Personal Portrait Photography – More Than Meets The Eye

Image via WikipediaPortrait photography does not rely so much on the most advanced photographic equipment as much as it does on basic techniques that capture the physical appearance and internal character of a human being. If you are meeting a subject for portrait photography for the first time, then you may need to take some time to get that person to warm up and be comfortable with you.

You can try talking to that person in the course of the portraits session, allowing some of their personality to shine through. Although most portrait photography styles involve the subject in a pose, you can also take pictures during their unguarded moments, which are often more revealing.

In terms of lighting, soft and off-camera works best for indoor portraits, while overcast skies bring about more flattering photos when outdoors. A reflector can be your best friend when taking portrait photographs in bright sunlight, since you do not want to cast attention on the shadows underneath a subject’s eyes. If you want to draw attention to certain features, then lighting should come from the top or the side of the face of the subject.

In portraits, you also do not want to emphasize someone’s nose, which means that you will need to take the photos from a distance, as much as ten to fifteen feet away. In this case, you will need to have a telephoto lens to compensate for the distance. When taking group photos, it is a general rule to have everyone move as close to each other as possible to convey warmth and camaraderie.

There are different kinds of shots under portraits with close-up photos being the most common. Usually, close-ups include the subject’s face taken from the neck up. Upper body shots allow more of the background to be seen in the photo and let the subject relax a bit.

Portrait photography also includes environmental portraits, which show the surroundings or activities that the subject usually engages in. Photojournalists prefer this type of portrait photography best since you get an interesting peek into the life of a person.