portrait photography

PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY

LENSES AND HOW THEY ARE DIFFERENT

Super wide angle (Fisheye) (10mm, 15mm)

Wide angle Standard (18mm-55mm)used for landscapes

FIXED/PRIME LENS- SPECIFIC mm 55mm, 85mm

Telephoto (zoom) -70mm+ Used for portraits and distance shots

PHOTO SYTLES BASED ON LENS

FISH EYE10MM-15MM

WIDE ANGLE-18MM-70MM

TELEPHOTO-70MM+

Portrait and People PhotographyPhotographs that

show the expression of a human most likely using their face as the main focal PointDO NOT CUT OFF

LIMBS FEET,HANDS,

ELBOWS

Get Close- Big mistake is not

getting close enough to your subject. Get close, fill the frame with your subject!

Settings- Settings and scene can

really add emotion to a portrait. Settings tell us information about the people and their way of life

Separate subject and background- Using a lower DOF allows you to isolate your

subject. Separate the subject from the background to highlight the focal point of your image

- This doesn’t necessarily mean setting your aperture to the lowest number possible, rather to a lower number (5.4-11) to give your subject separation from the background

- Pull your subject away from background to minimize distraction of background…or you as the photographer step back and ZOOM in on subject.

Props- Props help to give the

photographs a life and tell us more about the subject. Include props but don’t let them become the main focus of the portrait.

Lighting- Make sure the lighting ADDS to the

photograph rather then subtracts. Lighting can make or break a photograph.

- Shoot FROM the source of your light to fill in faces

- Shoot in early morning or towards end of day for nice soft diffused light. Mid day light is way to harsh and high to effectively fill out facial features

Lighting – Silhouettes- Shoot into the light. First meter for the

light source itself (set SS/Aperture) then focus on your subject and release shutter.

- Make sure subject blocks the source of light

- Point shoot cameras-adjust lighting by adding negative exposure

- On dSLR cameras- meter lighting first then lower exposure to negative

Change your angle- You can minimize distractions in your

photographs by switching up your angle- Different angles can really change the

mood and meaning of a photograph

Work/Life/Candid- Don’t tell your subject to pose. Rather

be unobtrusive and photograph them doing what they do. A posing smiling person is not always the best.

Assignment Requirements

4 Portraits1. Backlit/ Silhouetted2. Waist and above3. Close up/Head Shot4. Work/Life/Candid5. Shoot RAW or RAW+Jpeg6. Point & shoot cameras place on PORTRAIT setting7. dSLR place on MANUAL and adjust lighting 8. Reference Photos 6 to 8 photos of ideas for portrait

photo shoot Jan.14th-Bday and Jan 15th-Aday9. 1-35 picture contact sheet include 8 to 9 of each portrait

style due 10. Contact sheet due ADAY-JAN 21st and BDAY-JAN 22nd

1. Backlit/ Silohetted1. Subject will be completely black2. Having the subject being involved in an

action or a pose of some sort will most likely enhance the photo..separate the extremities from the body

3. How1. Meter for sky, set shutter speed + apature2. Then compose shot, subject will be very

underexposed3. Make sure subject blocks the light source

2. Waist and above1. Setting is key on this one.2. Either choose a setting that will add to

the photograph OR3. Find a very neutral setting4. Separate subject from setting with lower

DOF

3. Close up/Head Shot1. Get just the shoulders and above2. This is the Hollywood headshot.3. Make sure your lighting allows you to fill

out all facial features…USE NATURAL LIGHTING!

4. Fill your frame with the subject

4. Work/Life/Candid1. Capture a shot showing a person in

their natural setting2. Doesn’t necessarily need to fill the

frame as the setting and the props will add to the setting

3. Higher DOF might be helpful as the scene should add to the person in their natural setting