Dear photographers,
Portrait photography is, for me personally, quite unique compared to other fields of photography. Portrait photography deals with a person and the surrounding environment. For those who are born with the talent to capture WOW portrait photos, I say good for you guys! Unfortunately for me, I didn't have the talent. And I would share some of my experience to those who are struggling with portrait photography and want to improve on it.
Here are some tips which I learned from my experience playing with portrait photography.
1. Experiment with Perspective - The textbook guide of portrait photography is to capture images at the eye level. While I would say following the guideline is not going to do you any harm, yet I would encourage photographers to go beyond the rule and be comfortable with experiments. Challenge yourself to find new perspective.
2. Eye contact VS look away - Eye contact is indeed very essential in delivering the message of an image. Yet having the model looking away from the camera is also giving an intriguing effect. The good news is, there is no right and wrong in photography.
3. Be aware of the frame - Composition is, based on my experience, the most important element of portrait photography. Make sure all objects are well framed. It does not mean that everything has to be inside the frame, yet you may want people's eyeball to be able to catch the main element of your image in the first glance.
4. Composition - I am a big fan of the rule of thirds of photography. I would suggest you to become very comfortable with the rule of thirds, and play with it to be successful in portrait photography. Moving the person quite at the side of the frame sometimes creates a bigger impression.
5. Experiment with Lighting - Lighting is the catalyst of your image. Play well with it, and your portrait image is going to be amazing. I don't think that there are some specific rules about light, but it is more as a common sense. You don't want your image to be too dark or bright. I like to play with lighting. As long as you feel comfortable with the lighting, then it is right.
6. Get off from the comfort zone - Make your model move. Instead of having a fixed pose, movement is more natural. The 'snapshot' effect gives a stronger impression for a portrait photography if you do it right.
7. Make use of the environment - Props are really helpful to strengthen the story of your portrait photography. A flower, a tree branch, a spoon, or anything can be used to improve your image.
8. Focus on a part without losing the whole - Instead of capturing the whole face, shoulder, and neck of the model, focus on his/her shoulder with a tattoo is going to improve your portrait image.
A wise man said that the sap is contained in the whole rose flower
9. Wide variety of theme - Get out of the box. Library background does not mean you can only take people-studying kind of portrait pictures. Try to be creative and explore on different kinds of images you can produce. For instance, having your model to jump and scream in the library would be unique and intrigue viewers.
10. Be an idea machine - Art is all about creativity. There is no right or wrong. The only limitation is your 'predefined' idea capacity. Be wildly creative, explore ideas, and the possibility is limitless for portrait photography.
Take as many photos as possible. Repetition is the mother of skills.
I wish the tips are useful for you. Good luck with your portrait photography.
Portrait photography is, for me personally, quite unique compared to other fields of photography. Portrait photography deals with a person and the surrounding environment. For those who are born with the talent to capture WOW portrait photos, I say good for you guys! Unfortunately for me, I didn't have the talent. And I would share some of my experience to those who are struggling with portrait photography and want to improve on it.
Here are some tips which I learned from my experience playing with portrait photography.
1. Experiment with Perspective - The textbook guide of portrait photography is to capture images at the eye level. While I would say following the guideline is not going to do you any harm, yet I would encourage photographers to go beyond the rule and be comfortable with experiments. Challenge yourself to find new perspective.
2. Eye contact VS look away - Eye contact is indeed very essential in delivering the message of an image. Yet having the model looking away from the camera is also giving an intriguing effect. The good news is, there is no right and wrong in photography.
3. Be aware of the frame - Composition is, based on my experience, the most important element of portrait photography. Make sure all objects are well framed. It does not mean that everything has to be inside the frame, yet you may want people's eyeball to be able to catch the main element of your image in the first glance.
4. Composition - I am a big fan of the rule of thirds of photography. I would suggest you to become very comfortable with the rule of thirds, and play with it to be successful in portrait photography. Moving the person quite at the side of the frame sometimes creates a bigger impression.
5. Experiment with Lighting - Lighting is the catalyst of your image. Play well with it, and your portrait image is going to be amazing. I don't think that there are some specific rules about light, but it is more as a common sense. You don't want your image to be too dark or bright. I like to play with lighting. As long as you feel comfortable with the lighting, then it is right.
6. Get off from the comfort zone - Make your model move. Instead of having a fixed pose, movement is more natural. The 'snapshot' effect gives a stronger impression for a portrait photography if you do it right.
7. Make use of the environment - Props are really helpful to strengthen the story of your portrait photography. A flower, a tree branch, a spoon, or anything can be used to improve your image.
8. Focus on a part without losing the whole - Instead of capturing the whole face, shoulder, and neck of the model, focus on his/her shoulder with a tattoo is going to improve your portrait image.
A wise man said that the sap is contained in the whole rose flower
9. Wide variety of theme - Get out of the box. Library background does not mean you can only take people-studying kind of portrait pictures. Try to be creative and explore on different kinds of images you can produce. For instance, having your model to jump and scream in the library would be unique and intrigue viewers.
10. Be an idea machine - Art is all about creativity. There is no right or wrong. The only limitation is your 'predefined' idea capacity. Be wildly creative, explore ideas, and the possibility is limitless for portrait photography.
Take as many photos as possible. Repetition is the mother of skills.
I wish the tips are useful for you. Good luck with your portrait photography.
10 Tips for "WOW" Portrait Photography
Reviewed by Ray Combes
Published :
Rating : 4.5
Published :
Rating : 4.5
