| People are easily the number one subject for | | | | Lighting in portrait photography can be as complicated |
| photographs. From party snaps, to photos of children | | | | as you like. Professional portrait photography is |
| and travel shots of family members in front of | | | | almost always done in a studio, where the lighting can |
| famous monuments, millions upon millions of people | | | | be 100% controlled. If you're reading this, chances |
| photographs are taken every single say of the year. | | | | are you don't have your own photography studio, so |
| Portrait photography is a little different to general | | | | let's discuss a simple lighting scheme you can set up |
| people photography. The intent of portrait | | | | at home. |
| photography is capture and display something of the | | | | First, position your model at a window. The light |
| 'essence' of a person; to say something about their | | | | coming from the window should be bright, but not |
| character, personality, or life. | | | | direct (i.e. not coming directly from the sun). You |
| The three most important things to get right in | | | | model should be facing you, side on to the window. |
| portrait photography are camera settings, lighting, | | | | Light from the window light will obviously light up the |
| and your relationship with your model. | | | | side of their face that is closest to it. Then, position |
| Camera settings for portrait photography | | | | something on the other side of your model that will |
| Because taking portrait photographs is all about a | | | | bounce reflected light from the window onto the |
| person's face (or if it's a wider shot, their | | | | other side of their face. Anything white or reflective |
| head-and-shoulders), classic portrait photography | | | | will do, for example a piece of white cardboard or a |
| settings seek to remove anything distracting from | | | | sheet of aluminum. |
| the background of the shot. This mimics the effect | | | | Now you have a basic, flattering light scheme, with |
| of looking at someone's face from very close up, | | | | the main light source on one side of your model's |
| and makes the subject 'pop' (this is | | | | face, and 'fill' light from the reflector on the other. |
| photographer-speak for 'stand out and capture | | | | Don't forget that you should frame the shot close |
| attention'). | | | | enough that the reflector is not in the shot. |
| The way to achieve a distraction-free portrait photo | | | | Interacting with your subject |
| is to use a wide aperture, often as wide as possible | | | | Portrait photography inevitably says something about |
| (f/2.8 or f/4 are popular choices). Wide apertures | | | | the relationship between photographer and subject. |
| produce a shallow depth-of-field, which renders | | | | Unless you're shooting professional models, the |
| anything far from the plane of best focus - i.e. the | | | | hardest thing about taking portrait photos is not in |
| background - as a soft blur. | | | | fact camera settings or lighting, but ensuring that |
| Aside from a wide aperture, the only other important | | | | your model is comfortable and relaxed enough to |
| setting is ISO. This should be as low a number as | | | | give you good results. A model who feels awkward, |
| possible (e.g. ISO 100), as higher ISOs will lead to | | | | uncomfortable or self-conscious will not photograph |
| digital noise, which is particularly ugly in a portrait. | | | | well. |
| There's one offshoot of portrait photography where | | | | Often the best strategy to relax your model is |
| the recommended settings are different, and that's | | | | simply to engage them in conversation, as this will |
| environmental portrait photography. Environmental | | | | take their mind off the camera. They'll probably get |
| portrait photography seeks to show a person in their | | | | more comfortable with the process after you've |
| 'natural habitat', which is often their workplace. Here | | | | rattled off a few shots, so schedule a decent |
| you want to show the background, so a smaller | | | | amount of time and plan on taking your best shots |
| aperture is appropriate. | | | | towards the end of the session. |
| Lighting for portrait photography | | | | |