them become the main focus of the portrait.

Lighting

- Make sure the lighting ADDS to the photograph rather then subtracts. Lighting can make or break a photograph.

- Shoot FROM the source of your light to fill in faces

- Shoot in early morning or towards end of day for nice soft diffused light. Mid day light is way to harsh and high to effectively fill out facial features

Lighting – Silhouettes

- Shoot into the light. First meter for the light source itself (set SS/Aperture) then focus on your subject and release shutter.

- Make sure subject blocks the source of light

Change your angle

- You can minimize distractions in your photographs by switching up your angle

- Different angles can really change the mood and meaning of a photograph

Work/Life/Candid- Don’t tell your subject to pose. Rather

be unobtrusive and photograph them doing what they do. A posing smiling person is not always the best.

Assignment

4 Portraits

1. Backlit/ Silhouetted

2. Waist and above

3. Close up/Head Shot

4. Work/Life/Candid

1. Backlit/ Silohetted

1. Subject will be completely black

2. Having the subject being involved in an action or a pose of some sort will most likely enhance the photo..separate the extremities from the body

3. How1. Meter for sky, set shutter speed + apature

2. Then compose shot, subject will be very underexposed

3. Make sure subject blocks the light source

2. Waist and above

1. Setting is key on this one.

2. Either choose a setting that will add to the photograph OR

3. Find a very neutral setting

4. Separate subject from setting with lower DOF

3. Close up/Head Shot

1. Get just the shoulders and above

2. This is the Hollywood headshot.

3. Make sure your lighting allows you to fill out all facial features…USE NATURAL LIGHTING!

4. Fill your frame with the subject

4. Work/Life

1. Capture a shot showing a person in their natural setting

2. Doesn’t necessarily need to fill the frame as the setting and the props will add to the setting

3. Higher DOF might be helpful as the scene should add to the person in their natural setting