Portrait Photography

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Joe Machuta on November 16, 2012 at 2:08pm

I like the dof and the sharp focus on the couple. I would like to see the background cropped a little. Portraits should focus on the subject and not the background in my opinion. Here is an example of what I would have done

Permalink Reply by Brad Whistler on November 16, 2012 at 2:21pm

I have to agree with Joe on the suggestion of the closer crop, portraits are of people, not scenery. Being a long time portrait shooter and photo instructor one of my biggest points I make with portraits is posing. Overall this is a nice composition but if you look at the mans hand growing out of your sisters side it looks a little awkward. Pulling his hand behind her would have cleaned up the lines of her figure as well. Then your sisters hand sitting on her fiances forearm has no length to it.The pose has left her with a hand that is growing from her bicep. Shooting into the flat of her hand/fingers makes them appear larger. Lay her arm on top of his would give her something to lean on, would give her an arm and would allow you to shoot into the side of her hand making it smaller and more feminine. One final suggestion would be to have her place her legs to the opposite direction. Right now she is posed in a slightly uncomfortable position shaped like a letter "C". By changing her legs she would then flow into her fiance with a smooth line that would also compliment her figure more.

Just my thoughts on a shot that is already a nice image and one that the average client would still enjoy, appreciate and hang on their wall. For me its the minor details that set a shot apart from all of the others. Good luck with the wedding ;-)

Permalink Reply by Randall Burgess on December 10, 2012 at 11:02am

Thank you so much for the input.  Posing is one of the areas I am really trying to learn and understand.  All of your suggestions make perfect sense to me.

Permalink Reply by Randall Burgess on December 10, 2012 at 11:05am

Thank you for the advice.  Portraits are much different animal than the usual artistic black and white shots that I love.

Permalink Reply by shawn on January 22, 2013 at 12:33am

one thing i would try to do when doing portraits outside is picking a time when the sun isn't directly over head like it appears to be in this photo or find a shaded area, so the the light is softer and the shadows won't be as harsh which makes a more even lighting situation and you won't have the burned out areas on the tops of their heads. i personally like doing portrait sessions on overcast days because its like having a giant soft box outside and it gives a much more even light.

Permalink Reply by Wayne Marner on February 2, 2013 at 11:02pm

# A tighter crop
# Shoot at morning or evening for better light
# Why the fence behind them? I think a sea of yellow/green tones blurring in the background would be much nicer
# I feel the posing is a little awkward. All that was needed was for the model to have her legs going out to her right side then she could have leaned into her partner better.

A nice shot overall but I feel anyone with a camera at the time could have captured an image of similar quality.