Portraits

Credit goes to Amber Fox of the Facebook group High School Photography Educators for the lesson idea, resources and WAGOLL images.

Mood Portraits

For this first assignment you are going to take some mood portraits. If you don't have anyone to photograph, put your phone on selfie mode and photograph yourself. Prop up your phone by resting it against a glass/cup/anything. Or you may have an actual phone tripod you could use. But it doesn't matter if you don't have one.

  1. Choose 16 words from the list below and take a shot of each one:

2. Tips:

  • Your back drop should be simple & clean.

  • ALL your photos should be either vertical or horizontal. (They all have to be shot the same way, so no turning your camera around.)

  • Your photos should be shot at close distance, head shot style.

  • You should stay in the same place for ALL your shots. Your feet shouldn't move.

  • Your photos should be of only ONE PERSON wearing the same outfit.

  • Shoot A LOT of images, not just 16, so you have options to choose from.

3. Choose your favorite 16 and put onto a grid collage on Pic Collage or your phone. All your photos should be the exact same size and the images should be organized into a symmetrical grid.

4. Finally, convert the collage to black and white. Use the free Snapseed app for this.

5. BEFORE turning in your collage onto Google classroom, look at the examples and ask yourself if yours look like the example. If not, do it again.

WAGOLL

Below are examples of the photographs you will create following this lesson:

Copy My Poses

You can make a decent living taking professional portraits. You will learn how to do this during this lesson.

  1. Sue Bryce has a fantastic website with tonnes of videos and tips for different types of portrait photography. If you have time, you should really try and invest yourself into this website and work your way through the lot! Most of it is free. You may need to sign up for some of it. You can use your school email address or get your parent/carer to sign up. Have a look! https://suebryceeducation.com/

  2. For this assignment, you will use the posing guide below and copy the poses EXACTLY:

3. Then watch this video which shows you how to take photographs using the poses above.

4. Choose 10 different poses, and get a pullback and a tighter shot. I want to see your set up and your second shot will be you literally getting closer and filling your frame with your model's gorgeous face/upper torso.

5. Choose your favorite three images and edit using Snapseed or your phone and then place in a collage.

6. Also, put 6 of your pull back and your final shot for a side by side comparison on your contact sheet for a total of 12 images.

Tips:

  • You will use a plain wall as your backdrop and take them outside to use the natural light as your light source.

  • Don't shoot in full sun, but in open shade. You must have light bouncing towards your model to get a catch light in the eye. Consider using a white piece of paper for a reflector if you don't have one. Have one of those old presentation boards around? Or foil?

  • Use a chair for this assignment instead of the box shown in the video.

  • Dress nice and no logos on your shirts.

  • If you want to use Snapseed's Glamour Glow or the Healing Brush to fix blemishes or soften skin a bit, go for it. Be careful to go overboard and make the skin look plastic.

What you are turning in:

  • Collage of photos where you put your photos side by side. You should have 6 poses shown for a total of 12 photos. Look at examples below. Pull back next to zoomed in of a particular pose. And your 3 favorite shots edited and placed correctly on collage. You should have different poses on your final collage.

WAGOLL

Below are examples of the collage of photographs you will create following this lesson:

Portrait Shoot

  1. Have a look this website www.amberfoxphoto.com. Amber is a photography teacher and has experience of being a senior portrait photographer. Have a look through her portfolio of portrait shots.

  2. Have a look at these other senior portrait photographers. Click on their portfolio tab and browse their work. Get a feel for what makes a good portrait: Tara Rochelle, Amanda Holloway, True Moua, Sean Brown, and Michelle Conklin photography.

  3. Watch this video:

4. You can photograph a student, adult or a child (little brother/sister?)

5. Take 30 photos using all your knowledge of posing, lighting and composition. Choose your favorite 3 images for either girl OR guy, edit them using Snapseed or your phone.

6. Create a collage of your 3 favourite EDITED images and turn in to Google classroom.

The things we will be looking for are: At least 30 pictures of poses:

  • Standing (10)

  • Sitting (10)

  • Squatting (5)

  • Laying down (5)

Framing

  • Close (head shot)

  • Medium (head & torso)

  • Wide (legs included)

Expressions

  • Smiling

  • Smirking

  • Serious

  • Candid

Flattering

  • Angles were flattering to your model. Make your subject looks good!

  • Your model looks good and you created a flattering portrait

Composition

  • Rules of Thirds was used

  • Nice NON-DISTRACTING background.

Lighting

  • Even lighting on model’s face

  • No unflattering shadows or harsh light on model’s face

  • You used the reflector when you were supposed to

Technical Quality

  • Photos are in focus

  • Photos are exposed correctly

  • White balance is correct

  • Photos pop with contrast

  • You can use Facetune or use the portrait options in Snapseed to fix blemishes on the face

Collage

  • You should have three very different pictures on your triptych. So that means one standing, one sitting down, and one squatting. Or your triptych can have one close up, one medium and one whole torso shot.

  • Correct layout was chosen for the specific images used

What you are turning in:

  • Collage of your best three

  • Screenshots of your attempts

Dripping Effect Portrait

This is a super cool editing technique that you have likely seen on Instagram. Its super fun and you will totally love the end result.

  1. Have a look at these examples on Google images.

  2. Download the free PicsArt app onto your phone.

  3. Choose a portrait shot that you took during the lesson above or take a selfie.

  4. Watch this YouTube video which shows your how to use PicsArt to create a dripping effect portrait:

5. Go back to Google classroom and turn in shot.

Double Exposure Portrait

This is another super cool editing technique that looks really effective. Now that you can take amazing portraits you can get creative with your editing of them.

  1. Have a look at these examples on Google images.

  2. Choose a portrait shot that you took during the lessons above or take a selfie.

  3. Watch this YouTube video which shows your how to use Snapseed to create a double exposure portrait:

4 Go back to Google classroom and turn in shot.