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Pose your subject
You don't have to ask your subject to pose for a portrait, but if you do, here are some general rules:
- Pose your subject at an angle (up to 45 degrees) to the camera with body and head facing different directions
- Ask a male subject to tilt the top of his head toward his far shoulder, and a female toward her near shoulder
- Photograph your subject's hands with palms down and all fingers bent; never photograph your subject with fingers intertwined
- Never photograph your subject with her head leaning on her fist
- If your subject's head is leaning on her arms make sure that they point in
opposite directions.
You can also pose your subject in profile, to create a dramatic effect.
Light your portrait
Light your portrait carefully. Lighting is one of the most crucial elements in taking portraits and the kind of light that you use will have a tremendous influence on the outcome of your portrait. In photography light is used to create highlights and shadows, thus creating depth and detail. As a general rule, the better the balance between highlights and shadows, the better the photograph.
Professional photographers use expensive studio lights to optimize lighting conditions and to flatter their subject. They even use such lights when photographing out of doors. You can replicate the effects achieved by professionals using the existing lights in your home, your camera's flash, and sunlight. A household lamp is an excellent light source, especially if it has a lampshade that diffuses light, making it softer.
Here are some tips for lighting your portrait like the pros:
When shooting indoors:
Catch the sparkle in your subject's eyes
Human eyes reflect light sources around them, such as lamps and light bulbs. These reflections are called catchlights and result in a more life-like portrait. You can improve your portrait by controlling these catchlights. Before you shoot your portrait, look at your subject's eyes. Try to spot the catchlights. For the most desirable effect, you want them at the 10 o'clock or 2 o'clock position. You can position a light source off camera that will result in such a placement. Choose a source with only one bulb to create a single, solid catchlight in each eye, as single catchlights provide the most appealing effect and give your subject truly sparkling eyes.
You can achieve similar effects with your own camera and a few simple
household items, once you know some of the tricks pros use.
Create a flattering pose with short lighting
Ask your subject to turn slightly to one side. Then light the side of the face that is away from the camera, that is, the side you see less of. This is called the short side. Short lighting does several things. It has a slimming effect and lights the eyes, cheeks, nose, lips, forehead and chin. The area lit is roughly the equivalent of a Halloween mask. This draws attention to the most important features of the face while throwing other elements into shadow. A simple household lamp placed at 45 degrees to the subject's short side will do the trick.
Create a dramatic pose with broad lighting
Pose your subject in the same way as above, but light the side of the face that is closest to the camera. This is the broad side. Broad lighting gives weight to your subject by lighting a larger area of the face and creating deeper shadows on the short side. The shadow cast by the subject's nose creates a triangle of light on the short-side cheek that draws attention to the eyes. Broad lighting is less flattering because it highlights imperfections and wrinkles. However, it results in a bolder portrait that emphasizes character.
User frontal light to create an outstanding profile
If you're photographing your subject in profile, use soft frontal light to illuminate the entire face and eliminate shadows.
Create depth using backlighting
Place a light behind your subject to create depth between your subject and the background. This works especially well if you are using a solid background such as a wall or curtain. Place the light in a way that creates a halo around the subject and make sure that you are not creating shadows against the background.
Create a glamourous look with a homemade reflector
A piece of white cardboard or polystyrene can serve as a reflector to indirectly light your subject. Place a light to the side of your camera and have your subject hold the cardboard or polystyrene in her lap to reflect soft light onto her face and to eliminate shadows.
Use natural light from a window
Photograph your subject next to a window at a 45 angle, with the subject's short side to the window. This way, you get the same effect achieved by professional photographers without having to use artificial light at all. If you do decide to use natural light, the best time to do so is late in the afternoon, in the hours before the sunset.
Portrait Photography Continued: [1] [2] [3]
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