The Basics of Portrait Photography

[Editor's Note: As senior contributor Dan Bailey noted recently, there are all kinds of photographers out there, each at different stages of development. The following post is intended for beginners.]

Portrait photography is one of the more difficult kinds of photography to master. In addition to the difference between creating art and creating a commissioned family portrait – the goals of artist and client are not always the same – eliminating unwanted shadows can be very difficult.

Control over light and shadows makes the difference between a good portrait and a great one. To ensure a great portrait, here are some basic ideas you should keep at the front of your brain.

Great photographs have a major focal point and sometimes several lesser focal points. When photographing people, their eyes often tell the story, but capturing a subject’s soul by highlighting other parts of their faces or bodies is an art. A basic portrait studio should contain a strobe light, reflector, and a spot light. Smaller spot lights, which can add subtle highlights that make a subject come alive, are also helpful. These tools are required to control your portrait’s depth, highlight, and shadows: a strobe light and reflector, for example, can work together to eliminate shadow; a strong spot light will highlight certain features and create deep shadows.

Smaller spot lights can add subtle highlights that make a subject come alive. A photographic studio should be set up to always achieve neutrality. The photographer can then manipulate the setting to create the look that the client or the photographer is looking for.

Tagged as: basic, basics, Portraits, Portraiture