Best Portrait Photography tips for beginners Photographer that must know
From the simple tweaking tips of the camera setting to the almost impossible task of keeping the child still and calm while taking pictures, among the tips of portrait photography! So it is safe to say that there are several things to keep in mind when dealing with portrait photography.
Many photographers buy DSLRs or mirrorless cameras for family photography or for taking pictures of friends and relatives, so that you can take advantage of the benefits of those cameras to get beautiful pictures. However, it is undeniable that the task of taking portraits of good quality people is always challenging.
The thing is, there is a big difference between a photo taken by a beginner and a professional photographer. It is possible for beginners to become proficient through hands-on training or by following guided tutorials. In fact, even those veteran photographers today have begun this way and gradually honed their skills; Self-luminosity has enlightened others.
In this article, we have compiled 14 very important and essential tips for portrait photography, by following which anyone interested in photography can take his shooting skills to a professional level.
Table of contentsBasics of Portrait Photography1. When to use exposure compensation2. Two things about aperture3. Shutter speed setting4. Increase ISO5. Lens choiceFocusing and framing6. Creative Composition7. Build a simple relationship with the model8. Use a reflector9. Focusing10. Portrait pose11. Use fill flash on sunny days12. Keep with a dedicated flashgun13. Fire the flashgun with the remote14. Take artistic shots using flash lighting
Basics of Portrait Photography
At the beginning of this article we will learn about aperture, shutter speed and what kind of lens to use; Then I will learn about focusing and composition technique. One discussion after another on how to dramatically change portraits using natural light and reflectors to make your photos more beautiful.
In the following paragraphs we will discuss some advanced tips for portrait photography. This includes how to take advantage of portrait photography using speedguns and other accessories.
If you're now sitting in front of a friend taking a portrait, or you're in charge of a family portrait, or you're waiting for a model at a posh photo studio, or at a photoshoot in a local park - I'm confident your tips will work.
1. Exposure compensation
The metering system used in the camera at that time has a big role to play in every picture taken by the camera. This metering system determines how much light should enter the camera to take a picture with proper exposure. This system is quite smart; However, it takes a foolish decision to determine how much light is needed in certain lighting conditions.
The disadvantage of multi-zone or matrix metering is that it calculates the average of the exposure readings of the whole frame and calculates this calculation based on the midtone. Midtone is a value between black and white.
This calculation does not always work properly. Apparently, when a large part of a frame has bright light and / or dark darkness, a multi-zone or matrix metering system cannot detect the exact reading of the frame exposure.
During portrait shooting, exposure to pale skin tones can cause the camera to take incorrect readings of the exposure and under-expose the image. To take a full-face photo of a fair-skinned subject, or if a large part of the photo is white; Wear in this situation. Taking pictures of the bride with makeup can be a great example of this.
This exposure to photo exposure can be corrected instantly using the camera's exposure compensation control.
To brighten the face of the under-exposed subject, turn the exposure compensation dial towards positive value and take a shot by bringing it to +1 stop. If you see the shot and think you need more light, turn the dial to increase the light.
2. Two things about aperture
What aperture do you use when taking portraits?
The best practice for portrait photography is to use "shallow depth of field"; That means opening the lens's aperture as much as possible, or in other words, using a larger aperture. Taking pictures from f / 2.8 to f / 5.6 aperture will blur the back of the subject very softly and the subject will stand out nicely from other elements in the picture frame.
Use Aperture Priority mode for easy depth of field control. In this mode you just set the aperture; Your camera will automatically calculate the shutter speed and ISO for you and take pictures with the correct exposure. Fire and forget. You will click blank.
Specialist lenses usually have very large apertures such as f / 1.4, f / 1.8, or f / 2.8, so very good blurring is found in images taken with them.
3. Shutter speed setting
The focal length of the camera should always be kept in mind while setting the shutter speed of the camera. This is because, if the correct and consistent shutter speed with the focal length is not used, the picture will be blurred by the vibration of the hand.
The rule for setting the shutter speed is: try to keep the shutter speed higher than the focal length. For example, for a focal length of 200mm, the shutter speed should be at least 1 / 250sec or more.
According to this calculation, you can use slow shutter speed in wide angle lens. Such as: 1 / 20sec shutter speed can be used in 18mm focal length.
