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PORTRAITSECRETS Top 10 tips for portraits

Summary: Digital cameras, film cameras and all of the high-tech accessories are tools in the photographer's hands. This Top 10 list offers advice to get the most from your camera.

Photographers love lists.  Lists provide organization and set parameters that will help you achieve your goals.  The goal of a portrait photographer is to capture character, beauty, personality and emotion of the subject.

    Here are PORTRAITSECRETS Top 10 portrait tips!

1. Keep it simple...use a familiar and uncomplicated location to avoid distractions for you and your subject.

2. Eye contact... establish eye contact with your subject through the viewfinder.  This may require you to position (kneel or sit) yourself on the same level as the subject.

3. Plan ahead...review the lighting conditions and check out the planned location ahead of time.  Make camera adjustments like lens settings, ISO settings and additional lighting (if required) ahead of time to avoid distracting yourself and the subject during the portrait session.

4. Neutral tones in clothing...suggest neutral colored clothing for the subject to emphasize the subject's face, not the fashion.


5. Creative composition...move the subject around in the viewfinder using the Rule of Thirds to aid composition.  Make an equal number of vertical and horizontal compositions.

6. Get up close and personal...get close to your subject by moving in closer or using a telephoto or zoom lens to fill the viewfinder with the subject's face.

7. Take charge...take command of the portrait session with confident but calm suggestions to the subject.  A successful portrait photographer uses charm and skill to get the best results.

8.  Don't bribe or threaten...offering bribes or making threats for cooperation while photographing a reluctant subject doesn't work.  The results may look forced and un-natural.

9. Anticipate...as you work with changing compositions and poses during the portrait session, anticipate the subject's spontaneous movements and reactions to your movements and posing suggestions.

10. Be relaxed and personable...take steps to appear calm.  If you are relaxed and personable the subject will sense this and respond in kind.  


Take to heart that any or all of these tips and techniques are offered as suggestions.  You may have some tried and true "trick of the trade" that work just as well.  Let the staff of PORTRAITSECRETS know with an e-mail so we can share it with others.

Most of all, photography should be an enjoyable and creative outlet for you.


  
Tip of the Day

Good photographs begin with good light. In the digital photography world, the quality of light corresponds to the quality of the photograph. The dramatic light of the early morning and late afternoon can raise the quality of your images. In poorly lit situations use supplemental lighting from the camera's flash in the fill-flash mode.
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Q & A

Adobe's Photoshop is very expensive at nearly $700, Is it worth it?
Dear PS,
Adobe's Photoshop is very expensive at nearly $700, Is it worth it?
On the cheap in Oregon



Dear On the cheap,
Yes! If you plan to take creative steps in dealing with your images, photoshop and the lastest Creative Suite 2 are simply the best and most efficients image handling programs available. Is it "worth it" to you, that depends on what you hope to achieve with your images. I would suggest the Elements version of photoshop as an entry level position. Better yet, check a local computer store or even the Apple Store an invest a little time in attending a couple of their tutorial classes for a "test drive" of the program. Then you'll be better informed before you spend your money.

Thanks for your question,
Michael at PS






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Michael KeatingMichael E. Keating is an award winning portrait photographer...
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