This may seem obvious; you probably wouldn't be taking someone's
picture if you didn't know her or him, right? But to get sensational portraits,
it is important to take some time to establish a real rapport with your subjects;
the way they feel at the time you take their pictures will ultimately be reflected
in your images. If you just snap away, you'll get bland portraits. So before
you take the picture, ask your subjects some questions to get them into the
kind of mood you want to portray, be it happy, sad, reflective, determined,
or otherwise. Let the subject help select poses and props that reflect their
true character, they will enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of the shoot, and your
photos are likely to reflect this. Using this tactic, you'll end up with a true
portrait instead of a simple snapshot.
Natural outdoor lighting or indoor illumination through a window
is perfect for portraits. Find a location outside where the sun is not directly
shinning on the subject. Position them in the shadow of a building, or tree,
but be careful to avoid spots of sunlight passing through the leaves that may
dapple the person you're photographing. Bright, overcast days with the sun hidden
behind clouds are perfect because the light is shadowless and "wraps around"
your subject. See the mother and daughter portraits taken by amateur photographer
Jo Malcolm in our exhibition section for great use of natural lighting. Digital
cameras love natural lighting conditions because they don't have to deal with
extremes of contrast, such as dark shadows and bright highlights. Your subjects
will probably feel more at ease away from the bright lights of a makeshift studio,
and your photos are likely to reflect this.
show them busily engaged in something that they like doing,
and that is really characteristic of them.
include some pictures of them just smiling at the camera if this is what you
want! Instead of just telling them to smile, though, do something that will
make them smile more naturally. If your subject is looking self-conscious, ask
him/her to look away for a moment before looking back at the camera. This way
you may get a natural smile.
don't make people squint into the sun. Either experiment with back or side lighting
(if necessary using flash as a fill-in), or choose a bright cloudy day, or,
failing that, position them in the shade. Try to avoid harsh mid-day lighting.
With older people, aim for soft, even lighting which may (partly) conceal their
wrinkles!
choose a camera position that lets you see their faces really clearly.
don't use a wide angle lens, unless you really want to give your subjects extra
large noses and tiny ears!
avoid distracting backgrounds - and particularly any objects that look as though
they are growing out of people's heads. If possible, arrange for the background
to be out of focus. One way of doing this is to use the telephoto end of the
zoom which reduces the depth of field. It's also more flattering to the subject.
Arrange for your subject to lean towards you. This often produces a more lively
result. It's also usually more flattering to look up at people from slightly
below, as shown lower on this page.
Have everything ready so that you take the photo(s) as quickly as possible.
FOR MORE GREAT ADULT PHOTOS:BIG
BREASTS LOVER