Great portraits made easy Page 2 of 2

Digital photo

Model management

So far I’ve focused on the technical aspects of portraiture. But just as there’s more to being a good nurse than taking blood pressure, your camera-side manner is a vital aspect of successful pictures.

Find the Best Side
Shooting angles work in concert with lighting to create flattering portraits. By shooting from slightly above your model, for example, you can hide a double chin and emphasize eyes. Turning the model’s shoulders slightly to one side creates a slimming effect.

Digital cameras make posing so much easier. Start with your best guess for positioning your model. Take a few shots, and then review them on the LCD screen. Often a subtle posing change can make all the difference.

Keep Them Relaxed
Start a conversation before you actually start shooting. I like to inquire about a person’s interests while setting up the lighting and testing the camera. That always makes people more comfortable.

Give Them a Preview
For the first few frames, I always say, “I’m just doing some testing here, so you can relax.” I take a few shots, review them on the LCD, make a few adjustments, and then shoot some more. I keep the conversation going while doing this. When I capture a shot that I think is flattering, I show it to the model right away. Seeing the image on the LCD gives the model confidence and helps the shooting session go much more smoothly.

Keep Shooting
If you’re not relying on your flash for lighting, try setting your camera in a continuous-shooting mode. A burst of five or six frames may help you capture that quintessential expression you wouldn’t otherwise get. It’s also great for kids and other fidgety models. However, this technique doesn’t work so well for flash photography because the flash can’t fire often enough to keep up with the shutter.