Portrait Photography

Portrait PhotographyPortrait Photography

Topics we will discussTopics we will discuss

LightingLighting AnglesAngles PosingPosing TipsTips

First, and foremost….First, and foremost….

As a beginner in portrait As a beginner in portrait photography, you will definitely photography, you will definitely need to learn more on a trial-and-need to learn more on a trial-and-error basis.error basis.

We will cover many aspects that We will cover many aspects that can help you improve your can help you improve your abilities, but, in the end, different abilities, but, in the end, different things work for different people.things work for different people.

TRIAL-AND-ERROR!TRIAL-AND-ERROR!

LightingLighting

LightingLighting

Is absolute key to amazing portraitsIs absolute key to amazing portraits You will be working with several types You will be working with several types

of light the next few daysof light the next few days– Natural & Artificial lightNatural & Artificial light– Hard & Soft lightHard & Soft light

In portrait photography, you want to In portrait photography, you want to do your best at making the shadows do your best at making the shadows disappear. (In some cases, shadows disappear. (In some cases, shadows are good. Remember, TRIAL-AND-are good. Remember, TRIAL-AND-ERROR!)ERROR!)

Recap of LightingRecap of Lighting

HardHard– Creates dark shadowsCreates dark shadows– 1 light source from 1 direction1 light source from 1 direction

SoftSoft– Creates light shadows, if any at allCreates light shadows, if any at all– More than 1 light source from multiple directionsMore than 1 light source from multiple directions

Natural Natural – Natural, Outdoor light (The Sun)Natural, Outdoor light (The Sun)

ArtificialArtificial– Anything that is not natural, outdoor light (light bulbs)Anything that is not natural, outdoor light (light bulbs)

High Key Lighting (New)High Key Lighting (New)– Bright lighting (creates a Bright lighting (creates a ““happyhappy”” mood) mood)

Low Key Lighting (New)Low Key Lighting (New)– Dark lighting (creates a Dark lighting (creates a ““dramaticdramatic”” mood) mood)

Directions of LightDirections of Light– Front, Back, & SideFront, Back, & Side

AnglesAngles

AnglesAngles

We have already discussed the We have already discussed the different types of angles…different types of angles…– HighHigh- - ““weakweak”” ““fragilefragile”” ““smallsmall””– LowLow- - ““strongstrong”” ““powerpower”” ““largelarge””– SlantedSlanted- - ““uneaseunease”” ““disorientationdisorientation””– Eye-LevelEye-Level- - ““normalnormal”” ““real-lifereal-life””

Use different angles to create Use different angles to create certain certain ““moodsmoods”” in your photos in your photos

ScenarioScenario

If you are photographing a If you are photographing a newborn baby and you want to newborn baby and you want to photograph them in a photograph them in a ““vulnerablevulnerable”” state, what type of angle would state, what type of angle would you use?you use?

A.A. LowLow

B.B. HighHigh

C.C. SlantedSlanted

D.D. Eye-LevelEye-Level

ScenarioScenario

If you are photographing a soldier If you are photographing a soldier in Iraq and you want to photograph in Iraq and you want to photograph him in a him in a ““dominantdominant”” state, what state, what type of angle would you use?type of angle would you use?

A.A. LowLow

B.B. HighHigh

C.C. SlantedSlanted

D.D. Eye-LevelEye-Level

ScenarioScenario

If you are photographing a Senior in If you are photographing a Senior in high school and you want to high school and you want to photograph he/she in their photograph he/she in their ““naturalnatural”” everyday life, what type of angle everyday life, what type of angle would you use?would you use?

A.A. LowLow

B.B. HighHigh

C.C. SlantedSlanted

D.D. Eye-LevelEye-Level

ScenarioScenario

If you are photographing a D.J. at a If you are photographing a D.J. at a party event and you want to party event and you want to photograph him in an photograph him in an ““unusualunusual”” state, state, what type of angle would you use?what type of angle would you use?

