Portrait Photography Tips
1. Hold your camera very still or use a tripod
2. Know how to use the manual or auto focus
-make sure you focus on the subject or person rather than the background
3. If you focus on someone's eyes, it tends to soften the skin
4. KISS: keep.it.simple.stupid
- narrow depth of field, background is uncluttered
5. Get up close
- focus on a part of the body or subject
6. Alter perspective
- use different angles
7. Experiment with lighting
- side lighting, back lighting, golden hour (best time to take photos is one hour after dawn and one hour before dusk), do not shoot into the
sun, shoot photos in shady area on bright and sunny days
8. Break the Rules of Composition
-place the subject in the dead center, put the subject off center, add emotion or a blur
9. Take a series of shots and put them together
10.Tell your subject to:
- look off camera, look over photographer's shoulder, look up/down (play with eye contact)
11. Introduce a prop
12. Shoot candidly
- follow your subject around
2. Know how to use the manual or auto focus
-make sure you focus on the subject or person rather than the background
3. If you focus on someone's eyes, it tends to soften the skin
4. KISS: keep.it.simple.stupid
- narrow depth of field, background is uncluttered
5. Get up close
- focus on a part of the body or subject
6. Alter perspective
- use different angles
7. Experiment with lighting
- side lighting, back lighting, golden hour (best time to take photos is one hour after dawn and one hour before dusk), do not shoot into the
sun, shoot photos in shady area on bright and sunny days
8. Break the Rules of Composition
-place the subject in the dead center, put the subject off center, add emotion or a blur
9. Take a series of shots and put them together
10.Tell your subject to:
- look off camera, look over photographer's shoulder, look up/down (play with eye contact)
11. Introduce a prop
12. Shoot candidly
- follow your subject around
Hue (Color)
Red- strength, warmth/love, energy, excitement ; defiance, aggression, strain, faster breathing, fear
ex. red hearts, blood
Orange- communication, optimism, security, passion, warmth, fun ; pessimism, superficiality, frustration, deprivation, immaturity
ex. fire, used in kitchen will provoke eating
Yellow- optimistic, cheerful, optimism, friendliness ; suicide, anxiety, fear, fragility, critical
ex. sun, warning
Green- balance, growth, self-reliance, harmony, peace; possessiveness. boredom, stagnation, decay
ex. money, mold
Blue- trust, peace, loyalty, integrity, communication, efficiency, coolness, tranquility ; nostalgic, inflexible, unfriendly, sad, tired
ex. sky, ocean, police
Violet- creativity, luxury, containment, authentic ; impractical, immature, suppression, inferiority
ex. royalty
White- purity, innocence, perfection, clarity, simplicity ; cold, isolating, empty, sterility, unfriendliness
ex. clouds, walls
Black- power, control, sophistication, security, substance; hidden, coldness, heaviness, oppression, death
ex. briefcase, death
Gray- calm, composure, conservative, neutrality; boring, depressing, dampness, lack of confidence, lack of energy
ex. cement
Brown- security, protection, honest, approachable, seriousness; lack of humor and sophistication
ex. tree, dirt
ex. red hearts, blood
Orange- communication, optimism, security, passion, warmth, fun ; pessimism, superficiality, frustration, deprivation, immaturity
ex. fire, used in kitchen will provoke eating
Yellow- optimistic, cheerful, optimism, friendliness ; suicide, anxiety, fear, fragility, critical
ex. sun, warning
Green- balance, growth, self-reliance, harmony, peace; possessiveness. boredom, stagnation, decay
ex. money, mold
Blue- trust, peace, loyalty, integrity, communication, efficiency, coolness, tranquility ; nostalgic, inflexible, unfriendly, sad, tired
ex. sky, ocean, police
Violet- creativity, luxury, containment, authentic ; impractical, immature, suppression, inferiority
ex. royalty
White- purity, innocence, perfection, clarity, simplicity ; cold, isolating, empty, sterility, unfriendliness
ex. clouds, walls
Black- power, control, sophistication, security, substance; hidden, coldness, heaviness, oppression, death
ex. briefcase, death
Gray- calm, composure, conservative, neutrality; boring, depressing, dampness, lack of confidence, lack of energy
ex. cement
Brown- security, protection, honest, approachable, seriousness; lack of humor and sophistication
ex. tree, dirt
Rule of Thirds
1. Subject (focal point/center of interest) sits on the horizontal or vertical lines or the horizon.
2. Subject fills 1/3rd or 2/3rds of the frame.
3. Subject sits on one of the intersections (four points where horizontal and vertical lines meet) . Secondary subject sits on a diagonal intersection.
4. Subject's eyes are on top horizontal line (eye level).
2. Subject fills 1/3rd or 2/3rds of the frame.
3. Subject sits on one of the intersections (four points where horizontal and vertical lines meet) . Secondary subject sits on a diagonal intersection.
4. Subject's eyes are on top horizontal line (eye level).