Hot tips for PORTRAIT photography

[wxnut]

If taking a portrait that includes the family dog, do not whistle, or call the dogs name to try to get it to look at the camera. It will want to run to you. Instead, in a soft, excited voice, say "wheres the kitty" or "whos here". It may not look at the camera, but it will perk up and its ears will go upright, and get it to sit still for a couple shots.



Doug Raflik

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[Leigh]

One thing I have recently learned the hard way . . .

KEEP THAT CHIN DOWN!!!

But be careful with this as can quite often create a double chin effect.
Keep it down but oush it forward slightly to get rid of any creases in the neck

[wildmaven]

I found this WONDERFUL posing chart!
http://polisphotography.com/Document...web/posing.pdf

Though some poses are a bit strange (what's with the butt in the air poses??), a lot of them have given me some good ideas.

Marian

[Efergoh]

A great tip for taking photographs of difficult babies/toddlers - tape a little bit of sticky tape around their index finger. They'll become entranced by it, and their hands will stay together, and they will sit still!

Also, the tape won't show up in your photograph works like a treat

Humph...I've always used cattle prods....might have to give this one a try.

[Lisa B]

I think one of THE most important pieces of advice I could give would be to get used to your OWN equiptment and/or studio and learn what works best for you - everyone's equiptment varies ever so slightly but once you've spent the time testing and learning to get along in your own environment, you're halfway there.

I have my own studio and found that testing conditions using family members in exchange for some free portraits worked really well. When shooting my neices (who are 5 and 8) I found that the less I asked them to do, the better the shots - white backgrounds and a good strong set of lights always makes for stunning portraits too!

[Bthornton]

When I get a child in the 5-10 age that's does not want to get portraits taken I often make a deal with them that if they "help me out" by being good I will let them take a few portraits when we are all done. It tends to work like a charm. I just pull out a cheap point and shoot and let them take a few of whatever. So far the kids all love that idea. I often print a 4x6 of one of the photos and send it to the child with a thank you for being my helper card. After that I have a child who can't want to see me next time and parents who remember who takes all their portraits.

[Christie Photo]

I think one of THE most important pieces of advice I could give would be to get used to your OWN equiptment...

This is good advice for all areas of photography. Only after all technical concerns are no longer a distraction are we completely free to concentrate on the artistic elements of composition.

-Pete

[Ockie]

lots of very usefull tips I'll surely read throu again as soon as I'm shooting my 1st wedding

Thanks for sharing!

[crystal_lynn]

When I get a child in the 5-10 age that's does not want to get portraits taken I often make a deal with them that if they "help me out" by being good I will let them take a few portraits when we are all done. It tends to work like a charm. I just pull out a cheap point and shoot and let them take a few of whatever. So far the kids all love that idea. I often print a 4x6 of one of the photos and send it to the child with a thank you for being my helper card. After that I have a child who can't want to see me next time and parents who remember who takes all their portraits.

That is the best tip yet! I am definately going to start doing this.

Thanks!

[anna8585]

These are very good tips, thanks for sharing...

[Tiberius47]

Focus on the eyes! it's only been mentioned once so far, it should be mentioned in every tip!

[One Sister]

I've heard at least one portrait photographer say that a woman subject should wear *heavier* makeup than usual. Yikes! When I see a woman come into the studio with lip gloss I cringe. Pose-good. DOF-good. Catch lights-good. Then all manner of hot spots on lips-ABOMINABLE.

Also, I've been getting more and more little children coming in dressed like little hookers, complete with sequins. A little of that goes a looooong way. I've sold 'em, but I hate 'em. I can't fix a dress with a thousand tiny hot spots.

Perhaps you more experienced folks have a fix for the problems above. Let me know if you do.

Also, I've read and heard about the struggles photogs have with adult hands. I've even read that people should put them in their pockets rather than have them in the portrait. I do not find this. I love hands and I use them for my subjects to interact with one another. If a woman is wearing a ring I like it in the portrait somewhere and believe me I sell more if I succeed, especially if it's an engagement ring. I'll ask her to drape her hand over the male's near shoulder if nothing else, just to get it in. But that's just me...

[AniNic]

I love all these tips, they're great! I'll be back in the morning to jot them down in my notebook. Thanks everyone!

[Lakewood Photography]

has anyone used the above tips recently and if so, can you post your portraits explaining the tip you used? thanks much!

[herrickphoto]

These are great! Thanks for posting. With children, I always praise them for everything they do. Children love to hear how great they are and they're so much more willing to cooperate with the shoot if they feel it's all something they're doing well.
Also anything that makes noise will get them to look at you. I have a bright green cuddly toy that when I bounce it on my head makes a boinging noise. This always gets a laugh or two. Of course, then they want to play with it themselves...