Tip 1. Focus on the eyes
Eye contact is not always desirable, desirable in a portrait, sharp eyes are. Select a AF point that is positioned over the model’s eyes, or uses the central focus point to lock focus on the model’s 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 great for photographing environmental portraits, where you show a specific context. Wide-angle lenses are a good choice for taking photos of environmental portraits where you want to show a person within a specific context. The wide-angles lenses used close-up will distort
Wide-angle lenses are a great choice for photographing environmental portraits, where you want to show a person within a specific context. However, wide-angle lenses used close-up will distort facial features and creative 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, 85mm prime lenses and a 70-200mm zoom.
These will help to compress features and provide a more natural-looking result.
Tip 3. Using window light
You don’t need an expensive home studio lighting kit to take amazing portraits – a window and a reflector can help you achieve stunning natural light portraits without spending too 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 will give a crisper quality of light than a white one, although the effect won’t be as subtle.
Be aware of any colour casts that may be introduced by features on the other side of the glass as well – a lush green lawn can give skin tones a sickly quality, while late evening sunlight on a patio will reflect lots of warm light.
Tip 4. Baby portraits
When thinking about the lighting on a baby portrait, natural light is the best option to choose, as flash may end up spooking them out. You should try and position them near to a window and use a reflector to bounce light into a shadow. The more light you can get onto your subject, photos. To catch a baby at their best, take photos of them just after they are fed or when they’ve woken up first thing 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.