But, if the subject is running, it will be impossible to take pictures with such slow shutter speed. Some camera bodies have a built-in image stabilizer; Where there are none, images can be taken at slow shutter speeds using the lens's "vibration control".
Lenses have image stabilization technology (IS in Canon lenses or VR in Nikon lenses), which must be used. Using image stabilization, it is possible to take pin-sharp pictures even at low shutter speeds for low light.
4. Increase ISO
The subject of portrait photography moves a lot, either closing and reopening the eyelids, or changing facial expressions or smile styles one at a time. The worst example is that after the picture was taken, the top of the head was cut off or the frame was bent or cut in such a way that a standard picture could not be obtained from the frame.
To get rid of this condition and avoid photo motion blur, increase the ISO by turning the ISO dial of the camera.
This allows you to take sharp pictures without shaking the camera. Tripods are commonly used to take portraits. And, as a result of increasing the ISO, you will now get some benefits as you get higher shutter speed.
When using a wide aperture on the lens in the Aperture Priority mode, simply keep the ISO reading between 100 and 400 (more on that, if necessary) to increase the shutter speed.
Indoors or outdoors, wherever you shoot, you can increase the ISO value to 1800, 3200, or 7400 if the light is low. Increasing the ISO creates noise in the image. However, some noise is more acceptable in a picture than a blurred picture that is not usable. According to Gear, the level of ISO should be increased in such a way that the level of noise is at a tolerable level. You can watch some beautiful photography videos: https: //bit.ly/2nD3zlA
5. Lens choice
What kind of lens you are using in portrait photography is a huge factor in your image. A wide-angle lens is required to frame the portrait in ambient position. Bending through a wide-angle lens makes the subject look bigger than it really is with the shot. Such a trick brings a different dimension to the picture; Lets change the perspective of the image.
However, when taking pictures with a wide-angle lens, do not go too close to the subject, as distortion of the lens can cause some distortion in the subject's appearance, which is not very pleasant for both the photographer and the client.
Want to get something more creative out of wide-angle shots! When taking pictures, take pictures by angling the camera a little.
lens choice medium telephoto
When using a medium telephoto lens, 85mm or 105mm, you must keep in mind that your model in this shot is your main consideration. But, what element you have in the background is also very important. The stairwells on the back of the model in this photo show out-of-focus - yet it adds a new interesting factor to the picture.
Keep a close eye on what you are putting in the background of the portrait photo.
lens choice telephoto
The most striking portrait lens is the 70-200 f / 2.8 telephoto lens. This lens has incredible ability to zoom in and focus on the subject; And this will help you to remove all distractions from the frame to the front and back of the subject.
Focusing and framing
6. Creative composition
Take the time to find a good composition. This work cannot be done lazily. A lot of the time when taking shots the photographers pause for a moment, wondering if he would take shots of all the frames that surround the portrait, or just take top shots of the subject.
My advice in this case is to zoom in and place the subject most of the frame. And, place the subject on one side of the frame, ask to look at the camera lens, leave the subject two-thirds to the right if you place the subject to the left; And, lastly, take a shot of the subject by keeping the aperture large. In this, the background will be smoothed due to the shallow depth of field behind the subject and the subject will be presented prominently.
When taking pictures, you need constant practice to present the frame with these details of the composition in an aesthetic way. You see, at some point your portrait pictures will start to respond to the client's mind.
7. Build easy relationships with models
build a report
Build a friendly and easy relationship with the subject. In the final picture you will get the natural expression of the subject. Talk to the subject over a cup of tea or coffee before the shooting begins; Brief him about how you want to do the photoshoot. Give the subject time to adjust to the environment.
And, after you start taking photos, explain to the model every step of the way of changing the shooting style, how you actually want to take the picture, how to pose the model.
If necessary, take a shot and show the model on the camera screen and explain to her where to change her pose. With such friendly instructions from the photographer, the model will gain more confidence and spontaneous support from him.
8.Use a reflector
No reflector reflector
Silver reflectorSilver reflector
Gold reflectorGold reflector
White reflectorWhite reflector
Reflectors cost less; However, with the use of this reflector, the image of the subject can be shot in a bright, attractive and professional way quickly and easily. In the natural light of the window in the room or in the light outside, the light is bounced with a reflector and thrown over the subject; Unwanted shadows are illuminated in the body of the subject.
