How to take good portrait pictures?

[WilliamDSLR]

Hi everyone,

I would really like to know if any of you have good tips on how to take portrait pictures? I recently tried doing it of a couple of friends, but I wasn't happy with the pictures. I didn't feel I captured my subjects very well. Perhaps the lighting wasn't great either!

Do you have any good tips of taking good portrait pictures? Any recommendations on the best settings to use on the camera along with places that would have the best lighting?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Solarflare]

Hmm, since nobody seems to want to answer, let me fumble through this. Mind I'm only a beginner.

- Portrait is like half of photography. Classic, glamor, street photography, photojournalism, pinup, etc. So there is no general answer.
- Traditionally one wants to use a lens with low f-number, i.e. small depth of field and very bright and fast, and good bokeh, i.e. out of focus areas look creamy.
- With a low depth of field, its utmost important to focus on the eyes so those are sharp.
- This isnt possible with groups of people, obviously. In such cases you have to use higher f-numbers.
- One wants to avoid light from below because it make people look creepy.
- One wants to avoid too much light from directly above because it puts faces into shadow.

Thats the general stuff I can think of.

 

[Robin Usagani]

post your work and you shall receive comments and suggestions to improve.

 

[Designer]

Hi everyone,

I would really like to know if any of you have good tips on how to take portrait pictures? I recently tried doing it of a couple of friends, but I wasn't happy with the pictures. I didn't feel I captured my subjects very well. Perhaps the lighting wasn't great either!

Do you have any good tips of taking good portrait pictures? Any recommendations on the best settings to use on the camera along with places that would have the best lighting?

Thanks in advance!

One thing that will help you is to look at portraits done by really good photographers. Pay attention to their use of light, framing, and focus. Usually, the exposures are going to be perfect, and with some internet postings, you can read the EXIF to get the details of lens, exposure settings, etc.

Another thing is to simply practice, practice, and practice some more.

 

[KmH]

A good portrtait of a person starts with a study of the person's face, to identify what about the facial mask is flattering, and what isn't.

That analysis determines the best way to pose and light the person based on the style of portrait you want to make.

The photographers #1 task is to use light effectively, regardless the type of photo being made.

Even outside, most professional photographers use supplimental lighting to make portrait images. Outside, direct mid-day sunlight is often useless without modifying it. Your profile doesn't say where you are, but the further north you are, the lower the Sun is in the southern portion of the sky in the late fall, winter, and early spring, making direct sunlight somewhat more usable mid-day.

A common mid-day tactic is to put the subject into open shade, which eliminates the harsh, direct sunlight that makes sharp edged and dense shadows. If open shade isn't avilalble, a diffusion panel can be used to make open shade.

A fundamental of photographic lighting is that small light sources produce harsh unflattering light that has sharp edged shadows. Big light sources deliver soft flattering light that has diffuse shadow edges.

Light Science and Magic, Fourth Edition: An Introduction to Photographic Lighting

Off-Camera Flash Techniques for Digital Photographers

On-Camera Flash Techniques for Digital Wedding and Portrait Photography

Minimalist Lighting: Professional Techniques for Location Photography

Posing for Portrait Photography: A Head-to-Toe Guide for Digital Photographers

Monte Zucker's Portrait Photography Handbook

 

[WilliamDSLR]

Wow, thanks for all the great advice. There certainly is a lot to consider and help me take great portrait pictures.

Once I can digest all of this, I think the key then is to keep practising until it comes very fluent to me. I always wondered how to get great portrait photos as it seems to be a hard subject to take a picture off (well for me as a beginner).

post your work and you shall receive comments and suggestions to improve.

I think this could be a good idea. I will have to get some of my portraits up so you guys can critique!

Thanks for taking the time to explain.

 

[mark2kumar]

Hi William,

All this great advice will get you on the right path. Especially what “KmH” said! I think, the secrete to taking great protraits is knowing what your shooting style is. Photograph only the poses that you feel look great. This will differentiate you from other and will hire your because of your unique style. Just my 2 cents…I hope this helps you..