Full body portrait

[Zyr55]

When shooting full body portrait, do you move the focus point to the head or just leave it in the center? I found out that when I move my focus point all the way to the side, it doesn't focus very well and not sharp.

 

[tirediron]

Know what your DoF is going to be at the intended aperture, camer-to-subject distance and focal length, and focus accordingly. I almost always use the eyes/nose as the critical point of focus.

 

[paigew]

I always shoot for the eyes. (pun intended). Why are you moving your fp to the side?

 

[Zyr55]

I always shoot for the eyes. (pun intended). Why are you moving your fp to the side?

When I'm shooting in portrait orientation on full body portrait, the focus point is in the midsection of the subject if I left the focus point in the center.

 

[paigew]

are you shooting in auto? not sure what 'on full body portrait' is...a setting you can choose like 'sports' or 'night'? I always choose my focus point and almost always focus the eyes. I also shoot in manual though. I don't think you can choose your fp in auto...

 

[Zyr55]

are you shooting in auto? not sure what 'on full body portrait' is...a setting you can choose like 'sports' or 'night'? I always choose my focus point and almost always focus the eyes. I also shoot in manual though. I don't think you can choose your fp in auto...

Sorry, I meant whole body portrait. I shoot manual also.

 

[fjrabon]

you can either:

1) change your focus point, or

2) get the focus where you want it, then use your camera's focus lock, and recompose or

3) do the same thing with a half shutter press on some cameras. ie half shutter press to lock the focus point, then recompose, then full press to take the photo.

You should never, ever use the focus point as the middle of the photo 'just because that's where the focus point was on the camera'. The only time the focus should be the middle of the frame is when whatever is in the middle of the frame just so happened to be what you wanted to focus on.

 

[Zyr55]

you can either:

1) change your focus point, or

2) get the focus where you want it, then use your camera's focus lock, and recompose or

3) do the same thing with a half shutter press on some cameras. ie half shutter press to lock the focus point, then recompose, then full press to take the photo.

You should never, ever use the focus point as the middle of the photo 'just because that's where the focus point was on the camera'. The only time the focus should be the middle of the frame is when whatever is in the middle of the frame just so happened to be what you wanted to focus on.

Thanks fjrabon for the great advice. I guess I need to start learning how to use the d-pad on my d7000.

 

[cabledawg]

I read in a Scott Kilby book recently that for full body portraits, the camera should be level or slightly above the waist with the waist as the focus point. This keeps the body proportioned correctly in the shot.

 

[Zyr55]

I read in a Scott Kilby book recently that for full body portraits, the camera should be level or slightly above the waist with the waist as the focus point. This keeps the body proportioned correctly in the shot.

Thanks! I'll keep that in mind.

 

[Robin Usagani]

Some cameras, the focus points that are not in the middle are not as accurate. I always rather use the middle focus point.

 

[fjrabon]

I read in a Scott Kilby book recently that for full body portraits, the camera should be level or slightly above the waist with the waist as the focus point. This keeps the body proportioned correctly in the shot.

The waist should be in the middle, but it shouldn't be the 'focus point'. Focus point should almost always be the eyes, unless you have a good reason for it not to be.

The D7000 (which the OP has) has 39 focus points and 9 with cross focusing (ie more accurate). It's one of the main selling points of the D7000, and if you're not using them, frankly, you're throwing money out the window by owning a D7000.

 

[cabledawg]

I read in a Scott Kilby book recently that for full body portraits, the camera should be level or slightly above the waist with the waist as the focus point. This keeps the body proportioned correctly in the shot.

The waist should be in the middle, but it shouldn't be the 'focus point'. Focus point should almost always be the eyes, unless you have a good reason for it not to be.

Yeah I keep forgetting about the focus points on the DSLR's. Well in theory (unless she's incredibly large) if you focus at the waist, the face should be in focus as well. The center focus point could be at the waist but manually select the point closest to the face.

 

[TGordon]

You people have such great ideas and answers ..

 

[fredricfei]

That's a normal habit, but you'd better change it when choosing a large aperture.