theportrait

DorotheaLange

Henri Cartier-Bresson

Irving Penn

Irving PennE.B. White

Shootingtips-MeteringandExposure

• Acommonmistakeisunderexposedphotosonthefigureorfocalpointoftheface…

• Useawideaperturetohelpwithdepthoffieldandtoaddmorelightontheexposurebutalsohelptopushfocusawayfromdistractingbackgrounds.

• Usetheexposurecompensationoptionandtry+1– alwaystrytometerforthefocalpoint

• Utilizethespotmeterifsubjectisbacklit

Yousuf Karsh

Yousuf Karsh

Richard Avedon

Richard Avedon

Arnold Newman

Arnold NewmanMax Ernst

Arnold NewmanAnges de Mille

Arnold NewmanAaron Siskind

Vivian Meier

Vivian Meier

TinaBarney

TinaBarney

ShootingTips-MeteringandShutter• Remembertherule1/60th ofsecondforholdingthecamerabutforsharperphotosonyourportraitstaketheexposureuptominimumof1/125th sec.

• Ifyouareusingalongerlens200mmthenmakesurethatshutterisatleast1/250th sec

ISO• IncreasingtheISOwillhelpyoutoachievethosefastershuttersettingssodon’thesitatetouseahigherISOsetting.

LarrySulton

LarrySulton

WilliamEggleston

ShootingTips-Composition

• Poseyoursubjects,askthemtomove,todosomethingandengagewiththecamera.

• Addprops,giveyoursubjectssomethingtothinkaboutordosotheyloosenupinfrontofthelens.

• Eyepositioningiscritical- bothlookingintothelensoroffcameracreatesadifferenttoneormoodtotheportrait.

• Ifyouareshootingmorethanoneperson,havethesubjectengagewitheachother.Eyecontactononeanothercancreateanewvisualinterestinthecomposition.

Doug DuBois

DougDubois

ShootingTips-Composition

• Don’tbelazyaboutyourcompositions.Thinkaboutthewayyouareframingyoursubject.

• Usebothhorizontalandverticalcropping.• Giveyoursubjectbreathingroomintheshot.Trynottocutofedgesofthesubject.

• Beawareofwhatisbehindthesubjecthead.• Utilizetheruleofthirdsandmovethesubjectofftothesidetakingintoaccountthebackgroundelements.

• Changeyourvantagepointmovearoundtofindaninterestingangleofviewornewarrangementutilizingthebackground.

TheBrownSisters,1975

NicholasNixon

TheBrownSisters,1981

TheBrownSisters,1987 TheBrownSisters,2004

ShootingTips-Lenschoices

• Thelensyouchoose(ormmonazoomlens)willdrasticallychangeyourportrait.

• Shootingwithawideanglelensthemoreareayouwillincludearoundyoursubject.Choosethisifthebackgroundorenvironmentisimportant.

• Shootingwithalongerthelenslessbackgroundwillbeincludedandthebackgroundwilltendtobluroutbecauseofaperturesettings.

SarahStolfa

SarahStolfa

AlexSoth

AlexSoth

ShootingTips-Rememberthestranger

• Takeyourcameraeverywhere,allthetimetobecomemorespontaneousandcatchthosequickmoments.

• Engagewithyoursubject,talk,askquestions…• Ifshootingstreetshotswherepeoplearepartofthesceneusealongorzoomlens.

• Turnoffflash!• Moveyourselfaroundandbeawareoftheangleoflight.• Framephotoswithforegroundelements.

MartinParr

MartinParr

ShootingTips-Composition

• Takeintoaccountwherethelightfallsonthesubject.• Experimentwithlightandexposure,shadowsandhighlightscanreallyadddrama.Softlighthasmoreasubtleeffect.

• Bouncelightifyoucanwithareflectorormoveyoursubjecttomoreflatteringlight.

• Ifusingawideaperturebesuretohavesharpfocusontheeyes!

Don’tforgettothinkabout…

• Hands!• Relaxthem,fingersseparated.• Don’tincludeifthesubjecthasahardtimerelaxing.• Givethemsomethingtoholdordo.• Handslookbestshotfromthesideoronslightangle.

Choosetherightkindoflight…

• OpenShade- softerflatteringlight;lowercontrast• Underanawning,edgeoftreeorbuilding• Insideadoorwayorbyawindow

Choosetherightbackground…• Environmentalportraitsrequireyouthinkingandapplyingalocation,spaceorbackgroundtohelptellthestory.

• Thinkingaboutwhatisaroundthesubjectshead!Isiscluttered?Distractions?Poles?

• Makesureyoushootwithawideenoughlenstoincludethesubjectinthelocation

• Startwideandthenworkyourwayintojustaheadshot.

Posingyoursubjects…

• BEINCHARGE!• Havethesubjectlookintothecamera,eyesareimportantandtellastory.

• Havethesubjectengageinthelocationoraprop,it’sokayiftheylookaway.

• Expression• Don’tforcesasmile,infactaskthemtonotsmileforthefirstfewshots• Don’thavethemsay“CHEESE!”WAITtilltheygiveagenuinesmileorexpression.

• Handsandarms- helpyoursubjectshandsarearmscancrushagoodportrait

• IFITBENDS– BENDIT.IFITCURVES– CURVEIT.IFITTWISTS– TWISTIT.

Try Wide Angles

Othertips Introduce Movement

Change your camera orientation

Try using a reflector