In the old days, only representatives of the nobility or very wealthy people could afford their own portrait. After all, the artist's work was expensive, and it lasted a very long time. Thanks to the art of photography, each of us now has portraits, but are they portraits in the true sense of the word? A portrait is not just a photograph of a face, a portrait is already an art.
Instructions
Step 1
So, you want to take a portrait of a person. And not just a portrait, but a good portrait. To do this, you will need a photo studio equipped with the latest technology, or you can do it in an ordinary room, the main thing is that it has a large window or another source of good lighting. But what you definitely can't do without is a camera. In principle, any model is suitable for shooting a portrait, even the simplest digital camera, but it is better if the camera has a manual or at least semi-automatic shooting mode. If you want to shoot a portrait by a window in natural light, do it on a slightly overcast day. The sun shining through the window will make the shadows too deep, and the illuminated parts of the face may be overexposed. Place the background behind the model at a distance of at least a meter, so you can avoid unnecessary shadows on it. For the background, use light-colored materials without a pronounced pattern. Place the model on a chair or stool half-turned towards you.
Step 2
If you plan to incorporate the model's arms into a portrait, consider placing them, remember that when shooting portraits, you should try your best to avoid “cutting off” body parts. A chopped off hand or a hand arising from an unknown source can greatly spoil the impression of a portrait. Place the camera at eye level with the model. Take a test shot to assess the correct angle. If the photo shows deficiencies that can be eliminated by changing the angle, make the necessary changes. So, for example, a double chin will become less noticeable if you move the photographing point slightly higher.
Step 3
Ask the model to straighten her back, but also do not strain her like a string when shooting. Naturalness and naturalness again. Never ask a model to say "chiiiiz", there is nothing worse than a fake smile in a photograph. Better chat about nonsense. Tell something light-hearted, or, on the contrary, ask about something like that. Focus on the model's eyes. The eyes are the mirror of the soul, which means that they play one of the main roles in the portrait. Hold the aperture of the camera and snap off a few frames. Don't be afraid to do too much. The advantage of digital photography is that bad shots can be easily removed without regretting them. The more professional the camera is, the better the portrait will be. It sounds corny, but it is. The best portraits are usually obtained with high-aperture optics with a focal length of 50 to 85. With a little practice, you can shoot portraits that will literally be called masterpieces.
