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Dear photographers,
If you have been in the photography world for a while, at some point you may have experienced some difficulties in portrait photography. You are lucky if you are born with the talent to perfectly capture WOW portrait photos. Well, obviously that is not the case for me. Instead, I was quite unsure when one of my friends asked me to take some shots for her senior photos.
Here are some tips which I learned from my experience playing with portrait photography.
1. Change the Perspective - While it is almost common sense and textbook to take photos at eye level, changing your angle may bring your portrait photography into another level. I would suggest you to play with different angle of shots like low-angle and high-angle. Be creative and explore as much as you can.
If you have been in the photography world for a while, at some point you may have experienced some difficulties in portrait photography. You are lucky if you are born with the talent to perfectly capture WOW portrait photos. Well, obviously that is not the case for me. Instead, I was quite unsure when one of my friends asked me to take some shots for her senior photos.
Here are some tips which I learned from my experience playing with portrait photography.
1. Change the Perspective - While it is almost common sense and textbook to take photos at eye level, changing your angle may bring your portrait photography into another level. I would suggest you to play with different angle of shots like low-angle and high-angle. Be creative and explore as much as you can.
2. Play with the Eyes - I agree when people say eyes tell everything, and thus eye contact in portrait photography is important. Yet solely focusing on eye contact is not the most interesting thing. In fact, having the eyes not looking at the camera may give some intriguing effect to the viewer.
3. Staying Focused within the Frame - I would suggest you to be very aware on the frame. Having your model or object out of the frame would distort the message of your image. This doesn't mean that everything has to be at the center of the frame, instead I do encourage you to play with the composition as long as you are aware of the frame.
3. Staying Focused within the Frame - I would suggest you to be very aware on the frame. Having your model or object out of the frame would distort the message of your image. This doesn't mean that everything has to be at the center of the frame, instead I do encourage you to play with the composition as long as you are aware of the frame.
4. Composition Rules - Portrait photography is quite tricky, in a good way. Composition is one of the most basic rules of photography, particularly portrait photography. I would say that the composition rule is made to be broken. Yet, to be able to break and have an awesome portrait photography out of it, you have to know and be comfortable with the composition rule.
5. Experiment with Lighting - Lighting in portrait photography is like a turbo booster in a car. It may improve your portrait photography greatly, yet if you cannot handle the lighting well, you will damage your image very easily. The good news is, there is no right or wrong in photography. Feel free to experiment and express yourself through your photos.
5. Experiment with Lighting - Lighting in portrait photography is like a turbo booster in a car. It may improve your portrait photography greatly, yet if you cannot handle the lighting well, you will damage your image very easily. The good news is, there is no right or wrong in photography. Feel free to experiment and express yourself through your photos.
6. Make Subject Move - Another tip which may improve your portrait photography is by putting your model out of his/her comfort zone. One way of doing this is by having your model doing or working something. The bottom line is, the more unique and creative the action, the more WOW your portrait photography is. Be creative and explore as much as you can!
7. Don't Stage the Photo - Sometimes it is better to take snapshots for portrait photography, rather than fixed poses. Let your model move, out of his/her comfort zone, and your task is to capture every moment of it.
7. Don't Stage the Photo - Sometimes it is better to take snapshots for portrait photography, rather than fixed poses. Let your model move, out of his/her comfort zone, and your task is to capture every moment of it.
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8. Using Props - I really like to have my model use props. Props really help to improve your portrait photography. Props enhance the story you want to share with the viewer. Props also strengthen your model's expression.
9. A Part of the Whole - It is another way to add some creativity into your shots. Instead of capture the whole head, shoulder, neck, hand, etc, you can explore more on portrait photography by focusing on one part of the body. For instance, you can take picture of your model's shoulder with a tattoo, leaving the head out of the frame.
A wise man said that the sap is contained in the whole rose flower
9. A Part of the Whole - It is another way to add some creativity into your shots. Instead of capture the whole head, shoulder, neck, hand, etc, you can explore more on portrait photography by focusing on one part of the body. For instance, you can take picture of your model's shoulder with a tattoo, leaving the head out of the frame.
A wise man said that the sap is contained in the whole rose flower
10. Variation on a Theme - The key in photography is to have as wide variations as possible. Expand your creativity by varying the theme of your portrait photography. The key is, I cannot over emphasize it, to be boundless in your creativity.
The only burden you will have in portrait photography is your creativity. Once you think out of the box, the possibility is unlimited. My suggestion is to understand the rules of photography, work with them until you feel comfortable. Once you master the rules, try to break them.
Take as many photos as possible. Repetition is the master of skills.
I hope you find the portrait photography tips useful, and happy taking photos :)
The only burden you will have in portrait photography is your creativity. Once you think out of the box, the possibility is unlimited. My suggestion is to understand the rules of photography, work with them until you feel comfortable. Once you master the rules, try to break them.
Take as many photos as possible. Repetition is the master of skills.
I hope you find the portrait photography tips useful, and happy taking photos :)