A.A. LowLow

B.B. HighHigh

C.C. SlantedSlanted

D.D. Eye-LevelEye-Level

AnglesAngles

ACTIVITYACTIVITY– Take quality portraits of your Take quality portraits of your

neighbor using the 4 different neighbor using the 4 different anglesangles

PosingPosing

PosingPosing

Body language is very important and can tell you Body language is very important and can tell you how comfortable or uncomfortable your subject ishow comfortable or uncomfortable your subject is

Things we will be focusing on…Things we will be focusing on…– Hands & ArmsHands & Arms– Feet & LegsFeet & Legs– Head/ChinHead/Chin– ShouldersShoulders– HipsHips– JointsJoints– EyesEyes

Posing….HandsPosing….Hands

You should bend fingers at all You should bend fingers at all jointsjoints– Ladies should have more of an open Ladies should have more of an open

handhand– Gentlemen should have more of a Gentlemen should have more of a

closed handclosed hand Try not to intertwine fingersTry not to intertwine fingers

Posing….HandsPosing….Hands

Encourage your model to keep hands & Encourage your model to keep hands & fingers relaxedfingers relaxed

If they canIf they can’’t relax, consider composing shots t relax, consider composing shots that donthat don’’t include their handst include their hands

Or…you can consider giving them something Or…you can consider giving them something to hold ontoto hold onto– Props Props MUSTMUST be relevant to the shot be relevant to the shot– Examples: Basketball, guitar, binder, etcExamples: Basketball, guitar, binder, etc

Or…have them rest their hands upon some Or…have them rest their hands upon some other element in the shotother element in the shot– Examples: Chair, leg, waist, etcExamples: Chair, leg, waist, etc

Posing…ArmsPosing…Arms

Elbows bent express a Elbows bent express a comfortable casualnesscomfortable casualness

Arms straight give a feeling of Arms straight give a feeling of formality and often stiffness (to formality and often stiffness (to be used with much caution)be used with much caution)

These are a few pointers, but These are a few pointers, but there are various ways to do there are various ways to do things…TRIAL AND ERROR!!things…TRIAL AND ERROR!!

Posing…FeetPosing…Feet

Feet hip width apart will give a Feet hip width apart will give a look of strengthlook of strength

Feet at different angles or heights Feet at different angles or heights (on a step, chair, etc) will give (on a step, chair, etc) will give ““balancebalance”” to depth. to depth.

These are a few pointers, but there These are a few pointers, but there are various ways to do things…are various ways to do things…TRIAL AND ERROR!!TRIAL AND ERROR!!

Posing…LegsPosing…Legs

Legs spread hip width apart while Legs spread hip width apart while standing will give an air of strengthstanding will give an air of strength

Generally while standing, one leg Generally while standing, one leg should hold the body weight; the other should hold the body weight; the other leg can be bent, or extended behind leg can be bent, or extended behind like a graceful dancerlike a graceful dancer

Can cross one leg over the otherCan cross one leg over the other These are a few pointers, but there are These are a few pointers, but there are

various ways to do things…TRIAL AND various ways to do things…TRIAL AND ERROR!!ERROR!!

ActivityActivity

Practice with hands, arms, Practice with hands, arms, legs, and feet.legs, and feet.

VolunteerVolunteer

I need some volunteers…I need some volunteers…

2 volunteers2 volunteers

Posing…ShouldersPosing…Shoulders

Shoulders should be on different Shoulders should be on different ““planesplanes”” (one slightly higher or lower than the (one slightly higher or lower than the other)other)

Shoulders square on will express a strong Shoulders square on will express a strong attitudeattitude

Sometimes square shoulders can create a Sometimes square shoulders can create a solid picture, but use it wiselysolid picture, but use it wisely

These are a few pointers, but there are These are a few pointers, but there are various ways to do things…TRIAL AND various ways to do things…TRIAL AND ERROR!!ERROR!!

