Skills of taking wonderful portrait photos

Lead: As a full-time photographer who shoots more than 30 weddings every year, we must admit that when shooting portraits, it is often easy to fall into a strange circle of stylization. Even if the model poses in a new position, similar composition and shooting angle will still make the photo look good. Vulgar? . Over the years, we have been challenging ourselves to win the game through some skills. Here is one of the most useful techniques to help you get new effects every time you shoot.

1. Use a lens with a longer focal length.

Many photographers claim that 50mm is? Is it necessary? A person is like a lens, but the picture taken by this standard lens is always very similar to what the human eye sees. In order to get more interesting photos, we should avoid using standard lenses because photos are too ordinary.

Many of my portrait photos were taken in 200mm or 85mm, which picture is it? Compression? A 50mm lens is impossible. This compression will not only reduce the deformation of the subject, but also create a very moving background blur effect with a telephoto lens. Pull closer? Analyze the distance between the model and the background. It may be difficult to communicate with the model when shooting with a 200mm lens, but the result is worthwhile.

2. Avoid shooting horizontally with your eyes.

Many times we are used to starting from? Is that correct? Angle, after all, this is the simplest. Challenge yourself to find a different angle? Above or below the eyes, bringing a new perspective to the picture. This technique can also be used to highlight different shapes and heights. In the picture below, I let the bride sit on the floor, focusing on her face and hair accessories, blurring the rest of her body. This is much better than the ordinary upright portrait.

3. Use off-board flash

In wedding shooting, our flash never appears on the camera. Direct flash can't highlight the face of the person, and it will also make the photo lose its three-dimensional sense. Lighting the characters from the side can create a shadow transition, highlight the characteristics of the characters, and make the photos have a contrast between highlights and shadows. Another advantage is that it can weaken the background details and take excellent portrait photos.

Suppress sunlight with a flash.

Shooting in natural light at noon is not a simple matter. But as long as there is an artificial light source, such as a pair of hot-shoe flashlights, the sunlight can be suppressed and a better exposure effect can be obtained. This technique is especially useful when shooting environmental portraits that pay attention to the surrounding scenery.

Our flash can suppress sunlight, make the sky underexposed, and only illuminate the subject. To this end, we must use 2-4 hot-shoe flashlights (without soft cover) to get enough light, and at the same time, we must place the flashlights close to the model.

in a bad/poor light

It takes time and practice to train a pair of eyes that can find good light. Once you learn how to do it in any situation. Find the light? I can always take wonderful portrait photos. After all, light is the basis of photography. Whether it is sunlight, windows or ordinary light bulbs, when these light sources are located behind the subject, they can create beautiful side light. Side lighting can enhance the three-dimensional sense of photos and separate people from the background.

6. Contour and reflection

Learning to use reflective surfaces and silhouettes can make your photos have a great breakthrough in vision and connotation. For silhouette, the key is a powerful backlight. For reflection, try to use some reflecting surfaces. Sometimes the best props are things you don't expect, such as floors, glass, puddles and marble walls.

Step 7 Take advantage of potential customers

Make good use of everything in front of you. In fact, many times we will actively look for foreground elements. Learn to find the formation between branches? Hole? Abstract objects and even daily necessities can enhance photos? Feeling? . Using telephoto lens can also blur the foreground and create a more dreamy effect.

8. Take the sun as the light source

Photographers usually avoid the sun and look for shadows to get an average exposure. Even backlight is considered easier to shoot than direct sunlight. But the sun can also be used as a point light source. The area exposed to the sun, the background and the surrounding shadows will have a dramatic darkening effect and naturally focus on the characters. Using this technology in different lighting environments can produce different visual effects.

9. Use special effects to shoot portraits at night

Effect light is a good choice when there is no light source available in dark environment. The advantage of this kind of lamp is that it continuously emits light, and you can see the final effect of the picture in real time. We use LED effect light, which can supply power for more than 2 hours. They are good substitutes for flashlights and are easy to use and adjust.

10. Use color film

Adding CTO (orange) or CTB (blue) to the flash can change the mood of the picture. Sometimes, if the environment is blue, CTB can adjust the scene to a warmer place CTO can be used to simulate the effect of dusk sunlight.