Anyone can take good photographs of people.
Taking good photographs of people might seem challenging, but it's a lot easier if you arm yourself with a few good tips, guidelines and tools. Knowing where the light should be and looking for the right background can make all the difference in how your pictures of people turn out.
Instructions
1. Choose your location carefully. Location can make the difference between a terrible picture and a great one. Make note of any location you see when you're out and about that makes you think, "That would be a really good place to take some pictures." Look for places that would provide a simple background. You don't want anything too busy, because that can take away from the person you're photographing. Avoid locations that are full of things like overpowering visual patterns, crazy shapes and loud colors. If you can't find a simple background -- or if you refuse to pass up a crazy location -- use the manual focus on your camera to make the person in the foreground stand out and minimize the background. Blurry backgrounds make for good photos, too.
2. Make use of bounce cards and back lighting. If you're taking pictures of somebody in the shade, use a section of white poster board or something similar to bounce light from the sun onto the person's face while they're sitting in the shade. This might not sound like it would do much at all, but you would be really surprised the difference a bounce card can make for your photography.
Also try positioning your subject so that the sun is right behind him. This is called back lighting, but this technique is often avoided because it often doesn't turn out correctly. But with the right lighting and positioning, back lighting can create a sort of halo effect coming off of the person in the picture.
3. Position yourself so that the sun is behind you and over to one side or the other. If the sun is really bright that day, have yours subjects in the shade. Direct sunlight can wash out a person's face and features. Also remember that you can always add to or take away from a picture with digital image editing software after you take the photo, but only if you take a well-lit photo in the first place. There's not much editing you can do if your photo is overexposed, so you want to always at least get a solid, natural photo from the start. Usually the best time of day to take good pictures of people is in the mid- to late-afternoon. The sun's position gives your subject a really nice, warm glow.
4. Consider the framing and composition of your photo. This is what separates the professionals from the amateurs. Framing and shot composition has to do with where you put your subject in your photo. Is the person in the center of the picture or off to the side? It's up to you, but here's some general guidelines. Try to frame your photograph so your picture is mainly of the person's head and some of their shoulders. The closer and tighter you are on the person, the better it usually looks. Remember that you're taking pictures of people, and the most interesting part of a person usually is their face. You don't need to worry about showing what kind of shoes or pants the person is wearing. Just focus on the face.
5. Keep it conversational. Unless you're dealing with a professional, the person you're photographing will probably be a bit uncomfortable, especially at first. Remember your job as a photographer is to get the best pictures you can get, and sometimes that turns you into a director of sorts. You want your subject to be relaxed and calm. Be at least somewhat excited about the photos, and let the person know when you've taken a really good one. Also keep in mind that a person can hold still only for so long, and an unhappy person produces an unhappy picture. Unless you're going for a heavy metal anger type of vibe, you're going to want to keep your subject somewhat at ease. Think of it as a great time to improve your people skills.
Tags: your subject, back lighting, your photo, away from, good photographs