To make
successful photo portraits, you need to think not only about the camera
settings: you need to control that the lighting is set correctly, there is a
suitable background, as well as a wardrobe and other details for shooting. But
most attention needs to be paid to the people you photograph.
photo by
Kevin
Combining all this is not easy, especially if you have little or no
experience.
A good way
to gain experience is to practice taking portraits of someone you know and who
like to be photographed. Working with the same person for more than one or two
photo shoots will help develop the necessary skills. At first, many make
typical mistakes in portraiture. Try to avoid them.
1.
Bad composition
The most
common mistake in portrait composition is that there is too much space above
the head of the subject. This emptiness in the portrait, as a rule, does
nothing for the appearance of the photograph. And if there is no semantic load
in this space, cut it off.
photo by
Kevin
2.
Distracting background
Too much
detail in focus behind your subject can distract attention from it. Choose your
position carefully. Choose your lens carefully. Using a telephoto lens reduces
the background volume in the frame.
photo by
Kevin
3.
The subject is too close to
the background.
Even using a
simple background will be better if you separate the subject from it.
photo by
Kevin
4.
Object out of focus.
You may be
tempted to open the diaphragm wide to blur the distracting background . But be
careful with this technique so as not to lose focus on the subject. Blurring
the background may cause the subject to be blurred too much.
photo by
Kevin
5.
Out of focus eyes
If the
subject has eyes, focus on them. This is one of the important rules of
photography. Very rarely, a portrait with out of focus eyes looks good. When
the model is looking directly at the camera, it is easy to focus both eyes. In
case the head is turned to the side, you need to focus on the eye that is
closer to the camera.
6.
Slow shutter speed
People are
moving. You need to choose a fast enough shutter speed so that you can
"freeze" the movement. Even if the movement is small, it can still
lead to a blurry picture if the shutter speed is too slow.
photo by
Kevin
Normally, a
shutter speed of 1/250 second is sufficient.
7.
Bad light
Modern
cameras can take photos in low light, so it’s easy to make a mistake in the
settings.
photo by
Kevin
It is very
important to have the right lighting to create the mood. If you need a soft and
romantic portrait, then hard, high-contrast lighting is not suitable here.
Similarly, soft light will not help you create a dramatic atmosphere in a
photograph.
8.
Bad shooting moment
Catching the
right moment of shooting is very important. If you miss this moment, the people
you shoot may not want to pose again.
photo by
Kevin
The choice
of the moment of shooting may be successful or spoil the portrait. It is
important to wait and observe the person’s face in order to press the shutter
button at the right time. Most people will not look at your camera without
changing their facial expressions, so you should be prepared to catch the
moment when they look best.
If you are
photographing a person who blinks frequently, you will have to catch the moment
when the person's eyes are open.
9.
Not enough photos
You will
need to take quite a few photos. The small number of shots will upset you when
you edit and process the photo, because you will have too few choices.
photo by
Kevin
But do not
sit with the camera in burst mode, filling the memory card with almost
identical images. Strive to create a variety of shots, this will facilitate the
task of choice.
10.Too
many photos
It can be
difficult to strike a balance between too few and too many photos.
Some people
will find it more convenient to take pictures for a longer period of time than
others. You must understand this. If your subject becomes boring or becomes
nervous because you take it too long or take too many photos, it will be
visible in his face. As a result, the quality of the photo will suffer.
photo by
Kevin
11.Lack of
understanding with the subject
Good contact
with the person you are photographing is one of the most important aspects of portraiture.
Building a rapport with your subject, even if you only have a few minutes to
shoot, can have a big impact on the final images.
photo by
Kevin
When your
person is relaxed with you and happy, you will get the best shots. Your way of
communicating with the character is very important.
12.Do not
direct the model or adjust postures
Find out
what the purpose of the portrait session is, what type of photo the characters
of the photo need, what exactly they want to receive.
When you
know what they want, you will know what you have to achieve. If people don’t
understand what you are asking them to do, just show them. Place your body,
hands, face in the way you want the model to repeat after you.
photo by
Kevin
13.Feeling
like you are imposing
This is
common when photographing strangers. Many street photographers prefer informal
portraits because they do not want to be imposed on people.
photo by
Kevin
You need to
change your thinking and learn how to take pictures of people on the street.
14.Uncertainty
If you are
shy and unsure of yourself, this may affect the subject. You do not need to
host a show, just relax and be sure that you create good photos.
photo by
Kevin
15.Hurry
up to finish faster
Take your
time. This is not a race. Give yourself the opportunity to focus on what you
are doing. Make sure that you get what you want, and then your object is more
likely to be pleased with the result.
Conclusion
Photography
requires practice, concentration and perseverance are required for success.
That's why it's good to practice creating portraits with someone you know and
who is ready to take pictures. Examine your camera, be confident in it and in
your subject, and you will learn how to make wonderful portraits.
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