Introduction To Master Portraits
Mastering portraits is more about how you can connect to your subjects, than anything else, really. You can use a disposbale camera, but if you are able to feel and potray your subject, you can produce stunning image.
Since this lens is only about advanced techniques to portraiture, I'm going to assume that you would know the basics of photography. If you want to learn of more of the basics, you should head over to How Camera Works and The Basics Of Professional Photography. This lens, I will talk about issues more specific to portraiture and the besic rules is still applicable.
So let's dive in!
Best DSLRs
Canon Digital Rebel XTi 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens (Black)
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Amazon Price: $614.95 (as of 09/08/2008)
List Price: $699.99
Nikon D40 6.1MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens
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Amazon Price: $449.00 (as of 09/08/2008)
List Price: $499.95
Canon Digital Rebel XT 8MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 Lens (Black)
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Amazon Price: $698.85 (as of 09/08/2008)
List Price: $599.99
Nikon D40x 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens
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Amazon Price: $849.99 (as of 09/08/2008)
List Price: $749.95
Canon EOS 30D 8.2MP Digital SLR Camera with EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Standard Zoom Lens
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Amazon Price: $1,049.99 (as of 09/08/2008)
List Price: $2,300.00
More Great Reference
Master Lighting Guide for Portrait Photographers
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Portrait Photographer's Handbook
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Amazon Price: $23.07 (as of 09/08/2008)
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Lighting and the Dramatic Portrait: The Art of Celebrity and Editorial Photography
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Amazon Price: $19.77 (as of 09/08/2008)
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The Portrait Photographer's Guide to Posing
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Amazon Price: $23.07 (as of 09/08/2008)
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Posing for Portrait Photography: A Head-to-Toe Guide
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Essential Accessories
Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED-IF AF-S VR DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens
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Amazon Price: $669.83 (as of 09/08/2008)
List Price: $899.00
Canon 430EX Speedlite Flash for Canon Pro1, Pro 90, G Series and all EOS SLR Cameras
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Amazon Price: $237.18 (as of 09/08/2008)
List Price: $400.00
Joby GP3-01EN Gorillapod SLR-Zoom Flexible Tripod for Digital SLR Cameras
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Amazon Price: $49.95 (as of 09/08/2008)
List Price: $54.95
Westcott Photo Basics 304 5-in-1 Reflector Kit
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Amazon Price: $94.95 (as of 09/08/2008)
List Price: $106.00
![Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 1.0 (Win/Mac) [OLD VERSION]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51BSa3UbCmL._SL75_.jpg)
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 1.0 (Win/Mac) [OLD VERSION]
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Amazon Price: $270.99 (as of 09/08/2008)
List Price: $299.99
The Secret To Mastering Portraits: Preparation
Before you start a photography session or taking portraits, always get to know your subject. If it's a wedding, get to know the bride and groom. Maybe familiarize yourself with the scene. Find out what the schedule of the event. In other words, preparation is very important.Once you got to know your subject, he/she will not appear tense and awkward, especially for a studio session. Once you know the schedule and the place, you'll know where you should be and when.
Be prepared for anything that will and can happen. Bring all your essential equipment and be sure you can access them fast. While posed portraits can be stunning if you are shooting a professional model, a natural candid ones are often much better and works for everyone!
The Location And The Lighting
The location of where the portrait is taken is important. It gives an added meaning and feel to the image. It tells people what kind of a person the subject and that gives them a personality. However, be sure to focus only on the main subject.The lighting of the location is also very important. You want to make sure you don't have sun behind you and thus it is shining directly to your subject's face making them squint. Neither do you want the sun directly shining on you and causes your camera to under-expose.
When using studio set-up, your background is your location. A popular technique is to use deep striking color, such as yellow, green or bright red to create punchy attractive image.
When using outdoor natural lights, location is very important. Places to, generally, avoid is under tree. Many people make this mistake because they can't make it work. The shadows the tree created covered portions of the subject's face but yet he/she is squinting because of the sunlight. You might want to use reflectors to give a more well-rounded image because you do not have much control over the light.
If you are using models, you can achieve personality by using props and make-ups. The tone can then be edited in photoshop to your desired effect.
Alec Soth Portraits
Alec Soth: Portraits - The Ground Glass
In October of 2004, photographer Alec Soth went on assignment for LIFE magazine to capture weekend soldiers at an Airsoft military simulation in Joelton, Tennessee. In anticipation of his upcoming Minnesota Artists Exhibition Program exhibition, filmmaker Mike Dust traveled alongside Soth for this three-day excursion, interviewing and shooting alongside him as he worked to capture images for, both the magazine shoot as well as for his personal work. A number of these photographs (Odessa, Joelton, Tennessee, 2004 and Josh, Joelton, Tennessee, 2004) became part of the exhibition Alec Soth: Portraits at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts the following spring. The video piece created during that shoot was installed in the gallery as an accompaniment to the exhibition. The video is broken into three segments entitled On Assignment, Portraiture, and The Ground Glass. Alec Soth: Portraits - The Ground Glass (3:06, segment 3 of 3), 2005, Video, 8 minutes, produced and directed by Mike Dust, © 2005 National Projects http://www2.artsmia.org/wiki/index.php/Video:_Alec_Soth:_Portraits http://www.alecsoth.com/
Runtime: 3:06
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