4 Portrait Photography Tips That Exploit Your Prime Lenses To Photograph Stunning Portraits!

Portrait Photography Tips #1 -The Disadvantages of Using A Prime Lens

The main disadvantage that photographers encounter when photographing portraits with prime lenses is the lack of flexibility as you cannot move with your camera.

A very good example is when a photographer is shooting models on the runway during a fashion show. At a very limited time, the photographer has to shoot images of complete and three-quarter length shots.

Also, photographers will have to shoot tighter portraits of every model. This is hard to do with a prime lens.

Portrait Photography Tips #2 - Important Techniques

A) Lighting Conditions

I normally set my camera to Aperture priority when photographing outdoor portraits. This happens a lot provided the lighting condition is good.

I would also have the aperture set to two stop down from wide open as this results in a more shallow depth of field.

There at times when the lighting conditions aren't too good.During these times, I'd shoot one stop down from the widest aperture available.

Otherwise, I may shoot wide open if I am positive that the lens works very well.

B) Focus The Eyes

Another very helpful tip to taking stunning portrait photographs is to focus on your subject's eyes. I normally choose a focus point that's on the top of the frame, either the left or right one. After that, I would lock focus and then recompose. Finally, I'd make the shot.

Here's something to bear in mind; be extremely careful and do it right when you focus on your subject's eyes. It is very common that photographers accidentally focus on the subject's eyebrows rather than his/ her eyes.

Portrait Photography Tips #3 - The Power Of Prime Lenses

A huge range of focal lengths in a single optic are made available with modern zooms. Companies or people who design lenses work with a single focal length. Hence, chromatic aberration or distortion is minimized.

However, designing zoom lenses can mean that compromises are often times necessary. This means that prime lenses usually give much better results to the similar focal length on a zoom.

Portrait Photography Tips #4 - Get Close And Shoot Quickly!

Do you want to know what the two most important factors are to me when it comes to portrait photography? The first important tip is to not be shy and get close to your subjects. Second, make sure that you shoot quickly.

Whenever your subjects notice you approaching them to take a shot, they'll look at the camera. This creates a sort of interaction that involves eye contact when your subjects look into the camera. Hence, never be afraid of getting near your subjects to photograph them.

10 Senior Portraits Dos and Don'ts

DO reserve a session with your photographer early in the season since their schedules can be booked months in advance.

DON'T wait too long...many high school yearbook deadlines are as early as October, so consider scheduling a session during late summer, before the school year begins.

DO pick a myriad of scenic backgrounds for your senior portraits - think wooded areas, old buildings with intricate architecture, railroad tracks, lush greenery, etc.

DON'T choose locations that have busy and really detailed backdrops that can detract from you as the focus.

DO opt to wear a variety of different outfits, both casual and dressy, especially if you will be shooting photos outdoor. If you are involved in school sports or activities, consider wearing your uniform (i.e. letter jacket or cheerleading uniform). You'll get a wide variety of photos to choose from.

DON'T clash with your surroundings. Avoid wearing loud, busy patterns and wording on your clothing - it distracts from you. Stick with solid, flattering hues such as neutrals, blues, and reds.

DO stick with your own, natural look to achieve the best photographs.

DON'T try out a new look! You'll end up with photos that look nothing like you! Boys should avoid getting a new haircut right before the shoot and girls should not try new hairstyles or makeup for the pictures.

DO relax! If you are comfortable, relaxed, and enjoying yourself, your personality and happiness will show beautifully in the portraits.

DON'T stress over blemishes, tan lines, and other minor imperfections - most Salt Lake senior portraits studios can easily erase flaws during the touch-up process.

How to make portraits of great

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So let's start with the window light. Position your subject near the window to receive the scattered light, you must have a curtain at the window. Or you can use a transparent shower curtain. See the light is very soft and diffused on the subject. This is one of my favorite ways to light quickly and easily my subject and take the picture. You will be comfortable on the results, with the aid of light, characteristic of a window.

When shooting outdoorsin full sun or light of day, without ever addressing the theme of the sun, you have to shoot into the sun or a fill-flash or a reflector to throw light back on topic. You can also use a diffuser between the sun and the subject. This is very soft, diffused light creates useful when shooting under the midday sun. This also eliminated the harsh shadows under the eyes and the question must not blink in the sun.

If the flash is the best way to get thecreative results is the flash from the camera to escape. So rather than placement of lightning on the slide, set on a tripod and use an umbrella. Now, most new Nikon cameras, as is the case have the ability to flash at a distance. This gives us, we try to directional lighting. You will be amazed at the results you get. The flash can be activated by the built-in flash pop-up or a specific trigger that Nikon makes.

Choose the Right Lens for Portraits

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Nothing beats a good portrait. Especially when the subject and the photographer are satisfied with the results.

But if you want to take good portrait photos need to think about investing in the right type of lens. If taxpayers are satisfied with the results of your work, then you get the lens for the job. And that means one with the right focal length.

Lenses with a focal length less than 80 mm are not good. Arenoses look too big because the photographer has to get in too close. The ideal portrait lens has a focal length in the range 90mm to 135mm. These keep the natural proportions of the face as you see with the naked eye.

Don't forget your sensor size when determining the equivalent focal length. Most modern digital cameras have a sensor that is smaller than the 35mm film equivalent. This means you have to factor in a multiplier to get the correct lens focal length. A film lens of 50mm would work out 80mm on a digital sensor with a 1.6 multiplier factor. Refer to your camera handbook for information on magnification factors for sensors.

A longer focal length means you can stand a bit further away and still fill the frame to your desire. This makes the nose more in proportion with the rest of the face and is very flattering.