Pointers on Portraits
This blog entry was written by Michael Derr and posted on Jan 18, 2010. Michael Derr is a Rockville photographer. His Web site is http://michaelderrlandscapes.ifp3.com/.
Of all the photos we take each year, none are as important as those of family and friends.
Here are a few pointers on taking more memorable portraits:
Here are a few pointers on taking more memorable portraits:
- Change your perspective. Most portraits, whether of individuals or groups, are taken standing upright. Although an eye-level viewpoint is convenient for the photographer, it’s also mundane. Try shooting from a crouch or the side—or even standing on a small ladder.
- Choose an informative background. For a special family gathering, for example, consider shooting the “chefs” in the kitchen or the entire family holding hands around the dining table. Above all, make sure that nothing in the background, such as a pole, is “growing” out of your subject’s head.
- Use a prop. If your daughter just graduated from college, for example, photograph her in cap and gown, diploma in hand. Better yet, rent a zoom lens to capture her on stage at the event itself.
- Fill the frame. A famous photographer once said, If your photography isn’t good enough, move closer. Cropping out extraneous subject matter during your shoot also saves you time in postprocessing and printing.
- Focus on the eyes. For group photos, rather than photographing subjects looking directly into the camera, allow your subjects to interact and be themselves. You’ll inject energy into the image, plus capture their personality. For portraits of individuals, have them to look into or out of the frame, or at another person who’s slightly out of focus.
- Watch your lighting. Natural light in morning or late afternoon makes for flattering portraits. Position your subjects near a window or on a backyard bench. If the sun is behind your subject, add fill flash to ensure their faces aren’t hidden in shadow.
- Use a tripod. Besides avoiding a fuzzy picture because of camera shake, a tripod allows the most important person in the room—you—to join in the making of memories.
- Lastly, experiment. There are no rules in photography—and if you think there are, break them. No matter what the occasion, be creative and have fun.
For this portrait at an 18th century San Diego mission, the environment was key. The arch frames the subject, the balustrade acts as a prop, and both bring out the age of the historic structure. Copyright © 2001 Michael Derr.
