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 07/07/2005 11:49:25 AM · #1
Portrait photography is one of the hardest subject from my point of view. What are the points should count at the time of taking portrait photograph from your point of view. Pls. Help.

And will love to see your best portraits.
 07/07/2005 11:55:54 AM · #2
I've found this trick to work rather well in portrait photography.

1. Turn your camera, so that the image is turned 90 degrees to left or right
2. Take picture
 07/07/2005 12:03:06 PM · #3
I think a very important item to watch is the catch lights in the eyes. If you can keep them off the pupil and in the color part of the eye the portrait will look better.
 07/07/2005 12:03:33 PM · #4


this was taken outside at almost sunset in a shaded spot. i dont recall the camera settings other than in portrait mode with light meter pulled down to a -2.0 and a low(-2.0) fill flash. i wanted just enough light to illuminate my daughter and her "outfit"( was a light pink sheer curtain she plays dress up with). portrait photography is like anything else. it depends on what mood u are going for. trial and error is my best advice i can give you. I havent done many "portraits" as of yet. Im still new to all the photography. for every one photo i post i have taken about 40-60 photos before i get the settings correct for the look i want a photo to have(my vision). good luck and post the finals when u get some.
 07/07/2005 12:09:41 PM · #5


This is my most recent portrait. I'm no expert but interesting lighting, always runs through my mind first. Side lighting, if possible is biggie for me?

My friend, taken in this shot wasn't too relaxed due to the fact that we were taking shots while walking down the street. I was touring her area (Chiswick) and trying to find a nice backdrop for a shot at the same time. We rushed in, around 18 shots and I was happy to get this one with the sunlight almost directly above. I have a few more things in my portfolio.
 07/07/2005 12:09:45 PM · #6
These are 3 of my favorites. Personally, I think the most important thing is that the eyes be in focus.


but sometimes not seeing a face says a lot also.
07/07/2005 12:15:18 PM · #7
I've been looking at this guy's portraits just recently and I really like what I see. I think if you look around his portfolio there are some really good examples of lighting.
07/07/2005 12:28:42 PM · #8





These are a few of my favorites. I enjoy studio work and so have worked on my portrait skills for a while now. I think the most important thing about taking portraits is to capture a natural expression, not a forced smile. Also, lighting lighting lighting. There are some excellent books and online tutorials out there, I would suggest studying those in order to get the tips and tricks that the pros use.

Sorry, removed one. Realized I'd uploaded the wrong file.

Message edited by author 2005-07-07 12:45:44.
 07/07/2005 12:35:06 PM · #9
Take a look at these challenges for portraits...
Link1
Link2
Link3

See portfolio of librodo

there are many more portraits on this site, you can also browse the photos under people or studio categories...
07/07/2005 12:40:22 PM · #10
From my point of view, Ron Kramer's portrait work is fantastic.

More of his work can be seen in this thread.

His website is here.

Message edited by author 2005-07-07 12:48:51.
 07/07/2005 12:42:08 PM · #11
Originally posted by debitipton:
but sometimes not seeing a face says a lot also.

I just love this shot!
 07/07/2005 12:48:42 PM · #12
I'm still working out portraits - and just starting to practice. I had some friends who wanted to build a small portfolio for their daughters so I worked with them recently. The hardest thing I found was lighting - I just couldn't seem to get enough light in the room to get a fast enough shutter... but I made do. :-)



07/07/2005 02:20:55 PM · #13
I make the bulk of my income through portraiture. My first priority is getting to know SOMETHING about my subject(s) before they ever see my camera. While I am chatting and learning a little about them, I am looking ... at details of their face, their form ... something that reflects a part of their personality, so that in the 20 - 30 shots I take, at least one will juxtapose a part of their physical structure with one of their characteristics. Linda is a civil judge and I loved her hands, strong yet gentle. So I asked her to pose with her hand near her face and think of something wise her mother had once told her. She said she had never been defined so succunctly in a photo.
Like all photography, lighting is of prime importance. Using light and shadow to define shapes along a face can also reveal personality as with Diana, who is an optimist, always looking up to the light. I prefer shooting outside and use natural light like for this farmer and his newest daughter.
Creative framing can bring a portrait into a heightened state of intimacy as it did for Alec, who struck me as having two halves to his face ... one of hope and one of fear.
I rarely ask people to look at the camera (it makes many nervous) and continuously work at maintaining a relaxed atmosphere where people can just be themselves. I shot a couple who seemed to always smile rigidly while looking to my camera and couldn't get them to relax. After one such shot, I asked them to turn to one another and touch nose to nose. Then I just waited for what I knew would happen and this was the resultant shot they loved best. When another couple arrived for a shoot, the man (who was a retired goucho) wore a cowboy style hat and had a toothpick in his mouth. His wife asked that he remove them for a series of shots. After a while, I suggested he put both back in place and got this revealing portrait.
Don't be afraid to include defining surroundings into the shot. They will help. Unless you desire dramatic shadows, use a fill flash when in the direct sun. Keep each subject comfortable, confident and informed as to what you are doing and instead of a wooden smile, they will reward you with their true personality, which will keep you in demand.
 07/07/2005 03:22:48 PM · #14
I recently did my first portrait shoot of my oldest daughter in the studio. Knowing very little about light placement or posing, this is what happened when I just tried to capture her 'essence'. I think it worked. What do you think?



