What Can I Say?

This picture speaks for itself.  This was shot during a photo/video portrait session.  The finished video will be either posted here or connected by a link soon. 

Turning a Negative into a POV

As I wandered looking for other viewpoints in the same hotel as the last shot I found this point of view.  I wouldn't have gotten this shot if the rain hadn't kept inside that morning. 

Saving a Rainy Day

Since I couldn't do as much work outside my hotel as I would have liked I found other ways to get some photography done.  Shot in Erie, Pennsylvania with my iPhone 6s.

Breaking Up is Easy to Do

A view of the pose in the studio

A composition for the finished portrait

Will you be taking or posing for portraits?  To make them more dynamic and flattering you can follow a simple guideline: Turn part of your body slightly away from the camera.  Of course there is a little more to this principle, but the short rule will be enough to help you remember what you need to do.  The goal is to break up the straight lines that make the body look like a rectangle.  Almost any modest change to the front-facing squared-up position will add life to your picture.

You can follow a couple of simple steps to achieve this:

1.      Stand with your shoulders and feet pointing straight at the camera. 

2.      Turn one of your feet to point at a 90 degree angle to the other.

3.      Move the angled foot so your feet are a shoulder-width apart. 

4.      Allow your body to turn slightly to its natural position, angled to the camera.

5.      Keep your face turned directly to the camera.  

This will give you a nice flow of lines for a head-and-shoulders portrait.  

Here is an example of a pose using this principle.  The second photo shows what a closer photo looks like using this pose. 

Please feel free to add questions to the comments section.  If you like this blog, be sure to follow it, and watch for some special offers coming soon.

Throw Your Weight Around

A natural looking pose is a big part of an appealing portrait.  Here is one of the easiest ways to make your poses look natural.  All you need to do is make sure that if you are interacting with an element in your environment you put your weight into the position of your body.  Lean on the object, sit on it, rest your arms on in it, but create a connection that is clear.  After all, most human beings do not move through their environment caressing it.  You sit in a chair, you push a door open, you walk up steps.  Let’s take a look at a few example photos.

1.  Is she trying to smooth out the pillar?

2.  This could happen in real life - someone leaning on a fence for support.  This looks much more natural, and could be even more effective if her feet were placed further in front of her.

3.  Better yet - normal interaction with a setting that is worth including in the photo.

Grain is Good

I was happy to see that this attempt at a retro look worked.  And on closer inspection, that the grain in the picture was truly caused by the sand, not by resolution problems.

Just Plain Better

I had to set up a plain yearbook-style studio, but I didn't have to stick with the ordinary.  I repositioned my model for a more complementary pose, and asked her for a slightly more candid expression.  That was all it took to turn a drab setup into a quick glimpse into a personality.

A Strong Portrait Viewpoint

I used a good studio setup for even lighting here, but one of the things that give this photo impact is something you can do with most cameras.  I got a nice tight shot that creates a feeling of closeness.  Pictures like this make great giveaways to friends and family members.

Upholding Standards

Sometimes you just have to be able to produce standard style photos, as in this shot taken for a composite of all the nursing program graduates at a local college.  As in senior photos, the backgrounds had to be a specific color, and the lighting and posing had to be identical among 30 photos.  Just because those elements of the photo are fixed doesn't mean that I can't bring out the best pose and brightest smile the client has to offer.  Once we get the typical shots out of the way, some clients like to take time for a bit of creativity.

High Key in a Hurry

Just a quick shot, handheld, to keep fresh and take advantage of the new portrait lens.  My son held a reflector on my daughter's left side.