It feels like it's been forever since the last update to my blog section. Those of you that follow me on Instagram (and Flickr) will realise that I'm still active on social media. But with every new year (and every new decade) comes new opportunities and new prospects. Hopefully, it also means a new chance at bringing old project ideas to fruition or making room for new ones.
For now though, I have the chance to share some old work that I was keeping on ice for a bit. A while back, a dear friend (and fellow photographer) asked me about doing a photoshoot for his website and Facebook profile picture. I thought this was a great time to do something a bit different, as well as help out a friend. It's funny but if you had asked me a few years ago about portraiture, I would have been skeptical of my abilities. But there's nothing like jumping into a project with an open mind and an open heart.
Photographing Bruce was pretty easy as we've been friends for such a long time. If I had to sum it up, I'd say it was more about two old friends having a conversation with a camera present. The hardest part was probably getting him to relax a bit and forget about the camera. I must admit that I am not a fan of directing my models, opting for personality over perfection. I prefer my client to see themselves or for their loved ones to recognize "that little thing they do with their head".
In case you are thinking of starting out with portraits, here are a few quick tips that I found helpful, courtesy of B+H Photo Video:
Build a connection with your subject. Make the process a collaborative one.
Note the lighting and environment carefully. Plan ahead!
Watch the dynamics of your camera and lens. Some lenses are more flattering to certain body features.
"The eyes are the windows to the soul". If the eyes of your subject aren't in focus, your image will suffer greatly, even if all of the other elements are perfect.
Move in and out and get down on their level. This is especially true with children and pets.
Camera Settings: Take special care with regards to your White Balance.
The Classic Look of Black & White. Personally I love black and white portraits. Why? Black and white can convey a certain mood, emphasize facial features and textures or transport the viewer to another time and place.
Shoot in Raw File Format. Never mind the large file size, you'll be happy for the extra information when editing or making prints.
For further reading, be sure to check out this link to the original article here:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/photography/tips-and-solutions/seven-tips-every-beginning-portrait-photographer-should-know?BI=7367¤cy=EUR&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9OGe1cKz5wIVSNyGCh1JtABxEAAYASAAEgKxgvD_BwE
Camera and equipment details:
Camera: Nikon D7200
Lenses: Nikon 85mm F1.8 G Auto Focus-S
Lighting: Natural Light
Until next time....
