Tutorial How to Shoot The Perfect Portrait
Few things are dear to us more than the portraits of beloved friends and relatives. In addition, expertly made photograph – it is not only a snapshot, but also the image that should be most accurately reproduce the characteristics of a man!
The problem is that the portraits made by professionals are usually expensive and not everyone can afford. A person who is trying to take photos portraits of himself, soon realizes that not enough just to direct the device to an object and press the button. And all because, in addition to the subject, for a good photo portrait important as lighting, background, situation, posture, facial expression and color.
And yet, having a camera and a desire to learn some basic techniques photos, you can shoot pretty good portraits. But how? Ask a professional portrait photographer with more than a decade of experience to answer some questions.
Portraits. Professional Tips
* First of all, how to make the front of the camera man smiling?
Make sure the one you take off, wants to be photographed! Suppose you want to make a photograph of a little girl. If she is tired or hungry, then this would be painful. In addition, due to fatigue facial expression and opinion are unnatural, and the portrait just do not want to watch. Therefore, before filming ask her to take a nap and a snack. It is also useful to show to attend. Be cheerful and happy. Bind up the conversation, the girl felt at ease, but did not announce it to the attacks of laughter. Because of this, the eye screw up one’s eyes and the blood rushes to the face. Try to capture different facial expressions. The more shots are taken, the greater the probability that we obtain the one that most accurately conveys the nature of man.
* What can be said about the clothes and hairstyle?
On a group portrait desirable color combination. For example, photographing family members, advise them to pick up clothes so that the colors are combined. Or let the clothes everyone will have the same color. But remember that people complete best wear dark colors and thin – light. It should be taken into account even minor details: a hanging clothes directly, so that it looked like the least mint? Right there hangs a tie? Is combed hair? If you do not notice the disheveled hair, it will make your camera! Photographing a woman, see if imposed makeup.
* How about those who wear glasses?
The problem arises because of the glare. First of all, look through the viewfinder, is there any unwanted reflections. If so, let the one you take off, slowly turns his head up until the reflection is not displaced from the center of the eye or disappears. Sometimes it helps if a person is slightly lowers his head, but be careful to ensure it has not turned a double chin!
* What is important is whether the background?
And how! Pile of power lines, roads or cars in the background only spoil the picture. Therefore, choose a background that would emphasize the advantages of the one you shoot, or chain him to the attention, it can be a tree, flowering bush, a wooden fence or wall of an old barn.
* How to take pictures indoors?
You can try to photograph a man sitting on a chair or a chair, on a lighter background wall or a houseplant. Especially interesting to capture the man, enthusiastic work or hobby, for his work or the desk or on the background fabric for sewing.
* What if the background is not interesting to find?
Try to make sure that the background was blurry. It is best to do it, when the portrait shoot on the street, where the subject can be positioned away from the background. This is done by changing the aperture. If you set a smaller aperture such as 5.6, then the subject is crisp and the background – vague.
* What can you advise with respect to composition?
Firstly, it is better to set the camera on a tripod, it will help better to concentrate on composition. Portraits usually make a full-length or three quarters (from the waist and above) or a close-up (head, shoulders, or just the head). All lenses from 105 to 150 millimeters is ideal for shooting portraits. If the lens of your camera can not adjust or change, try to approach the object or withdraw from it until you get the desired image. Incidentally, when “framed” picture, it is wise to leave some space above your head, on the sides and bottom of feet. Then, even on a zoomed picture is fit and his head and legs, and torso. Because the larger picture is enlarged, so, depending on the size of the frame, for less than it could remain places.
There is another useful principle, called the rule of thirds. It lies in the fact that the distance from the person or the human eye to the top, bottom or side edges of the image must be one-third of the entire picture. However, if you place the eye in the center of the picture – this is sometimes the best option.
* What about the attitude of being photographed? Front of the camera person can sit at ease, stand or recline, slightly turned to one side. If it seems that humans are too round face and let it gently turn his head or body, the light shines on only half of the face. Closest to the lens should be shaded part of the face. So it would seem to have. Conversely, if you want to face looked rounder, let the person turn his head or body so that it covered the whole face. Pay special attention to hands. They should not be stretched and positioned as it is natural for humans, for example, slightly propped his chin or cheek. In pictures too often noticeable this error: the person standing arms down along the torso and arms straight, should be avoided. Would be better if the one you take pictures, take anything in your hands or hold them in his usual position.
* Is there any advice on how to photograph couples?
Let the wife slightly tilting the head to each other. As a rule, it is best that the husband and wife were at different heights. You can try to make one’s eyes were at the nose of another.
* Let’s talk about lighting. What time of day is best to photograph in the street?
Later in the afternoon. Usually at this time is a lull, while the light warmer tone. Try to put your friend, so that the sun illuminates only part of the face and the side face, which in the shadows, leaving only the beam of light. Then my eyes will not be screwed up. If you want to take a picture in the profile, turn the camera to a dark part of the face. By the way, make sure that the lens does not get sunlight.
* What if the light is too bright? Try to make sure that the sun was behind your friend.
* But then his face would be in the shade?
Yes, but darkened areas can be lit with a flash. In some flash devices automatically. Another possibility – call for help, someone from friends. Then he or she can hold a reflector or a large piece of white cardboard, directing the diffused sunlight to the person being photographed.
* And what about the lighting in the room?
You can use natural light if the one you take pictures, get up at the window. Light curtains can create diffused light. If necessary, use an instant flash of cardboard or reflective to light areas of the face, which seem to be too dark.
* If not enough light? In such cases, without a flash is necessary. Try to choose a place to the side was a white wall. The slope of the outbreak so that its light is reflected from the side wall. When light is directed from the side, there are more opportunities to monitor the extent to which covered his face.
I must admit that before something will turn, must act by trial and error. But the basic rules for shooting portrait simple. Carefully calculating and considering all the details, you can even using a very simple camera to make a good portrait, to which you and your loved relatives will cherish for many years!