Chapter 5: Portraits Flashcards
What should you look for in portrait photography?
Look for honest, candid emotions and reactions
Get used to controlling the environment you are shooting in, not just observing it
Keep the goal of your shoot on your mind throughout the shoot
-You don’t want to waste memory and precious time on photos that do not follow the story
How can you calm a person nerves during a portrait?
Talk it over
- Be able to empathize with the subject
- Do your research on the subject
- Talk to your subject before you set up your studio
- Find comfort zones
- Listen to what kind of pictures they want
- Keep conversation going throughout the shoot
Why should you make eye contact?
Avoid the subject
staring down the lens the whole shoot
Maintain eye contact with the subject as much as possible throughout the shoot
The subject is always more at ease with human eye contact than staring into glass
Play with different ways to free you up to make the subject more comfortable
Why is it important that a subject stays themselves?
Don’t change the subject for the sake of a photograph
Study they subject from the moment they enter the room
Look at body language
How they hold their head
What natural poses do they go to
Let them be who they are for more relaxed pictures
Why should you be boring?
When you get an anxious subject direction does not always give you the best picture
Using the boredom technique allows you to capture natural body language of the subject
- Set up your equipment and maybe fire off one frame and then wait
- Soon the subject will get caught up in their own mind and revert to a more relaxed pose
Why should you “pass the mic”?
Let someone else speak to the subject
-Find someone that is able to have an enjoyable conversation with the subject
This allows you to have no distractions during setup
Your subjects anxiety will melt away as the conversation goes on
How can light effect portraits?
Understand what light can do for your photography
For portraits know that side light adds roundness and three-dimensionality to the subject, as well as emphasizing the textural details of the face
Avoid head-on light when shooting portraits
Flat light can reduce shadows, there for making wrinkles flatten and make the subject appear more youthful
-This is used in glamour shots a lot
Look for light where you are shooting
-Find existing light and how natural light is going to affect your shoot
What does composition add?
Impact.
Close-Up vs. Scene-Setter
- Extreme close-ups allow for an unusual intimacy with the subject
- A full length portrait allows body language and clothing to help define the subject
Avoid busy backgrounds
- Your subject should not compete with anything in frame
- Use light and color to separate your subject from the background of your portrait
- Use a variety of lenses to soften your background or achieve desired visual effects
Use Props
-They must support the story and give more visual information than just the subjects face
How can you captures clues to the inner person?
Capture what the face, hands, and body position tell you
Keep in mind that you will never capture everything the subject is about in one photograph
You will only capture the subjects reaction to the current situation
How can you hear non-verbal communication?
The face carries most of the psychological weight in a photograph, due to the fact everyone can identify
-Look at the brow, into the eyes, and around the lips to read the subject
Where to have the subject look?
- Straight at the camera for the feeling of eye contact with the viewer
- Just off the camera for a less personal approach
- Looking away from the camera to display an array of emotion
- Looking at the “action” for faux action shots
What the hands and what they are telling you
-Are they in the air for celebration, or on the temples in frustration
Take note of the posture and how the subject carries themselves
-This could indicate how they were raised or events from the past that could have had a big impact on them
Be aware of other non-verbal cues during your interactions with the subject
How do you know what photo you’re looking for?
Research your subject and the reason they are being photographed
If there is a related prop be sure you have it on set to include in your photography
How can you create your environment?
Inform the viewer through props, choice of dress, and choice of backgrounds
Have the subject surrounded by objects of their everyday life
Show the subjects relationship to the world
Build what some subjects should look like
What is important to remember for group portraits?
Show ALL the faces
-Arrange the individuals in a creative way to clearly show each persons face
Soft light is better
-For groups you don’t want sharp shadows
When shooting outdoors find big open shade
What are small things to know for portrait photography?
Add zest to pictures
- Dress groups alike
- Hand subjects props
- Watch the background
- Ensure the pose carries the correct information
Don’t overstay your welcome at any shoot
Plan to shoot so you won’t need that “One more shot”
