Tip 1. Focus On The Eyes
Eye contact isn’t always desirable in a portrait, but sharp eyes definitely are. Select an AF point positioned over the model’s eyes, or use the central focus point to lock focus on their eye. Then, with the shutter release half-pressed to keep the setting locked, recompose your picture before taking the shot.
Tip 2. Using A Standard Or Telephoto Lens
Wide-angle lenses are a great choice for photographing environmental portraits, where you want to show a person within a specific context. However, used close-up, they distort facial features and create unflattering pictures.
A better choice for portraits is either a standard lens or a short telephoto lens. The classic portrait focal lengths for a full-frame camera are 50mm and 85mm prime lenses, along with a 70-200mm zoom.
These help compress features and give a more natural-looking result.
Tip 3. Using Window Light
You don’t need an expensive home studio lighting kit to take great portraits. A window and a reflector can help you achieve stunning natural light portraits without spending much.
Position your model at an angle to the window, and use a white or silver reflector to open up any shadows across their face. A silver reflector gives a crisper quality of light than a white one, though the effect won’t be as subtle.
Be aware of any colour casts introduced by features on the other side of the glass too. A lush green lawn can give skin tones a sickly look, while late evening sunlight on a patio will reflect plenty of warm light.
Tip 4. Baby Portraits
When thinking about lighting for a baby portrait, natural light is the best option, as flash may end up startling them. Try positioning them near a window and use a reflector to bounce light into any shadows. The more light you can get onto your subject, the better your photos will turn out. To catch a baby at their best, photograph them just after a feed or when they’ve first woken up in the morning. They’ll be more active and alert than at other times of the day, and you’re more likely to get the kind of cooing baby portraits that parents will love.