Taking Better Portrait Photos
Portrait photos are stunningly beautiful because they can convey both emotions and feelings that can mesmerize any viewer. The ability to capture high quality portrait images is a skill that takes many years to perfect. The lists below are guidelines on how to shoot better portrait photos:
Choose the Right Background - The face is perhaps the most important feature of a portrait photo. Choosing the proper background will direct the focus of its viewers to the subject's face and not on its surroundings.
A good background that will put focus on the subject is a neutral background with soft but solid color because this will not attract any attention. Make sure you do not have anyone else on the background other than the subject because this will destroy the mood.
Blur the Background - A lot of professional photographers use this technique because the subject is given more emphasis instead of its surroundings.
This technique can be done by using the zoom lens while shooting from a short distance. This technique can also be done by using a wide aperture under manual settings. If your camera does not have this feature, you can always edit your photos with an image editing software.
Focus on the Eye - The center of a good portrait photo will always be the subject's eyes. This is done because eyes are capable of conveying messages. When capturing your subject, whether from the front or sideways, always make sure that you subject is looking straight into the camera.
Use Natural Lighting - Natural lighting is essential when capturing portrait photos because with natural light you are able to capture the proper color tones and warmth of the skin.
Shooting outdoors during the day is ideal for shooting portrait photos. However, it is important to remember to never shoot with the sun behind your subject. If you find shades on the face, use a soft fill-in flash to get rid of them. If you are shooting indoors using artificial lighting, be sure to use indirect light sources only as direct light may distort the natural colors of your subject.
Take many Shots and Experiment - Shooting with a digital camera costs nothing so try to take advantage of this by shooting as many shots as possible. You will learn a lot by experimenting with the many settings available such as lighting, white balance, exposure, and depth of field.
Choose the Right Background - The face is perhaps the most important feature of a portrait photo. Choosing the proper background will direct the focus of its viewers to the subject's face and not on its surroundings.
A good background that will put focus on the subject is a neutral background with soft but solid color because this will not attract any attention. Make sure you do not have anyone else on the background other than the subject because this will destroy the mood.
Blur the Background - A lot of professional photographers use this technique because the subject is given more emphasis instead of its surroundings.
This technique can be done by using the zoom lens while shooting from a short distance. This technique can also be done by using a wide aperture under manual settings. If your camera does not have this feature, you can always edit your photos with an image editing software.
Focus on the Eye - The center of a good portrait photo will always be the subject's eyes. This is done because eyes are capable of conveying messages. When capturing your subject, whether from the front or sideways, always make sure that you subject is looking straight into the camera.
Use Natural Lighting - Natural lighting is essential when capturing portrait photos because with natural light you are able to capture the proper color tones and warmth of the skin.
Shooting outdoors during the day is ideal for shooting portrait photos. However, it is important to remember to never shoot with the sun behind your subject. If you find shades on the face, use a soft fill-in flash to get rid of them. If you are shooting indoors using artificial lighting, be sure to use indirect light sources only as direct light may distort the natural colors of your subject.
Take many Shots and Experiment - Shooting with a digital camera costs nothing so try to take advantage of this by shooting as many shots as possible. You will learn a lot by experimenting with the many settings available such as lighting, white balance, exposure, and depth of field.
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