If you have experience in photography, the chances are really high that you have taken a handful of portraits. If you are interested in improving your craft, there are many ways you can develop and enhance your portrait success. Using the right equipment, considering the lighting, and knowing your subject and the best way to capture their essence will greatly improve your outcome of some incredible shots.
There are ways you can improve or replace your techniques but consider your equipment and any additions or adjustments that need to be made for your photoshoot. The amount and variance of lens options is overwhelming, but a 50mm lens is a great place to start. Lenses with a wide aperture of f1.4 or f1.8 will let you produce a soft, blurred effect that will make your portrait subject really stand out.
In taking portraits, you can be free and creative with taking shots, typically You are trying to tell a story or feeling with the portrait. Using props and setting the location in relation to the subject and what you’re focuses are. Creating a natural moment, only happens naturally and the subject, if it’s a person, needs to be in a natural state.
The lighting as almost as important as what your shooting and what you are trying to attain. You are trying to highlight different qualities, a feeling, something unique or uniform; and the kind of light, the strength, temperature, direction can draw out something incredible with focus and thoughtfulness.
In the long run, launching yourself as a portrait photographer will allow you to shoot far more than just headshots. A photo portfolio full of superior portrait making can help you work your way up to shooting editorial images for magazines, blogs, papers, and more. It’s a benefit to diversify your ability in the image and photography field, portrait photography is just one vital skill to develop.