Introductory Portrait Photography Tips

Introduction: If you want to shoot still life, you can have a lot of time to prepare before shooting. However, shooting portrait requires more technical attention to the use of light and focal length, and also requires a lot of communication with the subject. These factors are the reasons why it is difficult to get started with portrait photography, but once you can master it, these factors are also the places where you can best enjoy portrait photography.

Canon EOS 5D Mark III.EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM.ISO125.f/6.3.1/250sec.70mm focal length

Equipment: body and lens

The essence of portrait photography is to capture expressions. Expressions are often fleeting. Although a professional model can often give you a bunch of "photogenic" expressions, the most memorable expressions are often revealed by the model inadvertently. So in terms of capturing expressions, you will need a camera with outstanding focusing speed and accuracy, and I chose a full-frame SLR 5D3. Its high pixels also meet my requirements for delicate picture quality in my work needs.

Canon EOS 5D Mark III.EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM.ISO125.f/6.3.1/1250sec.70mm focal length

Canon EOS 5D Mark III.EF 24 -70mm f/4L IS USM.ISO250.f/4.1/100sec.55mm focal length

Regarding the lens, I tried the 24-70mm f/4L. Optical quality is the most basic requirement, and this L lens did not disappoint me in this regard. What's more important is that this lens gives me three benefits for portrait photography, including being lightweight, meeting the focal length requirements, and having a macro function.

Go out and shoot, reduce the burden

My portrait photography is not limited to the photo studio, but more often I will shoot outdoors. Since changes in the outdoor environment are more difficult to control than indoors, it is often necessary to bring more auxiliary tools when going out. At this time, just bringing a Canon EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM, which weighs 600g and can meet the needs of different photography themes, can greatly reduce your burden.

Canon EOS 5D Mark III.EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM.ISO200.f/5.1/125sec.50mm focal length

Canon EOS 5D Mark III.EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM.ISO200.f/5.1/50sec.70mm focal length

Lens selection to meet focal length needs

Using focal length is an important element in learning portrait photography. The difference in focal length is not only a difference in the size of the frame, but also related to the degree of distortion of the image and the communication distance between the photographer and the subject. When we take half-length or headshots, we will use a focal length of about 70mm. The image under this focal length does not have much perspective deformation, and the distance between the photographer and the subject is neither too far nor too close. This allows the photographer to communicate with the subject without feeling alienated or oppressed.

Portrait photography can sometimes also use a wider-angle focal length, which can capture the scene environment together to use the interaction between the subject and the scene to bring out a stronger story. The focal length range of Canon EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM can meet the different photography requirements of photographers, which is very convenient.

In terms of aperture, this lens has a constant f/4 aperture, although it is not a large aperture (if you want to achieve a larger aperture such as f/2.8, I believe the weight of the lens will not be 600g. ), but the lens can easily create a shallow depth of field effect at the 70mm end or at macro, highlighting the subject of our photography and making the photo more clearly focused, making the photo more attractive and leaving a deeper impression.

Macro and anti-shake functions

Many times it is difficult to shoot portraits indoors. The most common situation is that the scene environment is not light enough to use a higher-speed shutter, and use The flash will destroy the atmosphere of the scene and will also disturb the performance (if it is a performance-type occasion). At this time, the anti-shake function of the lens can come in handy.

The anti-shake function is not turned on, the shutter speed is 1/40 second

The anti-shake function is turned on, the shutter speed is 1/40 second

Macro Large close-up

The difference between the minimum focusing distance before entering macro and the focusing distance under macro. After entering macro, you can perform large close-up, which is suitable for shooting small props or objects.

Macro widens shooting themes

When it comes to macro, Canon EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM is equipped with a macro function compared to other lenses of the same type or focal length. In addition to supporting up to 0.7x magnification when turned on, it is also equipped with Hybrid IS 2.5-level safety shutter anti-shake function even at 0.7x magnification. It can even reach level 4 without turning on Macro.

Thanks to this new lens with a 0.7x magnification telephoto macro mode, we can not only shoot our subject, but also discover interesting furnishings in the scene. In this world, everything is different.

70mm viewing angle

Macro viewing angle

Anti-shake function is not turned on, shutter speed is 1/30 second

Turned on With the anti-shake function, the shutter speed is 1/30 second

This macro function allows me to shoot a wider range of subjects. One lens can be used for multiple purposes, such as shooting close-ups of portraits at different focal lengths at weddings. , can also meet some special photography needs, such as shooting some small objects and some small props at the wedding banquet, etc.

About the use of light

Due to space limitations, we cannot give a too in-depth explanation here. But the use of flash in portrait photography can be said to be as important as the body and lens. The discussion here on the use of flash will focus on two aspects: the direction of light and the texture of light.

Canon EOS 5D Mark III.EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM.ISO200.f/6.3.1/125sec.70mm focal length

Canon EOS 5D Mark III.EF 24 -70mm f/4L IS USM.ISO200.f/6.3.1/125sec.70mm focal length

The direction of the light affects the outline of the portrait in the entire imaging. For example, a side light source will deepen the outline of the subject, which is what we call a sense of drama. Usually when we take ordinary portraits, lateral light and forward light (the subject faces the light source) will have a more natural performance.