Photographing Portraits: What to Consider

For many reasons, portraits are often the most challenging type of photography to do well. It is the type of photography that requires the most thought and planning, the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to capture someone’s entire essence. Learning to take a good portrait involves a lot of practice.

What is Photographing Portraits?

We might think that a true portrait captures the essence of a person, but the true magic happens in the hands of a skilled artist. Photographing portraits is no easy task, but it has plenty of steps to follow. It also requires preparation and attention to detail, as well as the willingness to experiment. Niche are the ’60-90mm’ or ‘portrait’ lens.

Photography has changed a lot since the days of film, and there are more options than ever before. It used to be about grabbing the perfect shot in the darkest shadows; now, you can do all kinds of stuff with your camera. And all of that has changed how we think about portraits. It seems as if everyone is a photographer these days, but they aren’t. They are taking pictures and sharing them on social media.

It’s not just photographers who shoot portraits. There are many a brand and businesses that have commissioned talented artists to capture their people on camera. The aim is usually to present their brand to the world to convey their personality while also raising awareness and showing their support.

Things to consider in Photographing Portraits:

• The Lighting ratio

The light ratio also called the exposure ratio, is used to quantify the relative amount of light used by a camera to expose an object. The amount of light is needed to produce an image with a neutral density (black) tone. The term is most commonly used in the photographic world and is most often associated with the exposure of film stock exposed to light. Still, it can also describe the exposure of digital sensors to light.

• The Lighting pattern

Lighting has a huge role to play in a portrait and takes careful consideration as you try to set up the perfect shot. The best way to start is to try and think of the lighting itself in all its various forms: soft, hard, backlight, front light, ambient, directional, studio, and many more.

• The Lens selection

Lenses have become an essential tool in today’s photography arsenal. Each lens serves a unique purpose, and each has its unique characteristics. The best lens is the one that will help you do what you want-whether that is to take a great portrait or produce the most creative and artistic shot.

• The metering and exposure

Exposure is the act of placing a subject within the proper light to show the beauty of the resulting image. This is usually done by using a wide aperture (small f-stop number) to capture the entire scene or metering to place the correct amount of light on your subject.

• The Focus

A photo is a moment frozen in time, frozen in meaning. The way you treat a moment defines the way others will remember it. I have seen many photographers treat a moment in time with respect, framing the subject in a way that shows the subject’s dignity and honor. While a cold and emotionless photo may be well framed, the subject would not be remembered in the same way.

• The camera angle and facial view

For the most part, photography is an activity that can be enjoyed by both experienced and amateur photographers alike. Taking photographs of friends, family, and the world around us is a great way to document our lives and the memories of people we admire. It can be a fun hobby and an enjoyable way to relax and de-stress, but often we forget that camera settings and exposure can impact the final image.

When you can capture the natural beauty of daily life, it is a gift to your clients and a great way to keep those memories alive. When you take a portrait, you take a moment in time and immortalize it for the future. When you take a portrait, you are painting a piece of the world and capturing an image of beauty.