It is imperative to know what you should and shouldn’t do when taking pictures of people. This is a common question when it comes to photography, which is why we’ve put together some quick tips on what not to do when shooting portraits. Whether you’re a photographer or just someone who likes taking great pictures, these are things that you need to know about.
What not to do when shooting portraits
a) Avoid the “cute” effect: When taking pictures of people, try not to use excessive filters and silly effects that could be seen as too “cute.” It might work once in a while, but if all your pictures follow this rule, chances are they’ll get boring pretty quickly.
b) Don’t use the zoom: Instead, try to move closer to your subject. This will help you avoid getting blurry pictures, and it will also make your subjects look more natural.
c) Don’t take pictures from high up. Unless you’re taking a picture of a large crowd, it’s generally better not to take pictures from high up. This makes people look small and insignificant and can often be unflattering.
d) Avoid overhead shots: Just like with pictures taken from high up, overhead shots should generally be avoided. They can make people look unprofessional or, worse yet, like they’re lying down on the ground.
What you should do when shooting portraits
a) Get close: As mentioned before, getting close to your subject is a good way to avoid blurry pictures and make your subjects look more natural.
b) Use natural light: If possible, try to shoot portraits in natural light. This will give your pictures a more pleasant look, and it will also help you avoid using artificial light, which can often lead to unflattering pictures.
c) Use a simple background: A busy or distracting background can take away from your portrait, so try to use a simple background whenever possible. This will help put the focus on your subject.
d) Take lots of shots: Since you never know which picture is going to turn out great, it’s always a good idea to take lots of shots when shooting portraits. This way, you’re sure to capture at least one good picture.
How to take better pictures of children and babies
When it comes to taking pictures of kids and babies, you should keep a few things in mind. Here are some tips to help you take better pictures of children and babies:
Patience. That’s right, having patience when taking photographs of kids and babies is very important. Kids have a tendency to be unpredictable, so you’ll need to have lots of patience if you want great portraits.
A fun environment. Let’s face it: kids and babies aren’t going to sit still for a long time, so it’s best to take their photos in a fun environment or when they’re doing something they enjoy. For example: to spice up a kid’s birthday party, we looked into photo booth rental at magicmomentphotobooth.com, who are arguably the best photo booth rental chicago has to offer, and the kids had a blast! It also had that nostalgia factor for the adults, so it was a big win overall.
Include parents. Photographs with parents are always great since they can help remind people who those cute little rascals belong to.
The best time of day for taking photos
There are actually two times that are the absolute best when it comes to taking photos. That would be around sunrise and around sunset. The reason why it’s better to take photos around those times is that the light is softer and more natural, which results in nicer pictures. However, if you’re not able to shoot during those times, don’t worry any time of the day can produce great photos as long as you know what you’re doing.
The best way to take pictures of a group of people
When taking pictures of a group of people, there are a few things you need to keep in mind, says Canva:
Get everyone in the frame. This might seem like a no-brainer, but it’s actually surprisingly easy to forget to do this.
Make sure everyone is looking in the same direction. Again, another easy thing to forget. All it takes is one person looking in a different direction than the rest, and your picture will be ruined.
Make sure everyone is the same size. This can be tricky, but getting everyone to stand or sit in a similar position will make your pictures look more uniform.
How to take pictures of a couple
There are a few things you need to keep in mind when taking pictures of couples:
Get close. As with portraits, getting close to your subjects is key for avoiding blurry pictures and making them look more natural.
Use natural light whenever possible, says Medium. This will give your pictures a more pleasant look, and it will also help you avoid using artificial light, which can often lead to unflattering pictures.
Camera settings you should know about
Knowing all of the settings on your camera can definitely feel like a daunting task. Luckily, you don’t need to know every detail about all of them. You should, however, know about your camera’s ISO.
The ISO determines the sensitivity of the digital camera. Higher ISO settings mean that less light is required for a more intense image in broad terms. In low light conditions, this means you will have to set your camera on a high ISO setting to compensate for any lack of lighting. However, it is important to remember that a higher ISO setting will also introduce the noise in the images, which can look unsightly and may detract from the overall quality.
As you can see, learning what to do and what not to do when shooting portraits is very important since it will help you avoid making common mistakes. Since no one likes to spend hours editing pictures only to find out that they all look terrible, make sure that you follow the tips mentioned above in order to get nice-looking portraits every time.