Things You'll Need:
- Camera
- Reflector
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Step 1
Select the time of day for the portrait. The natural color of sunlight changes, depending on the time of day. Early morning and late evening light is warmer, and is better for portraits. The light also less intense, so the portrait subject will be less likely to squint.
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Step 2
Position the subject so the light strikes the face or body from the side.
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Step 3
Ask the subject to move his or her face to minimize undesired shadows.
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Step 4
Having the subject look directly in to the lens will often create a more approachable portrait.
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Step 5
Take a series of photographs from slightly different angles. By varying the angle of the camera, you will get slightly different takes on the same portrait and avoid lens flare. With the sun at a low angle from the side, lens flare can be a problem from certain angles. Lens flare occurs when light enters the lens at certain angles and bounces off of the internal elements of the lens.
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Step 1
Position your subject next to a window with good light. Early morning and late evening provide warmer light, late morning to early evening give a cooler light.
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Step 2
Place a reflector opposite the window to bounce fill light back on the subject.
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Step 3
Move the reflector until undesirable shadows disappear from the side of the face furthest from the window.
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Step 4
Take a series of photographs.
