Full body portrait

[12sndsgood]

I generally focus on the face, because if the face oesn't come out in focus the photo is usually getting pitched.

 

[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.

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.

even then, not focusing on the eyes will throw things off just enough to take your portraits from stunning to "oh, that's good". Even when people shot film full body portraits, they'd manually focus on the eyes. The eyes are the make or break of EVERY portrait. Nail the eyes and everything else is fine. Mess the eyes up and your portrait sucks.

 

[KmH]

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.

But only if there is sufficient DoF, and the lens has a long enough focal length. (Kelby)

 

[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.

But only if there is sufficient DoF, and the lens has a long enough focal length. (Kelby)

even then that seems more like a 'good enough' solution than what is ideal or what you 'should' do. I've read all Kelby's books, and I don't remember reading that.

 

[Solarflare]

I've seen pictures where only ONE eye was in focus.

Thats how narrow the depth of field can be, depending upon lens.

 

[WilliamDSLR]

For me, I usually shoot in the midsection of the purpose as the focus point. I'm not sure if this is completely correct but my pictures come out well and do not have any problems. It's probably best to experiment with the different advice given on here to see what works best with you and what you find you are happy with.

 

[AaronLLockhart]

Fjrabon is absolutely correct. In any type of portrait photography, the eyes should ALWAYS be your focal point. Especially in a full body portrait.

With headshots, the eyes are most important because everything else will slowly fade into bokeh due to a smaller DoF. So the clarity of the eyes will determine how clear your subjects face will be, which is actively the most important part of a headshot

The reason the eyes are a great foundation for full body shots, is due to a larger DoF. You bet that the entire body of your subject will be in focus in a full body shot if you focus on the eyes, in most cases. This of course depends on whether you have your aperture set smaller like it should be as well.

 

[BXPhoto]

Eyes eyes eyes... the eyes give the drama in your photo and tell your story. So remember to always focus on the eyes. Focus and recompose if you have too.

During a recent maternity session:

Destiny Bloss by BX | PHOTO, on Flickr

 

[fjrabon]

A theory that I find particularly persuasive is that we are genetically programmed to be attracted to clear eyes, as they're a sign of good health. So the more tack sharp and clear you can make the eyes, the more pleasing the picture is to us on a very deep, subconscious level.

 

[TGordon]

Pretty photo...like it

 

[AaronLLockhart]

Eyes eyes eyes... the eyes give the drama in your photo and tell your story. So remember to always focus on the eyes. Focus and recompose if you have too.

During a recent maternity session:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/suicidns13/7145955845/
Destiny Bloss by BX | PHOTO, on Flickr

I absolutely love this photo.

Nikon D5000 | 18-55mm AF-S VR | 50mm 1.8G | HB-47 Hood

 

[BXPhoto]

I absolutely love this photo.

Nikon D5000 | 18-55mm AF-S VR | 50mm 1.8G | HB-47 Hood

Thanks, here is my personal favorite from the session...


Destiny Bloss by BX | PHOTO, on Flickr

 

[TGordon]

Nice photo and the background is great

 

[Solarflare]

Nice photo, gorgeous woman.