Transcript Styles of Portrait Photography

Nancy Rosenbaum
Bill Dusterwald
January 2016
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Portrait Styles
Composition and Framing
Groupings
Posing and Flattering the Subject
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Jan. 20, noon: Window lighting and bounce
flash
Jan. 25, noon: GSFC video studio – variable &
multiple lighting
Date TBD, evening: Optional workshop in a
photo studio (Savage Mill)
Feb. 8, noon: Tips and Mechanics
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Traditional
Environmental
Candid
Adapted from http://learnmyshot.com/9-fundamental-styles-of-portrait-photography
and http://myportraithub.com/different-types-of-portrait-photography
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Subject fully aware of photographer’s presence
Purpose is visual representation of the person
Face is predominant element
Photographer selects body posture or costume
Subject usually looking directly at camera
May be head shot, two thirds, or full body
framing
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Focus is on relation of subject with his or her
environment
E.g., worker at a construction zone, sculptor in
studio, etc.
 Surroundings used to complement subject and
emphasize character
 Subject and setting chosen by photographer
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Puts the subject in context
with what they do or how
they spend their time.
Requires the
photographer and the
subject to know each
other; and the
photographer to
understand what is
important to the subject
http://digital-photography-school.com/environmental-portraits/
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Taken without subject expecting or
acknowledging photographer
Photographer does not have much control over
the environment or pose
Used in photojournalism; travel, street, and
event photography
Image captured at the moment rather than set
up – intended effect is natural, spontaneous
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• Genuine moments in time
• Photojournalism
• The photographer must react to the
moment and the see the picture
almost before it occurs
http://www.lightstalking.com/candid-people-photography/
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Individual – One person in the frame
Couple – Two people and their relationship
Group – Portrays feelings of unity
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Use a longer lens
Incorporate props
Incorporate their interests or activities
Turn hips toward each other
Hands natural
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http://digital-photographyschool.com/how-to-takecreative-couples-portraits/
January 2016
http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2012/08/15/17-romanticcouple-poses-that-will-make-you-say-i-do/3/
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Get someone as your ally
Line up with tallest in the center
Get the heads on different levels
Make sure no one is blocked
Tighten up spaces between
Use the triangle technique for composition
If your group is several rows deep, focus on
someone in the middle of the center row
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Use a slightly smaller aperture to ensure everyone is
in focus
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http://improvephotography.com//wpcontent/uploads/2011/09/breakUpLines.jpg
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http://improvephotography.com//wpcontent/uploads/2011/09/triangles.jpg
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Head Shot
Full Framing
Three Quarters
https://www.ephotozine.com/article/portrait-lengths---a-practical-guide-4928
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High Key
1:1 lighting ratio
 Bright, soft, low-contrast
 Eliminates most shadows
 Leaves strong details and outlines of forms
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Low Key
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Higher lighting ratio – e.g. 4:1 (chiaroscuro)
Deep shadows around all forms
Strong relief and detail
Moody
http://photography.tutsplus.com/tutorials/high-key-low-key-anintroduction-to-lighting-ratios--photo-14768
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Untitled by Flickr user paul goyette
By Alex Vern
http://www.portrait-photos.org/photo/15665.html
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http://www.dpreview.com/articles/1122
087300/beginners-guide-shooting-highkey-at-home
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Eyes - 47/365: B&W Portrait by Flickr user Jer
Kunz
January 2016
http://www.school-of-digitalphotography.com/2013/10/a-beginners-guideto-low-key-photography.html
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The eyes have it
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Be aware of where you subject’s eyes are positioned
– viewers will likely look at the eyes first
For vertical portraits, follow the rule of thirds –
Position eyes roughly one third of the way down
from the top edge
Focus on the eyes
Don’t be afraid to fill the frame with the subject
(does not apply to environmental)
Excerpted from
http://www.photographymad.com/pages/view/3-portrait-composition-tips-for-framing-your-subject-perfect
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Cropping
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Get closer – Don’t leave too much stuff in the frame
But…Leave enough space above the subject’s head
For a head shot, leave enough of the shoulders for a
good base
More about the rule of thirds – Position the
subject off-center
If the subject is looking in one direction, leave
space in the direction they are looking
Beware of amputating parts of appendages
Excerpted from http://photodoto.com/10-portrait-composition-tips-frame-subject-pe
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Reduce a nose
In a profile shot, turn the subject’s head sufficiently
toward the camera so that the nose doesn’t break her far
cheek line
From http://www.adorama.com/alc/0008196/article/ThePortrait-Photographers-Notebook
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Lose 10 lbs.
