What kind of photographic equipment do you need to prepare for portrait shooting?

Like everyone else, I fell in love with photography because of my hobby. By chance, I became a portrait photographer. It should be said that no matter what the subject is, everyone is in the same boat, except that you are on the port side and he is on the starboard side. Many aspects are roughly the same. So today I will share with you those things about portrait shooting.

Many friends say that portrait photography refers to the work done by portrait studios, photo studios or wedding photo studios. What can I say? Yes, but not quite. Portrait photography actually covers a wide range. Generally speaking, people-centered shooting can be called portrait photography. The works with figures account for half of the photographic works. Only some are news stories and some are documentaries.

So what camera do you use to take portraits?

As far as camera manufacturers are concerned, designing and producing a camera is faced with a huge consumer group and different types of shooting needs. Today, even high-end notebook computers are fully functional and powerful, which can meet all kinds of photography needs. Exposure mode, focus mode, white balance selection, exposure compensation ... all available. Not to mention the SLR and micro-single lens on the basic model and the matching random lens. So in theory, mainstream camera models can be used to take portraits.

However, when we are faced with a variety of camera lens models and specifications, there will be some confusion for a while. In order to have a clear margin or a routine to follow, let's draw a range first, based on the form of SLR or micro-single. As for the brand, take the Canon camera that I have used for a long time as an example. Friends who use other brands may wish to refer to this analogy, so that they can chat well. It should be said that no brand of camera is suitable or not suitable for taking portraits, only our personal preferences and usage habits.

Not to mention the early models. In recent years, the cameras used for work mainly include Canon's EOS 5DII, EOS 5DSR, EOS 5IV and EOS 6DI. Occasionally, you can relax with the micro-single EOS M5.

My experience in shooting portraits is that the lenses used to shoot portraits are nothing more than EF35mm, EF50mm, EF85mm, EF24-70mm, EF24- 105mm and EF70-200mm. I especially like the head of Bai Wei. Micro-single bayonet adapter EF-EOS M to EF lens.

If possible, I will try to use a tripod or a monopod in any environment, even with a flash. First, it can reduce the labor intensity of the arm when holding the camera for a long time, and more importantly, it can ensure the focusing accuracy as much as possible. In the process of shooting, photographers will inevitably have slight jitter and displacement, which is often overlooked, especially in the state of long-term work. With the support and positioning of tripod or monopod, the situation will be much better. Of course, this method is only the personal preference of some photographers, including me.

Studio shooting mostly focuses on medium and long focal lengths. In outdoor shooting, in order to adapt to the atmosphere of the performance environment, wide-angle ends or even ultra-wide angles are often used. The use of these lenses is more casual, and it doesn't have to be anything. We will discuss more details about the use of the lens later.

Generally speaking, when shooting portraits in the studio, the color temperature and output of the light source are relatively stable, so the parameter settings of the camera are relatively fixed and standardized, and the range that needs to be adjusted is not large. Over time, every photographer can sum up a set of preferences that suit him.

For indoor or outdoor shooting, due to the influence of dynamic factors such as ambient light and environmental color, it is difficult to have routines and rules to follow for various parameters that need to be set and adjusted, and it is entirely dependent on the photographer's long-term and continuous experience accumulation to cope with them calmly.

Portrait taken in the studio with a single flash. The spider in the picture is alive. The lens adopts Canon's Budweiser, and the close-up features can show the effect of harmless pets and models in the same frame.

A commercial film shot on the set with EF 85mm f 1.2L II USM. Photographers use 85mm lens in the studio environment, so it is very comfortable and convenient to shoot such busts. The subtle relationship between black products, costumes and background in the same frame requires photographers to grasp the relationship between light and hue.

Photographers pay more attention to the performance of environmental atmosphere in outdoor portrait shooting, and wide-angle lens is a good choice. Because it is night, the EF 24mm f/ 1.4L II USM with large aperture is used. And I like the moderate deformation brought by wide-angle lens, which forms a visual effect different from that of medium telephoto lens.

I am a user of Canon, and I basically take pictures with Canon. What cameras and equipment to choose according to your own needs. What to prepare depends entirely on what kind of portrait you want to take.

Photographic equipment is not absolutely good or bad. You can use any camera you like. I prepare portraits or portraits for the purpose of making money. Just play with a lens and a fuselage is enough.

I need three soft lights, two foam reflectors, soft lights and absorbent cloth to shoot normally in the studio. The camera depends on your own preferences, and everyone's preferences are different. I use Canon 24-70F2.8, two spare cameras and one main camera.

If you are preparing something to create, it is different, but it is roughly the same. 24-70F2.8 This lens is also prepared by most photographers and photo studios. It is a practical lens, which can shoot indoor and outdoor portraits and street shots.

If street shooters use Canon 5D4 as usual. The lens is 85F 1.8, with lights and reflectors. If I shoot casually, I will bring a fuselage and a fixed focus lens.

Outdoor Portrait If you have higher requirements for image quality and blur, you can consider 85F 1.4 and 85F 1.8. I think both of them are good and more suitable for outdoor street shooting.

My most commonly used street beat is 85F 1.8, and 5D4 is also very light. The advantage of this kind of lens is cheap and fine, but the disadvantage is light color. Quan Huafu +70-200F2.8 is most suitable for shooting in commercial streets, and any camera can simply sweep the streets.

Flash, flasher, SLR, lens, camera bag, reflector and a special backpack photo assistant! This is the demand of conventional portrait shooting!

The fuselage need not be too good, just full width, even if the entry is full width, the problem is not big. The lens of a camera is the soul, at least the whole lens is the most interesting thing.

All kinds of 1.2 aperture fixed focus, at least one set of big ternary, and several odd variable axes! That's how rich people play!

