Portrait Photography Tips
I won’t provide you a standard “method” to shoot portraits: there are a lot of different opinions on that. The goal of this article is to give you some information on how I work, based on numerous questions I regularly receive. I will mainly focus on planned portraits with a model. I sometimes define my work as fashion portraits even though my main concern is to try to tell a story.
I will split my work into four phases: inspiration, preparation, session and post-processing.
Inspiration
In order to make a session run smoothly, it is safer to plan it as much as possible. Before picking up a model, it’s better to have a general and clear idea of what you’re aiming at. I start by looking around me for inspiration, reading books, looking at pictures in the street, magazines, or in the internet. I gather pictures that could help me explain what I’m looking for to the model.
Don’t neglect this phase. Almost all of my models are non-professional, and they like to know into which direction we’ll go together.
Preparation
Once I get the idea, it’s time to locate a place that could provide the required atmosphere and lighting. I’m almost always using available lighting during the session (no extra source). Sometimes, someone assists me and bounces the light with a reflector, but basically, what you see is what you get.
Consequently, the light often dictates the pose of the model: if the face is in the darkness while the rest of the body gets a heavy light, chances are that the photo won’t work.
Therefore, I always try to do some tests shots of the place prior to the session: this helps a lot!
Next step is the discussion with the model, prior to the session. Show her/him images, explain the atmosphere of the shots… This doesn’t mean that you have to plan every pose or every expression: but once you’ve defined the atmosphere and ideas that you’d like to convey, it’s way easier to play with these “rules” and change them on the fly. Furthermore, models are more confident if they know what the session will look like before starting it. The selection of clothes is also made at that time: I either pick up stuff from the model’s stock, rent it or buy it.
Tips:
* Finding a model might be a difficult task. Try to ask friends first. Show them your photos or photos that have inspired you, this will give them a better idea. Be respectful, and only publish pictures that they like.
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The session
Overview
The session itself lasts around 2 to 3 hours, resulting in approximately 150 pictures, from which usually 5 to 10 will be selected. As I said previously, I’m sometimes asking for external help (lighting with the reflector or makeup). We keep talking while working, the goal is also to have fun !
Light
Light makes the mood of the picture: without a good light, you won’t get anything good.
So what’s a good light then? Hm, tough question.
Well it must first match the atmosphere of the shots. I’m gonna take an example. If you’re looking for dark moody underground shots, it’s best to select the right place, say, a metropolitan station. OK, got the place? You’ll first notice that it’s very dark in there, and consequently ask the model to get closer to those nice green neon tubes. That’s it, the face is lit and everything will go fine…
Wrong.
Light is nothing without shadows. Having enough light on the model’s face is good but the neons on the ceiling are going to make deep shadows under the eyes of the model. In this particular case, I would advice to use a reflector on her chest, pointing the ceiling. This will fill the shadows and avoid them.
Always remember this: light and shadow go together and create the mood of your shot.
Tips:
* Indoor shots close to a window often offer a flattering light. However, if sun brightly shines outside, it is wise to soften the light through a white fabric.
* Folding reflectors often cost a bunch. You can create your own by using the stuff that you put in the cockpit of your car to protect it from heat [don’t know the name!]
Tips:
* Avoid putting the eyes vertically in the middle of the frame when doing tight portraits. Don’t be afraid to cut the forehead to put the eyes on the upper part, but avoid cutting the chin .
* When doing tight framing, avoid showing the arms or the legs and simultaneously while cutting their hands and feet.
* Again, place the subject off-center. People usually like when there is some space in the direction of the eyes.
* Use your imagination to break the rules. For instance, this framing is not conventional and gives the impression of being trapped since the space in on the left rather than on the right side
* Tilting the camera is an effective way for making a dynamic shot
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See also: Photography Tips
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these tips were helpful. it makes me want to know more about how you do things and what you know. it makes me want to see more of your pictures and about them as well. thank you.