How to improve your portrait taking
Although amateur photographers don't have the studio and other professional equipment, they can still make professional looking contemporary portraits. The following portrait tips can help create photographs with more life and personality.
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Instructions
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Get to know your subject. Draw them into conversation and study them carefully.
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Little mannerisms are good ways to show personal character. Smiles or unique facial expressions may be the feature that helps you capture your subject's personality.
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A person's interests or hobbies to enhance the personality and life of a photo. Try having the subject use or pose with personal objects that represent their interests.
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A photographer can enhance a portrait with props as long as the person remains the central focus, but a portrait's power can be lost if the subject is surrounded by too much scenery. Keep your subject in close.
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Most people are photo shy, making portraits a real challenge. Try taking candid portraits, pictures taken when they're unaware of the camera. Candid shots can produce portraits that catch people focused on an activity they enjoy.
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Create a makeshift portrait studio with lamps for lighting and bed sheets for backgrounds.
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Lighting really helps create the photograph's mood. For example, a picture with half the face in shadow creates a much different look than one taken in full sunlight.
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The position of the person is also very important. Avoid taking photos directly level to the face or profile photos that tend to give the photograph a police mug shot feel. Instead, try shooting the face from a variety of angles.
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Tips & Warnings
For the truly camera shy: wait until they are asleep. Portraits of the face at rest tend to show your subject at his most vulnerable and calmest.
Portrait photography doesn't always need a smiling face, especially if the smile seems fake and unnatural.