Turn shoulders slightly, ideally at slightly different
heights; is also more interesting
 No sleeveless tops; no brightly colored clothing
 Elbows slightly away from body
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Excerpted from http://expertphotography.com/top-10-rules-for-portrait-photograph
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Reduce a double chin
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Forward shoulder slightly lower
Subject forehead forward slightly
Tilt jaw down and slightly away
from camera
Make hands graceful
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Natural pose; relaxed with fingers
separated
Shoot hand from side
Watch for creeping monsters!
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Use a slightly longer than normal lens
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The more relaxed the subjects are, the better the
photos; rapport is important
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Gives subjects space
Close-in wide-angle shots may be unflattering
Usually the first couple of shots are breaking the ice
With couple or groups ask them to do something silly (bunny
ears or make a face) just to indicate that this is not a life or
death situation
Before the session ask them if they had anything that they had
seen that they were impressed with
After they relax you can get into a rhythm
Take multiple shots
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Change angle, gaze, lighting, cropping, etc.
Allow for blinks
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Natural light requires consideration when being used for photography. The sun is a point source of light and can produce
harsh shadows:
Bright sunlight is hard and
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creates dark, clearly defined shadows that can hide the face
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emphasizes wrinkles and blemishes
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causes unattractive squinting
But as with everything, you can work with the light to get pleasing images
With this image Melissa used the sun to highlight her daughters
hair, exposed for the shadows and availed herself of the reflection
of light from the light dirt to soften the contrast.
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Portrait lighting:
To render the subject in a pleasing way or to show some
characteristic or personal trait using light and shadow.
The subject can be light softly. Soft lighting is characterized by
smooth transition from light to shadow.
The lighting can be natural outdoor light, window light, flash, or
studio lights.
Natural light:
Melissa has used soft indirect lighting to give and smooth transition
from light to shadow. It requires careful exposure not to lose tonality
in the highlight.
Light from an overcast sky or a north window is soft and
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creates soft shadows that don't hide the face
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minimizes wrinkles and blemishes
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reveals subtle skin tones and hues
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allows the subject to open his or her eyes wide
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Here Melissa used shade to allow
smooth transitions. Open shade
illuminated from blue sky will have a
blue caste to it. If you shoot RAW
this will not be a problem. If you
shoot JPG, then your camera should
be set to Auto White Balance (AWB)
or Shade.
Note that the catch lights in the eyes
add a vivaciousness to the subject.
These catch lights come the brightly
illuminated area where the
photographer is. Catch lights can be
added by a very low power flash
that will not effect the exposure, but
will add catch lights.
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More:
http://photo.stackexchange.com/questions/3032/what-portrait-posingrules-do-you-recommend-for-studio-photography
http://desmond-downs.blogspot.com/2010/05/40-rules-ofportraiture.html
https://www.ephotozine.com/article/portrait-lengths---a-practicalguide-4928
http://digital-photography-school.com/environmental-portraits/
http://www.lightstalking.com/candid-people-photography/
http://www.dpreview.com/articles/1122087300/beginners-guide-shooting-highkey-at-home
http://www.school-of-digital-photography.com/2013/10/a-beginnersguide-to-low-key-photography.html
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