PHOTOGRAPHY

Do you just take pictures of your friends without thinking about how they might look?  Portrait photography is more advanced than people photography.  It helps you to think about things like the angle you will take the photograph from, the lighting you will use, and how the person's face looks.  If you're a beginner photographer, you might want to take Christmas photos without spending much money. But you'll need to know the basics of what the pros do.

The first thing you need to do when taking a photo of someone is to look closely at their face.  The angle you choose to shoot from is important, as is the face.  It's a well-known saying, but it's true that some people are better than others.  This could be because of scarring or spots. Or it could be something more simple.  For example, my left eye is slightly larger than my right. If I look straight into the camera, I don't look very good. But if the photographer stands to the right of me and angles up a little, the light and shadows will make my features look better while keeping the things that make me who I am.

Portrait photography is about capturing the essence of the subject, their personality.  The small details of a face can make a portrait more interesting.  You will want to make your subjects feel more relaxed.  If you want to become a professional portrait photographer, you should learn about your subject while you are taking pictures, or maybe meet them before the session.  If they are just your family, you should know what would make them look like their true selves on camera.

The next important thing to consider when taking portrait photos is lighting.  Many photographers prefer to use natural light instead of artificial lighting.  The subject you choose will affect this.  Remember that you will use the light you have.  If you want to take a photo in natural light, you often have to change the settings on the camera to improve the quality of the image.  To get the right effect, you need to use light and shadows to create contrast.  Artificial light can be harsh and not directed well unless it is in a studio.  To get the perfect portrait, you will need to use the manual settings on your camera.

The background is also important when talking about light.  When you have your photo taken in a studio, the photographer will choose a background that makes your features and clothes stand out.  They want there to be a clear difference between you and the background.  This is also important for taking photos of your family at home.  You want the background to complement your subject, not take away from it.  It's great to find a nice spot with a tree to sit on and mountains in the background for a portrait, but you will want to make sure the background isn't too busy to distract from the person in the photo.  Make the subject look like it belongs to the picture, not like it's in a different world.

The type of camera and film you use will also affect the quality of the photos.  You can take photos of your friends and family that look almost professional, or even professional, at any occasion. All you need to do is combine different techniques, like lighting, angles and understanding your subject.  You can take a photo, but it would be better to take a better portrait.