Portrait Photography
Tips on Portrait Photography.
1. Lock focus on the eyes.
2. Only use flash as outdoor fill in to banish facial shadows.
3. Shutter speed at least 1/60 seconds, recommended 1/125.
4. Shoot in AV aperture mode at f/5.6 open up to f/4.0 if required.
5. Crop out extra head room.
6. Crop above or below natural body joints for more appealing photographs.
7. Scan and remove clutter or distractions or simply move position before taking
photograph.
8. Avoid putting subject in center of frame maybe ok for passports but not for
great portraits.
9. Strike up a friendly rapport with subject.
10. Know your camera system well.
11. Use Natural light, ie diffuse light coming through a window.
12. Natural poses and expressions.
13. Use a long lens, too close can be intimidating, a telephoto lens will also
compress the subject making for a more flattering photo.
14. Try shooting in black and white.
15. Use of colour so long as it does not take away from the subject.
16. Typical camera settings 1/60 - 1/125 seconds and aperture of f/5.6 - f/4.0,
f/2.8 to blur background and make subject stand out.
Shoot pro sunset portraits
1. Meter for sky.
2. Focus on subject and compose scene.
3. Pop-up or turn on flash.
4. Take photograph, check results on lcd display.