ShouldersShoulders

ShouldersShoulders

VolunteerVolunteer

I need some volunteers…I need some volunteers…

3 boys & 1 girl3 boys & 1 girl

Posing…Head/ChinPosing…Head/Chin

Head tipped back slightly will generally Head tipped back slightly will generally give an attitude of a give an attitude of a ““punkpunk””

Head tipped back to the Head tipped back to the ““highhigh”” shoulder shoulder will feel fun and flirtywill feel fun and flirty– Good for girlsGood for girls

Head down toward the Head down toward the ““lowlow”” shoulder can shoulder can express power or position (especially express power or position (especially when shooting from a low angle)when shooting from a low angle)– Good for guysGood for guys

These are a few pointers, but there are These are a few pointers, but there are various ways to do things…TRIAL AND various ways to do things…TRIAL AND ERROR!!ERROR!!

Head Position-FemaleHead Position-Female

Head Position-MaleHead Position-Male

ActivityActivity

Practicing with Shoulders & Practicing with Shoulders & Head positionHead position

Posing…JointsPosing…Joints

One rule; if it bends, bend it. This One rule; if it bends, bend it. This goes for elbows, knees, wrists, goes for elbows, knees, wrists, etc.etc.

If it bends, bend it….If it bends, bend it….

EyesEyes You can have your You can have your subject looking subject looking straight at the straight at the camera.camera.

This pulls your This pulls your viewer in viewer in automatically automatically and creates an and creates an instant focal pointinstant focal point

EyesEyes You can have your You can have your

subject looking at subject looking at something outside something outside the framethe frame

This leads your This leads your viewer to wonder viewer to wonder what grabbing the what grabbing the subjectsubject’’s attentions attention

EyesEyes

You can have You can have your subject your subject

looking within looking within the framethe frame

EyesEyes

Give your subject Give your subject space to look in space to look in too…too…

This is a great This is a great rule to follow, but rule to follow, but does have a time does have a time when it would be when it would be useful to breakuseful to break– TRIAL & ERROR!TRIAL & ERROR!

PosingPosing

In portraits, it is very helpful to In portraits, it is very helpful to take pictures in this order…take pictures in this order…– Head shotsHead shots– Shoulder & upShoulder & up– Waist & upWaist & up– Knee & up or full body shotsKnee & up or full body shots

Head ShotsHead Shots

Head ShotsHead Shots

Shoulder UpShoulder Up

Shoulder UpShoulder Up

Waist UpWaist Up

Waist UpWaist Up

Knee UpKnee Up

Full BodyFull Body

ActivityActivity

Picture order, Eyes, & BendingPicture order, Eyes, & Bending

So what does it So what does it take…take…

To become a great Portrait To become a great Portrait Photographer?Photographer?

Portrait PhotographyPortrait Photography

Practice! Practice! Practice!Practice! Practice! Practice! Match poses with Match poses with ““personalitiespersonalities””

– This requires communication skills to This requires communication skills to get to know your subjectget to know your subject

Go for what is NaturalGo for what is Natural– If your subject is uncomfortable, it If your subject is uncomfortable, it

will showwill show Be Patient! TRIAL & ERROR!Be Patient! TRIAL & ERROR!

Portrait Tips Portrait Tips

TipsTips

Alter your PerspectiveAlter your Perspective– Try various angles!!Try various angles!!

Play with Eye ContactPlay with Eye Contact– Look within the frame, out of the Look within the frame, out of the

frame, etcframe, etc Experiment with LightingExperiment with Lighting SHOOT CANDIDLY!!!!SHOOT CANDIDLY!!!!

– No posing! In the moment!No posing! In the moment!

TipsTips

Introduce propsIntroduce props– Needs to have relevance to the pictureNeeds to have relevance to the picture

Obscure part of your subject Obscure part of your subject – You can do this with clothing, objects, their You can do this with clothing, objects, their

hands or just by framing part of them out hands or just by framing part of them out of the image.of the image.

Take a series of shotsTake a series of shots– Use burst mode on your cameraUse burst mode on your camera

Obscure part of your Obscure part of your subject…subject…

Take a series of shots…Take a series of shots…

TipsTips

Change the format framingChange the format framing– Vertical or HorizontalVertical or Horizontal

Experiment with expressionsExperiment with expressions Shoot slightly below the eye lineShoot slightly below the eye line

– Can create flattering picturesCan create flattering pictures FILL THE FRAME!!!!!!!!FILL THE FRAME!!!!!!!!

– Works perfect with portraits!Works perfect with portraits!