portrait photography techniques, tips, setups

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Portrait photography tips
Living Pictures Photography
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Tips, techniques, and setups
This page is being expanded slowly. Keep checking back.
Separate pages for infants, toddlers,
older children, teens, adults, and so on.
This section is being built.

There are many styles of portrait photography.
I prefer a simple style that emphasizes the personality and expression of the subject.
Portrait photography is challenging and you need to have a personality that is upbeat, lively, and sensitive.
Top models get paid so much because they know how to
provide the expressions that sell products and services.
The best technique and print quality, however, cannot guarantee a great expression.
Since many people are shy in front of a camera, a photographer's skill at
establishing a rapport with the subject is crucial.
Subjects need to participate in the portrait session by relaxing and having fun.

See sample photos -- click on the links below
Some additional photo tips are on each page.
infants toddlers older children adults dogs cats horses birds
wild animals zoo life

setting up the shoot equipment photo techniques, tips

	Posing and behavior People photography is as much about human relation skills as it is about camera knowledge. To get good expressions, you must create rapport with the subject. Many people are shy of being so intensely involved with being photographed, so this sometimes creates problems. Another very important thing: You can never FORCE anyone to make a natural smile, especially not a child. If you want a smile, either make a joke or catch the subject off-guard. In school photography, many children simply don't want to smile. In that case, have them say a word like "happy", or "turkey", or some other word that forces the mouth into a smile shape. The word "chicken" works, too, but act fast. You have to catch the expression with a quick finger on the shutter.
	Prepare the set and camera BEFORE the subject arrives so the subject doesn't have to stand around waiting and getting nervous. Work quickly and very confidently.
	Eliminate distractions this could include all the "observers" A portrait is about the subject(s) ONLY, and observers often upset the mood. Too often the presence of a family member, especially a sibling, will disturb a child while it is getting photographed.
	Cameras and lenses You can learn the hard way or the easy way: You'll waste your time and money with a bad camera or bad lens. The good news is that a good camera can be very inexpensive, if you know what to look for. Learn how to use the camera. Any great camera is a waste in the wrong hands.
	Film Buy good film It's very cheap if you buy it in quantity, and stick to something you like. I often use Fuji, but also professional Konica for portraits, and many Kodak films. Use the right rating of film. At low light levels, for fast motion, or long lenses, you are wasting money if your film speed is too low. Kodak 800 makes great prints under trying conditions. Get it developed promptly.
	Lighting Natural daylight is probably the best possible light for capturing the human personality. The infinite variety of outdoor lighting conditions allows unlimited opportunities for expression. Excellent effects can also be produced simply by sitting near a window. Natural light has one big drawback, however; it's not consistently the same. Because of this, all portrait photographers must often use artificial light. To produce high volume with consistent results, studio flash units are a must. camera reviews see the photo setups page
	Backgrounds A bad background can ruin a picture. When framing your shot, pay attention to what's behind your subject. Use outdoor backgrounds to advantage, such as colorful leaves, or broad expanses of color such as the sky or distant scenery. Using a long lens and/or wide aperture can reduce the impact of a distracting background. Often you can shift your position or your subject's slightly to greatly improve your composition. Sometimes, however, you do not have much choice. You must seize the opportunity or you will lose it. There's always Photoshop.... You can use a grey or black cloth as a background, and with the use of simple "gels", or transparent colored plastic, over your flash units, you can make the grey background any color.
	Costumes Interesting costumes can greatly enhance a portrait and increase its value, since it will be a rare photo. Be creative. Every outfit is a costume from another's point of view. Sometimes all you need is a hint of a costume, such as a scarf, hat, or something in the hand.
	Props A simple prop often helps set a mood or natural pose. Too many props, or unrelated props, are not good. There is a science to color and shape. Keep the color tones harmonious and look for good geometry. With a young child, it's wise to let them have a toy in their hands. A clever choice of prop can keep a toddler's hands occupied and out of trouble. Hats are often very effective, since they can immediately convey an image. Young children, however, will often play with them. Make a game of it.
	Framing the shot Ultimately, only what's actually IN the photo matters, so with careful framing you can create the image you want. Although you can crop a photo later, it's best to "crop" while shooting. This means taking an extra few seconds to check the image before firing the shutter. Leave out everything that's not necessary, and use geometry to good effect. When people look at each other, their eyes generally go first to the face and upper body, so a portrait should usually include those features. Hands are also important, but not so necessary, since the mind fills in what is assumed.

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