About Portrait Photography

It is always interesting to take pictures of people as compared to inanimate objects or even animals. This is because different people project different emotions and it is always interesting to capture them on film. By doing so- a part of the individuals character is frozen onto film forever. Portrait photography is not as easy as it looks. One must be experienced in the field before experimenting with portraits as it requires a certain kind of creativity and patience.

Most portrait photographers prefer to keep the subject at the center of the background. The color of the background is kept neutral or dull so that entire focus is on the subject. Since portrait photography is all about focusing on the face of the subject, it is important that you choose a background with soft but solid colors. If you choose a background of a busy street- the purpose of your photograph will be lost.

In case you want the subject to get additional attention, it is recommended that you blur the background for best results. The details should be blurred so that the subject is given due attention. For this purpose, you need to change the settings of the camera to achieve the same. One can do so by shooting the photograph from a short distance with the help of a zoom lens.

While portrait photographers focus on the face of the subject, it becomes difficult for beginners to ascertain which feature of the face to emphasize on. The answer here is- the eyes. As they say- the eyes are the windows to the soul. Therefore, you will be able to capture exact emotions and feelings by doing so. Your photograph will definitely be a work of art if you perfect this area of portrait photography. It has been said that if you catch the subject off guard, you will be able to get the true emotions which are lost when one is told to pose in a certain manner. However, a number of portrait photographers advise their subjects to keep their faces straight so that their eyes are pointing straight into the lens of the camera while others tell their subject to turn their heads and focus on an object in the distance.

With portrait photography, natural light is always the safest bet. It helps to enhance the quality of the photograph by arresting the exact color and warmth of the subject’s skin. Portrait photographs should always be shot outdoors while the sun is blazing bright. However, make sure that the subject is standing in such a way that the light of the sun does not fall directly on his/her face. Instead- it should fall on its side.

In order to avoid silhouettes, make sure that the subject is standing in front of the sun. However, make sure that the individual or object is not placed directly in front of the sun as this can distort the color and quality of the photograph. One can use the fill-in flash to create necessary shadows.

In conclusion, it should be remembered that since this field of photography is slightly trickier, one should keep practicing and taking test shots. Carry out experiments so that you can create your own unique style. Also make sure that you get enough information from the internet and books so that you are aware of each and every aspect related to the field.