Message edited by author 2005-07-07 15:25:29.
 07/07/2005 03:50:20 PM · #15
Originally posted by dwterry:
I've been looking at this guy's portraits just recently and I really like what I see. I think if you look around his portfolio there are some really good examples of lighting.


and I'd have to totally disagree, not that these are "bad" they just come off (to me) as boring. They look high quality, but still - boring. We're all individual, portraits should speak to that individuality in my opinion.

These portraits by Annie Leibovitz speak volumes: Annie's girls

Message edited by author 2005-07-07 15:53:24.
 07/07/2005 04:08:24 PM · #16
There are a lot of great shots here. Another thing that is really important is make the person comfortable, don't bark instructions at them, try to keep it as easy flowing as possible. No one can seem to get a good picture of me but me, and that's because I'm totally at ease with myself, and I can have fun doing it. Alot of photographers seem in a hurry or impatient and don't give you time to relax. I would also say practice on people you know before trying others, no one wants to stand around for hours while you are trying to figure out lighting, etc....
Just my opion as I've never tried to do portraits, but have had alot done.
 07/07/2005 04:13:22 PM · #17
You might find some samples here...

My portrait portfolio

Also check out the tips section on my website pertaining to photoshoots.
 07/07/2005 04:18:02 PM · #18
I recently took my first attempt at baby portraits and I found it to be pretty tough. I don't like formal set ups. Like it was stated before, it's not that they are bad pictures...just boring to me. I like taking a more natural approach. I used all natural light.


07/07/2005 04:24:02 PM · #19
Random Portrait Thread

this forum has several pics and some discussion too
 07/07/2005 04:26:43 PM · #20
You have to capture something particular about the person in one frame- something that makes them different from all the other people in the world. If you used the same lighting, pose and angle for every portrait, your portfolio would look like a yearbook.
07/07/2005 05:17:27 PM · #21


07/07/2005 05:31:42 PM · #22
Originally posted by GoldBerry:
These portraits by Annie Leibovitz speak volumes: Annie's girls


Good Lord! She just rocks. Incredible work. I love that essay.

Kev
 07/07/2005 05:57:15 PM · #23
I think you've seen here that portraits can be viewed creatively with different goals in mind. Sometimes its the connection that can be made with the eyes; sometimes its the subject looking away. Sometimes darker shots make a difference and sometimes you want to see everything. Many, many people on DPC take good portraits because they've practiced what they see as valuable in a portrait. Then there are some who transcend simple portriats to produce artistic shots that don't have to rely on the abstract (see Lori's link to Annie Leibovitz).

I think Sher got a great shot with

Manny has several great shots

DrJOnes' is a different take on a portrait but its composed, lit and executed to perfection for my taste.

I love the lines and character shown in Ellamay's

And for portraits of kids I'll take Sonja's work any day - here's one
or


I've tried a bunch and gotten a few. Over the last few years as I try to refine what I think is the most important facet of portraiture I find that good portraits can slip into artistic representations of a subject and I don't mind.

Some of my attempts:










They're all meant to have different feelings or approaches and to whatever degree they succeed, then you wouldn't believe how many shutter actuations went into getting those few shots that I'm not completely embarassed to show.

To begin with I'd try a more straightforward approach with someone looking into or near the camera and then move around that connection to explore how the face and expression looks from different angles. There's a lot to see in a face; maybe the whole scene the subject's in and maybe just an element of the expression. Either way I think its important to try and capture the essence of the subject at the time for your viewers to see and be invited to interact with.

Just my $0.02.

Kev
 07/07/2005 09:38:15 PM · #24
Ron, this has got to be one of the best short little intros to the "art" of portraiture that I've ever read! I'm sure I speak for many others in saying THANKS for sharing your thoughts!

And by the way, having glanced at your profile, I noticed too that you live in a land I love. Eu adoro o Brasil! Como eu gostaria de voltar!

Originally posted by RonBeam:
I make the bulk of my income through portraiture. My first priority is getting to know SOMETHING about my subject(s) before they ever see my camera. While I am chatting and learning a little about them, I am looking ... at details of their face, their form ... something that reflects a part of their personality, so that in the 20 - 30 shots I take, at least one will juxtapose a part of their physical structure with one of their characteristics. Linda is a civil judge and I loved her hands, strong yet gentle. So I asked her to pose with her hand near her face and think of something wise her mother had once told her. She said she had never been defined so succunctly in a photo.
Like all photography, lighting is of prime importance. Using light and shadow to define shapes along a face can also reveal personality as with Diana, who is an optimist, always looking up to the light. I prefer shooting outside and use natural light like for this farmer and his newest daughter.
Creative framing can bring a portrait into a heightened state of intimacy as it did for Alec, who struck me as having two halves to his face ... one of hope and one of fear.
I rarely ask people to look at the camera (it makes many nervous) and continuously work at maintaining a relaxed atmosphere where people can just be themselves. I shot a couple who seemed to always smile rigidly while looking to my camera and couldn't get them to relax. After one such shot, I asked them to turn to one another and touch nose to nose. Then I just waited for what I knew would happen and this was the resultant shot they loved best. When another couple arrived for a shoot, the man (who was a retired goucho) wore a cowboy style hat and had a toothpick in his mouth. His wife asked that he remove them for a series of shots. After a while, I suggested he put both back in place and got this revealing portrait.
Don't be afraid to include defining surroundings into the shot. They will help. Unless you desire dramatic shadows, use a fill flash when in the direct sun. Keep each subject comfortable, confident and informed as to what you are doing and instead of a wooden smile, they will reward you with their true personality, which will keep you in demand.

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