Better Portraits Made Simple in 7 Easy Steps
With the holidays having come and gone, the photographs that were taken may have not turned out so great: too dark, too light, double-chin exposure, 10 pounds added, eyes closed--the list could go on. A camera certainly captures a moment in time, but by no means is it identical to eyesight. Here are seven simple ways to get better pictures with your camera.
- Rule of Thirds: The rule of thirds is the theory of seeing a photograph or frame in three equal parts, a third. The goal is to place your subject--the person you are photographing--slightly off center, either to the left or the right, never in the middle. Visually, this is more appealing.
- Background: Make sure the background of your photograph is not "busy," free of distracting visuals, so that the viewer can concentrate on the person in the picture.
- Light Towards Face: When thinking of a great place to take a photograph, always place the subject with the light or sun falling into his face, so that his face doesn't appear in "shadow," with the light behind the head.
- Dim Light: When shooting in dark or dim light, the photo taker should lean on a sturdy surface to prevent camera shake, which could result in a blurry photo. Objects leaned on could be a sofa, door pane, wall or anything that can hold body weight.
- Avoid Black and White Clothing: Black and white clothing are "shades," not necessarily "colors." Within a photograph, light is either reflected or absorbed into objects. Black clothing articles absorb light, which makes it harder to see detail within a photograph. White clothing articles reflect light, also, making it harder to see details.
- Let the Person Know That You Are Going to Take Their Picture: This tip may sound odd, or very common sense like, but how many pictures have you seen when a person's eyes are closed or when their mouth is open? Worse yet, an unflattering pose of their chin. In group photos, this is especially pertinent because oftentimes you may not get a do-over.
- Photograph From Different Vantage Points: It's common for a person to "shoot" from a front and center standpoint, either standing or sitting, but photographing from a different position can make for some interesting, dynamic images. Try photographing a portrait from above, the subject sitting and you standing above them, or with the subject's back towards you with their head turned sideways facing you. In any case, a subject should slightly tilt their head down when photographing from any standpoint.
- If You Don't Know the Person, Make Small-Talk: Its goes without saying that people tend to be more comfortable around people who they are familiar with, so make small-talk with the subject. Ask them about the type of work they do, hobbies, children, etc. Watch their face light up.
- Rule of Thirds: The rule of thirds is the theory of seeing a photograph or frame in three equal parts, a third. The goal is to place your subject--the person you are photographing--slightly off center, either to the left or the right, never in the middle. Visually, this is more appealing.
- Background: Make sure the background of your photograph is not "busy," free of distracting visuals, so that the viewer can concentrate on the person in the picture.
- Light Towards Face: When thinking of a great place to take a photograph, always place the subject with the light or sun falling into his face, so that his face doesn't appear in "shadow," with the light behind the head.
- Dim Light: When shooting in dark or dim light, the photo taker should lean on a sturdy surface to prevent camera shake, which could result in a blurry photo. Objects leaned on could be a sofa, door pane, wall or anything that can hold body weight.
- Avoid Black and White Clothing: Black and white clothing are "shades," not necessarily "colors." Within a photograph, light is either reflected or absorbed into objects. Black clothing articles absorb light, which makes it harder to see detail within a photograph. White clothing articles reflect light, also, making it harder to see details.
- Let the Person Know That You Are Going to Take Their Picture: This tip may sound odd, or very common sense like, but how many pictures have you seen when a person's eyes are closed or when their mouth is open? Worse yet, an unflattering pose of their chin. In group photos, this is especially pertinent because oftentimes you may not get a do-over.
- Photograph From Different Vantage Points: It's common for a person to "shoot" from a front and center standpoint, either standing or sitting, but photographing from a different position can make for some interesting, dynamic images. Try photographing a portrait from above, the subject sitting and you standing above them, or with the subject's back towards you with their head turned sideways facing you. In any case, a subject should slightly tilt their head down when photographing from any standpoint.
- If You Don't Know the Person, Make Small-Talk: Its goes without saying that people tend to be more comfortable around people who they are familiar with, so make small-talk with the subject. Ask them about the type of work they do, hobbies, children, etc. Watch their face light up.
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