What should I pay attention to if I can't take a good portrait?

For many thoughtful photographers, taking portraits is a fascinating but not completely simple thing. To shoot an excellent portrait, we should not only pay attention to the camera settings, but also ensure the correct lighting, the right background, and choose the right clothes and props.

When you start taking this type of portrait, you may make some or all of these common mistakes. Knowing these mistakes helps to avoid them.

1. unreasonable composition

The most common mistake in portrait shooting is that there is too little white space above the head of the portrait. If there is no important information above the figure, the picture will be cropped tightly above the portrait.

Spread the background

Too much focus behind the portrait will distract attention, so choose the position of the portrait carefully. In addition, choose the appropriate lens to use. Using a telephoto lens will reduce the background in the picture.

This portrait is too close to the background.

Please don't let the subject sit or stand in front of the background. If this is a scene with many details, the focus of attention may deviate from your portrait. Even if the background is quite simple, it is usually better if the portrait is separated from the portrait. This operation can be done with shallow depth of field, and the farther the subject is from the background, the greater the blur.

4. I don't know

You may want to turn up the aperture a little bit to blur out the distracting background. Please do this carefully, or your object may not be the focus.

5. Lack of concentration

If you photograph the subject's eyes, please focus on eye photography. This is one of the rules of photography, which is extremely rare, but it happens when people with unclear eyes look great.

When your subject looks directly at the camera, it's easy to focus on both eyes. If their heads turn slightly to one side, they need to focus on the portrait eyes closest to the camera.

6. Shutter speed is too slow

People will move even if they don't move when trying to shoot. You need to choose a fast enough shutter speed to freeze the subject. Even if they move slightly, if the shutter speed is too long, it may lead to blurred shooting.

A shutter speed of 1/250 seconds is usually enough. If the shutter speed is long, there may be problems.

7. Bad lighting

Modern cameras can take pictures in weak light with almost no light, but this should not involve portraits.

When shooting portraits, the correct lighting is very important to convey the artistic conception to be created in the picture. If you need a soft and romantic portrait, hard, high-contrast lighting won't do. Similarly, soft light can't help you create vivid portraits.

8. There are not enough photos

You need to take enough photos to make a choice. When editing a series of photos, not enough photos will make you dissatisfied, because there are too few photos to choose from.

Try to capture and capture a series of expressions. Don't just leave the camera in continuous shooting mode, try to create various expressions. This will also make the subject satisfied and there will be more choices.

9. There are too many photos

It may be difficult to find a balance between insufficient photos and too many. It depends a lot on your theme.

Some people are more comfortable taking pictures than others. You should be aware of this. If the subject is bored or excited because of taking too long or taking too many photos, your results will be affected.

10. Don't give clear instructions to the person being photographed.

Clearly tell the photographer the intention of taking portrait photography. What kind of photos do you want? It is also necessary to find out what the subject wants from photography.

When you know what your subject wants and the subject knows what you want, you will have more mutual understanding to achieve your goals. If your partner doesn't understand what you want them to do, please show them. Show them where they want to be and how to arrange their hands and faces. Usually, please show what you want them to look like. They are more likely to be photographed than to listen to what you want from them.

1 1. insufficient.

If you are shy and insecure, this is usually reflected in your portrait.

If you shoot calmly and confidently, it will make your subject confident.

You don't need to host the program, just relax and make sure you can take good pictures.

conclusion

These all need practice. Just like in any field, to learn to do well, you need to concentrate. That's why we practice taking portraits with people we know and like to take pictures.