Portait photography

mattchewone

mattchewone

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Matt
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I am looking to improve my portrait work and to really get into doing some fantastic shots at first for friends and family and then maybe on the side for some extra work.

But I hadn't really done much portrait work and would love for some help. I have a reasonable knowledge of cameras and that and feel maybe I should start at the bottom and do a course (starting with the basics) in the evenings next year.

I'd look to look at doing single and couple group shots as well as baby photos as I have my own to practise with :)

(I have a few baby shots in the feedback section if anyone would like to look over and give some feedback)

Any help or guidance very welcome

Matt
 
I'm pretty much in the same boat, all i can say is the more you do it the better you will become (as with most stuff in life)
 
Matt.

You're not the first person go have this dilemma - here's another one :)

When I decided to start doing portraits I rang around all my friends and family offering them free shoots just to get the experience and build a portfolio. I did this for about 6 months - some were a bit slow on the uptake - before putting postcards in local shop windows.
 
My local camera club has been helpful. As well as talks and more experienced photographers offering advice and help, we have studio nights where we take photographs of each other or bring in a model. So might be worth checking out any clubs in your area.

I've also attended a half day speedlight course run by a local studio.

I then got a couple of flashes, umbrella, stand, reflector etc, and went out for a few hours with a friend for a portrait shoot.

I'm looking forward to doing more and learning more as I go too.
 
Last edited:
Bristolian said:
Matt.

You're not the first person go have this dilemma - here's another one :)

When I decided to start doing portraits I rang around all my friends and family offering them free shoots just to get the experience and build a portfolio. I did this for about 6 months - some were a bit slow on the uptake - before putting postcards in local shop windows.
Click to expand...

Oops, hit the wrong button :)

What I was going to add is that doing courses is ok but there's nothing like actually doing the job. Check out other peoples work on the Internet and see what styles you like then go from there.

Good luck ... chances are you'll love it :)
 
Only thing that's Putting me off is i feel like I don't have the right arty ability to get the subject in the right pose and get that fantastic shot.

Any tips on best apertures to get the whole face sharp? I normally shoot around 1/160th and f/8 I think I'm not sure if that's about right or not.
 
mattchewone said:
Only thing that's Putting me off is i feel like I don't have the right arty ability to get the subject in the right pose and get that fantastic shot.
Click to expand...
Look at lots of other people's work - think about how they posed the person, where the light was, what you like about it.

I found the speedlight course with the model was good as she knew all about good poses so I didn't have to direct her much, and meant by the end of it I was starting to think of poses.

And shots that don't work are good for learning too - what was wrong, the angle of the person's face? The colour of their clothes/hair and background? The light? Then think how it can be improved.

No matter how many other shots you study though, remember that with each person you want to get a look, pose and expression that suits them.
 
The best thing you can do is practice practice practice! There's no way you're going to be perfect first time and know what works in a portrait and what doesn't, no matter how much you read about it, it's just trial and error. Go out and shoot every day - be it street photography, a local event that's happening where you live, candid or posed shots of friends and family - just take your camera everywhere!
I'm sure some courses will be helpful, but I guarantee there's so much you can learn just by practice and teaching yourself, and having something like this forum to guide you along the way. I'm currently in my second year of a Photography & Video course at University, and although I've improved a lot in the time I've been studying, I improved a LOT beforehand as well. I did a daily self-portrait project for almost 200 days, and I can't stress enough how much that helped my portrait work. Having to think of something new every time, working on Photoshop daily improved my editing skills, etc. Self-portraiture isn't for everyone but it's something you might want to consider.
Hope that helps a little :)
 
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