How to get started? [Portraits]

[AllFallD0wn]

Hi,

Posted this in Speciality discussion, but not had any responses:

I've been into photography for about a year and a half now, and I'm looking for something new. Normally I shoot landscapes and scenery, but I'm thinking of getting into portraits. Basically, I'm wondering how you start. I have no experience in portraits and limited kit.

I'm looking in investing in a flashgun when I get a bit of money, but even then I lack the essential for portraits - models. I'm moving to university in 2 weeks, so I figure this could be a good opportunity to have some fresh inspiration, etc. I checked at the university, and there isn't a photography society, which would have been my first port of call for this kind of thing.

Any suggestions about where I can start a journey into portraits?

 

[JSER]

DO NOT start with the fals belief you need a lot of kit, as I have stated on another site I have done (and still do via word of mouth) weddings and portraits when I feel like it though I am into wildlife.

When doing a wedding I only use a 60D, Canon 28-125 and One flash.

Wildlife kit (some) AND used as my portable studio.

1. Get a GOOD gun, £99 yes believe me £99, see my pic, whilst I have others my Sunpak PZ42X never leaves me. (been into photography all my life), get a £10 probounce off ebay (NEW) and that is it.

You dont say your camera.

No camera club, START ONE, I have started two computer clubs, a registered charity and a camera club.

Journey into portraits, yes. Have you got bottle........

Take your gear to college, I KNOW there will be a number of decent girls who either want a portfolio but can not afford it or are too shy. BE HONEST say what you have said here, even print it and the replies off, offer to take and print a portfolio for them free if they can help by posing for you, BOTH will be beginners so neither will be shy.

JOIN a local camera club.

When you mess it up DONT WORRY, learn from it, be honest with the sitter/girl/model/student do it again.

Improvise, want soft focus, breath on the front filter on your lens and shoot, want softer light place a white hankey over the flash, focus on the EYES at all times, stand AWAY from any background or you will have a flash shadow, stick to f4, f5.6 for out of focus backgrounds and shoot at no higher than iso 200 for best quality.

This is also a portrait

 

[AllFallD0wn]

Thanks for the reply. I absolutely know that throwing money at gear won't solve anything, and I don't intend to do that, but from playing around with things, I think I'll need 1 flash gun. I'll certainly look into starting up some type of photography club.

Thanks for the ideas and input

 

[Metal God]

You don't need a flash gun - just do your portraits outside.

 

[JSER]

Thanks for the reply. I absolutely know that throwing money at gear won't solve anything, and I don't intend to do that, but from playing around with things, I think I'll need 1 flash gun. I'll certainly look into starting up some type of photography club.

Thanks for the ideas and input

It helps to have a flashgun, few women want to get soaked outside, and anyway, anyone who shoots as I do will never go out without flash, I often get funny looks in daylight and even TOLD "you don't need flash in the day", well I take PHOTOGRAPHS not SNAPS.

"Fill flash".

Flash is always on my camers

Can you imagine how bad the above Wedding shot would have been "portrait" without fill flash, its sunny and outdoors.

NOTHING freezes action better than a 1/25,000th second flash, a models hair blowing in a breeze will only be caught with flash, blurred without.

 

[craig.walton2]

Some good tips there. Every day is a school day

 

[JSER]

I did say

When you mess it up DONT WORRY, learn from it, be honest with the sitter/girl/model/student do it again.


Also remember, remember the GOLDEN rule, ASK the models advice.

An example.

"Hi glad you came, thank you, (you already have tea/coffe ready indoors, flask out or soft drinks), I am new to this so can I ask your help please", immediately she is important and feels it.

Ask her what her best side is, she knows women spand more time in front of a mirror that Alice did in it !

Ask her to wear what SHE feels comfortable in, even if it's garbage to you, WHEN she or HE, why not, feels comfortable at a later sitting THEN you can discuss other clothing when she is comfortable.

Finally TALK TO THEM, nothing is woese than silence. If you don't know wnat to talk about ask HER questions, what makeup does she like, but relax.