How does portrait photography work?

The characteristics and shooting requirements of low-key portraits are just the opposite of high-profile portraits. The tone composition of color portraits is mainly dark tone, and the tone composition of color portraits is mainly black, dark with low brightness and medium brightness. Low-key portrait photos can make the image of the subject look deep and dignified.

When shooting a low-key portrait, the subject should wear dark clothes and use a dark background. When using light to express, it is generally dominated by side backlight or side light, and the shadow on the face of the person is large. In the process of exposure, the photographer needs to expose according to the bright spots of the subject's face, so that the bright spots are expressed in the form of medium brightness or slightly darker than medium brightness, and the shadow parts are reproduced in dark tones. However, when the photographer uses forward lighting to represent a low-key portrait, the exposure should be appropriately reduced to make the whole picture look darker.

Generally, portraits with colors are not dominated by light colors like high-profile portraits, nor by deep colors like low-profile portraits, but can include deep, medium and light colors in photos. Therefore, its tone composition is neither inclined nor inclined to darkness, but gives people a visual feeling that is not dull or dignified. In general, the portrait photos taken belong to this tone.

High-profile portraits are characterized by bright tones, and dark tones are avoided or used less as far as possible. Color portrait photography, high-profile should be dominated by white, high-brightness light color, medium-brightness color. The image of the subject in the whole photo shows bright colors, no obvious shadows and projections, and the picture is clean, clear and soft.

When shooting a high-profile portrait, the subject needs to wear white or other light-colored clothes, and of course, the background is mainly light-colored. Generally, the light will be smooth light with less shadows, or cloudy days. Photographers can also use the scattered light to increase the first exposure according to the actual situation.