So, what minimalist photographic equipment are there? Only buy the right ones, not the expensive ones! Humanistic focus setting, standard focus setting and 85 focus setting can be said to be three major elements in focus setting, and the apertures of 1.8 and 1.4 are not too expensive, so be optimistic about the budget! A 24-70mm lens is basically useless except for convenience. 70-200 can be considered to start with one, and 16-35mm ultra-wide focal length can also be considered! Like I can't afford a wide-angle fixed focus, I only have a wide-angle zoom of 16-35. If conditions permit, wide-angle focusing is also scary!

Portrait photography, there are too many common lens choices, even a simple 50mm is a good lens for taking portraits, or look at your own skills!

First, you need a SLR camera from Quan Huafu. The photosensitive element of Quan Huafu SLR is larger than APS-C format, so the picture quality is more delicate and the details are more abundant, which is very suitable for taking portraits.

Secondly, the most important thing is a professional large aperture fixed focus lens. Shooting portraits usually requires a large aperture lens. The depth of the scene with a large aperture can show a sharp focus and a soft and bright background, thus highlighting the main body of the character. Fixed-focus lens has small distortion and large aperture, especially 85mm fixed-focus lens, which can take close-ups, busts and whole bodies. Canon, Nikon and other manufacturers have fixed-focus lenses with a large aperture of 85 mm, but this focal length may be too long indoors and need more space.

Besides, it's just some accessories. Flash is very important if you plan to shoot in the studio. Generally, multiple lamps need to be matched with each other. Professional portrait lighting has a variety of lighting methods to shoot portraits with delicate skin and high sensitivity. If you are outdoors, reflectors and umbrellas are necessary to fill the light at any time.

Another point that can't be ignored is the later retouching. For portrait photography, post-retouching is more important, which needs no explanation. Just look at the hard photos released by those stars.

The requirements for camera body and lens are still quite high. If you use the camera body, Canon is fully equipped. "Canon portrait" does have some truth. It's not that Nikon is not good at taking portraits. In fact, high-end machines are similar, but the color of Canon lens is more suitable for portrait performance.

So why choose all the clothes? On the one hand, Quan Huafu's image quality is better, and the gold circle and red circle lenses are all tailored for the whole body, so the whole body is necessary.

As for the lens, it's all over the body, of course, with gold rings and red rings. Focus or zoom is good, or both. It is not recommended to use a wide-angle lens if it is in focus.

Indoor 24-70 or 35, 50 fixed focus is more appropriate. Outdoor, 70-200 or 85, 135 are all good choices. Of course, the bigger the aperture, the better, but the price is good, so it is unrealistic to buy anything, but there are two lenses that must be selected, one is 35/ 1.4, the other is only 85/ 1.2 or 1.4, and others are optional.

Then indoor portraits still need soft light and scenery, and outdoor reflectors are needed. Is it also a big expense ~

In fact, the problem of what photographic equipment is used for portrait shooting is not a highly targeted problem. We can also say that any kind of equipment can be used for portrait shooting, and there is no special equipment for portrait shooting. But when it comes to taking portraits, I always think of Canon, probably because I use Canon and love this brand.

Canon Mobile has always been there. Speaking of canon, it's not built. There is indeed something brilliant in portrait shooting, which is also a conclusion that has been tested by the market. Different choices of portrait lenses will have different effects. Generally choose these lenses: 35mm, 50mm, 85mm, 135mm, etc. The difference between lenses lies in focusing and distortion caused by different aperture and focal length. These lenses are widely used, 85mm is mostly used for personal shooting, with good blur effect and good deformation control.

In addition, we define portrait shooting as long as there are people in the photo, it can also be shot in the big environment. Close-ups and silhouette effects of some details are good ways. Of course, it goes without saying that the model is beautiful. But whether it is beautiful or not, the charm and taste are good works.

Take Canon's full-frame machine as an example. Body: Novice chooses 6D, and veteran can shoot big movies with any half-frame machine. Lens: 50 fixed focus first, then 85 fixed focus, 135 fixed focus, 70-200 white rabbits. If you want to play art, you can go to 35 fixed focus, step by step, shoot more and see more.

Speaking of portrait photography, metropolis is trapped by this board, that umbrella, this lamp, this lens, that lens, this fuselage and so on. A lot of equipment, such as a few treasures, looks particularly professional, and the films that are not well played are still plain. In the long run, it is easy for photographers to ignore their subjective creativity, and it is easy to fall into the routine after shooting for a long time. Amateur photographers are more likely to have psychological burden and fear of difficulties on the equipment needed for portrait photography.

Portrait photography is one of many photographic subjects, and compared with landscape, it is just a different subject. I especially agree with the previous "no special equipment for portrait shooting, portrait shooting is just a subject!" "The answer. This is also the root cause of many equipment, a large number of photography studios, low film production rate and lack of individuality in film homogenization.

In addition, there are too many boxes in my head, which not only restricts creativity but also restricts the release of artistic imagination. This is a general equipment-only tendency, which is worth thinking about. In fact, photography has something in common with other artistic categories such as literary creation, not in the gorgeous accumulation of words, but in the unique portrayal of characters, the meticulous portrayal of personality, and the creative organization of stories. ...

Thank you for your invitation.

Instead of taking a photo here, it is better to prepare from several aspects.

Communicate with the subject to understand the physical and temperament characteristics of the subject, so that you can have a general idea of what clothes to prepare, in which scene to shoot, and when to shoot to meet your requirements.

Equipment preparation, from the fuselage, lens, reflector, lighting, props, shooting portraits generally 35mm, 50mm, 85mm, 70-200mm fixed focus.