Many reflectors have light reflection systems on both sides, some with detachable cover systems - which can be used with white, silver or golden covers as needed. Sunlight can also be used as a "reflected diffuse light source" with white reflectors.
If you have a budget problem, you can make a silver reflector by simply putting aluminum foil on top of a large white hardboard. It will work beautifully.
9. Focusing
focusing your camera
Using an aperture of f / 2.8 or greater greatly reduces the depth of field. At this time you have to focus on the right place. Otherwise, the important part of the face of the portrait picture will be "out of focus" or blurred. The subject's nose came sharp; But, the eyes are blurred, where these eyes were supposed to be the point of interest in the picture.
If the model's face is placed across the entire frame; Focus on the eyes; But, if the frame is large, focus on the forehead of the model. And, to focus accurately, hold a specific focus point in your hand and decide where you want to focus it on the eyes or face.
A good technique is to use Central AF Point - Focus Point focuses on the face and locks focus by half-pressing the shutter button; Now recompose the frame and take a shot by placing the subject on either side of the frame. Work can be done faster by focusing using center AF points instead of single AF points.
Alternatively, place the single focus point in any corner of the frame and take a shot focusing on any one eye of the model.
You can take a shot in a balanced and standard composition mode, keeping the subject to one side, following either method.
10. Portrait pose
Posing for portraits
The appeal of your photo depends largely on how your subject will pose in portrait photography and his facial expressions. Subtle changes in the subject's facial expressions - whether smiling or not - will radically change the whole frame of your picture.
Therefore, during the shooting, you will take many shots of each facial expression. You can choose the best shot from the shots after downloading the pictures on PC later.
Also, when shooting, take multiple shots of each pose - with the model looking off-camera, looking up or down. Take one or two test shots at the beginning of each stage to see which one looks best.
11. Use fill flash on sunny days
Use fillflash in sunny day
Although the use of flash in sunlight may seem strange, I would say that the use of fill flash at this time has good results.
In portrait photography, sunlight causes a particular problem, the face gets a lot of black shadows, the exposure also behaves differently, in some parts the extra exposure causes it to become completely burnt out.
In this case, the use of 'Phil Flash' will instantly bring good results to your picture; The pixels of the image will be captured by the camera sensor with more balanced and accurate exposure.
The reason is that in such a situation the camera will calculate the exposure from the sun's luminous background, without exposure to the subject's face; Darken the subject's face. When using Phil Flash, the calculation that the correct amount of light from the flash will fall on the subject will bring the exact amount of exposure of the subject to the frame.
12. Keep with a dedicated flashgun
Use dedicated flashgun
The light from a dedicated flashgun (speedlight, or speedlite) provides much more powerful light than the camera body's built-in flash. The powerful light flashes from this flash can bring much greater depth-of-field to the image using a smaller aperture; Pictures of all the subjects in the range can be illuminated in group pictures.
Dedicated flashguns have many settings of their own. It can be rotated at different angles or sides to bounce the light from the ceiling or walls.
13. Fire the flashgun with the remote
Fire flashgun remotely
Fix the flashgun to the cable without attaching it to the camera body, or firing the flash through a wireless system using a remote commander attached to the camera's hotshoe, or, many cameras have a system that allows the camera to be compatible with the flashgun. Light can be fired.
And in this way your image can be captured in a completely different way by firing a flashgun placed a little away from the subject. How creatively a flashgun is used depends entirely on the creativity of the photographer. Proper use of flashgun light will bring a professional signature to the picture you take.
Can't use two flash? Yes, of course it does. Complex lighting effects can be created in the image using two flashguns. In this case, a flash using the remote trigger is used in "Master" mode; After firing the first flash, the second flash, which is in "Slave" mode, fires simultaneously at the same time.
14. Take artistic shots using flash lighting
Artistic flash lighting
Proper and ingenious use of flash guns, remote triggers and the right size diffuser will open up a huge world of great lighting set-up in your photography.
Drama can be brought to your portrait by throwing light from the side of the subject, Or you can make the image more creative by under-exposing the sky or background behind the subject; Again, you can hold the subject's backdrop by turning the dial of exposure compensation to -2.
