Digital Portrait Photography - Shooting the Person is Key

There are a few general elements of digital portrait photography that are absolutely key - the first one being to focus on the person you are photographing. There are different kinds of portraits, such as a close-up shot, or a shot involving the upper body.

However, photographs can also be taken with the surrounding background included. When it comes to digital portrait photography that involves upper body shots, the most commonly used lens is a 90mm, fixed telephoto lens. These are often the kinds of photographs that are often taken at children's schools and involve the subject being in the foreground and the background slightly muted.

To capture a really good portrait you need to have your subject looking as natural as possible. Many photographers often achieve this by taking an initial shot, followed by a couple of successive shots - one of which is bound to have caught the subject in a more natural pose. When a close up portrait is intended, it is usual to line the subject up so they are not looking directly at the camera, but slightly to one side.

An important aspect of all photographs, whether they are digital portrait photographs or not, is the element of light. For a photograph that focuses on the head and shoulders, the angle of the light can vastly alter the finished portrait. If the light is coming in from the side or from above, small facial details will be illuminated and accented: more flattering photographs are best obtained with plenty of diffused light, or when light is far more muted.

Reducing areas of the face that the subject prefers not to be highlighted is a skill the portrait photographer soon develops: they achieve this through the use of a lens that is at least 90mm. Using a wide aperture you can ensure that the person you are photographing appears to be brighter in the foreground of the picture, with the background fading slightly into the background through being slightly out of focus.

Finally, when you are involved in close-up digital portrait photography, respect your subject's personal space. People hate to feel intimidated and, even though you may be taking a close-up portrait, you still need your subject to feel comfortable in your presence. 

Most professional photographers would still advise getting as close as possible rather than using a zoom lens.  It might work for a lot of photographers, especially if their subjects are professional models but, in the vast majority of cases, the subject will be much more at ease if you just step back a little and give your subject some space.

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Digital Portrait Photography: Shoot The Person, Not The Picture!

Digital portrait photography will produce superb results if you are able to see the person you are photographing, as one of your favorite people at that moment.

Digital portrait photography is for you if you care about people, are interested in what drives them, and how they came to be where they are. Good portrait photographers seem to get the best out of their subjects by being fundamentally interested in them, and being able to connect with them, even if it is just for the duration of the shooting session.

With digital portrait photography nothing has changed about the nature of this interaction! However, you will discover a number of creative - and financial! - advantages.

Whether your aim is professional digital portrait photography, or practicing it as a hobby, one of the best ways to go about it is to heed the written advice of experienced professional portrait photographers. Various aspects of this field have been covered in a number of informative books on the subject.

In 'A Comprehensive Guide to Digital Portrait Photography', Duncan Evans covers the different types of digital cameras available, including compact, single-lens reflex (SLR), and specialized models.

He also shows how to create a home studio, and explains the basics of portrait composition, texture, and mood. He includes topics such as color, computer manipulation, using duotones, tritones and sepia tones, and manipulating light and shadow.

A photographer who has published more than one book on digital portrait photography, is Jeff Smith. His books include 'Professional Digital Portrait Photography', where he walks you through the steep learning curve for digital portrait photographers. He shows you how to avoid commonly experienced problems, and he provides various techniques for shooting and editing.

Another of Jeff's books is 'Learn How To Make All Of Your Clients Look Their Very Best!', where he gets very practical about photographing real people, and not just models.

He discusses how to be tactful with people about those aspects of their appearance that they don't want to be highlighted in the portrait image.

His approach is to combine careful lighting, posing, and retouching to correct those flaws. The end-product is a portrait the client will love.

Is you main interest outdoor digital portrait photography? Jeff has also published 'Outdoor and Location Portrait Photography', in which he explains how to understand and control natural light, and how to select the best scene. He also includes tips for posing, selecting clothing, as well as marketing your portraits.

If you are keen to set up a digital studio, don't miss 'Master The Skills You Need To Build A Digital Portrait Photography Business', by Lou Jacobs Jr. This book deals with topics such as the following: how to select your equipment; locating and outfitting a digital portrait photography studio; designing an efficient workflow; and presenting and marketing your work.

Know you camera, be interested in the people you deal with, and you will soon be a master of digital portrait photography.

For more information visit Best-Digital-Photography.com

Rika Susan of Article-Alert.com researches, writes, and publishes full-time on the Web. Copyright of this article: 2006 Rika Susan. This article may be reprinted if the resource box and hyperlinks are left intact.

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