Tips for Portrait Photography

dealing with a model's problems / positioning / hand posing within a portrait / shooting groups and couples / lighting tips / create a "People Kit" / a sample session plan / portrait gear for sale

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Dealing with People Issues

Model Issue	Resolution
Round or Fat Face	Pose model 3/4 to the camera
	Use short lighting
	Raise camera angle slightly
Thin Face	Pose model facing the camera
Wrinkly Face, Deep Lines	Use softer, frontal lighting
Blemishes or Scars	Shadow problem areas, or reposition
Big Nose	Raise chin slightly
	Pose nose straight into lens
Small nose	Pose nose at an angle to camera
Square jaw	3/4 pose, higher camera angle
Multiple chins	Stretch neck, lean head toward camera
Different sized eyes	Largest eye close to camera, other in shadow
	Largest eye away creates evening effect
Deep set eyes	Light into eyes
Blinkers	Time shot after subject blinks
Large Ears	3/4 pose
	Only show one ear
	Shadow second ear
Eye Glass Wearers	Shoot with empty frames
	Position glasses away from lights
	Bring lights in from very high, or bounce off ceiling
People with Dark Hair	Check to make sure that background doesn't show through hair, restyle if necessary.

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Basic Positioning Tips

Position body and head facing different directions.

Masculine pose: tilt top of head toward far shoulder.

Feminine pose: tilt top of head toward near shoulder. Note: Women can typically pull off either of these two poses.
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Hand Posing Tips

Don't show flat surfaces of hands, show finger edges.

Fingers should not be facing into the lens.

Bend fingers at all joints.

Male hands should be more closed, female should be more open.

Use opposing diagonals: ie head resting on arm; each pointing in opposite directions.

Fingers should not be intertwined.

Never rest a head on a fist.
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Stuff you should have available for your models

Fresh combs

A mirror

Hair spray

Hair clips
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Session Plan

Start with head shots.

Move to head on hands, let the model pose naturally.

Finish with 3/4 and full length.
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Shooting Groups of People
As a rule, the image should express a tone that all in the group are unified; either touching each other physically, or visually overlapping.

Clothing Choices

Everyone should have the same toned clothing, either warm or cold.

Brightly clothed individuals should be placed in the middle.

Posing Tips

Make men a little taller than women.

Stagger head heights.

Pose groups one person at a time, in relation to each other.

Pose men to the right of the frame, women to the left.

Open Poses are defined as images with physical or visual space between people. Closed Poses are defined as images where individuals overlap each other, with no visual space between them. Note: Mixing Open and Closed Poses works well for large groups.

Posing Couples

Front to Front Pose - fronts of both people facing, or touching the other.

Fronts facing forward - fronts of both people facing forward, possibly at an angle, one front to the other's back.

Avoid space between heads to create intimacy.

Use lots of negative space around couples in the frame.
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Suggestions for Lighting
Match the mood of image to lighting.

High key --> happy

Low key --> dramatic

An Example of a High Key Lighting Setup (four light setup)

Main and fill lights close to the same output (1:1 to 2:1 max ratio).

White clothing, white background.

NO SHADOWS.