Taking Successful Portraits in Digital Photography

Stirling Blackstone Recommends a Free Photo 101 E-Course to learn digital photography tips

Taking Successful Portraits in Digital Photography

When taking portrait in digital photography, the experience can be very different from taking still-life photographs of inanimate objects or landscapes. The model is in collaboration with you for the portrait, and you work with them to get them to look the way you want. You are no longer allowed to be in total control over the image.

The most essential skill set needed for work with models is being able to deal with people. Not all models are going to be happy, patient, or even pleased to work with you. Some will be irritated quickly, and some will be irritate you quick! Some will demand nutrition, and still others will refuse the snacks you try to give them! All in all, your goal as a photographer is to get your subject to feel relaxed and as comfortable with being photographed by you as possible.

When taking a portrait your main goal should be one thing: to capture an image of a person and have their personality be shown through the photo. Most “portrait” photos are of people smiling, straining to look happy. As you can imagine, if you take a photo of an angry person, however, a smile will look somewhat strange. In this case, you should encourage your model to try for a more serious, or even scowling, look. Of course, it is also necessary to match the lighting and the setting with the mood as well. A serious expression accompanied by a white background that is extremely bright will make the person look angry, while the same expression with a jail cell background will make the person seem tough.

Do not limit yourself to taking portraits behind plain backgrounds. The wilderness can make for amazing backgrounds as well. A great outdoor setting can make a portrait seem very serene and professional. There are many wild places you can take great shots at, such as the beach, a forest, a park, and in the hills. Of course, a more dramatic portrait could be made by photographing at landfills, parking lots, roof tops, alleys, and especially graveyards.

Well planned lighting is necessary for portraits. The light you choose should make your model look as nice as possibly they can look. What is commonly considered the best type of lighting for portraits is front light. This will reduce the blemishes and make the person's face seem more flawless. The drawback, however, is that front light will flatten the image's details.

Stirling Blackstone Recommends a Free Photo 101 E-Course to learn digital photography tips

Stirling Blackstone is an aspiring digital photographer.