6 Outdoor Portrait Photography Poses That You Should Avoid

Portrait photography is something that every budding photographer should master in order to become an accomplished photographer in the future, but before one is able to master this art of photography, one should be able to identify to do's and don'ts in this segment of photography. Being able to master the skills of portrait photography would ensure that you are able to take magnificently gorgeous photographs in the future with your compact digital camera, but in order to accomplish this, take note of this - not to commit these below poses and mistakes that are common in outdoor portrait photography:

1) Outdoor portrait photography poses should never be shot with the subject facing the sun - the best would be to have the sun behind your subject to provide good hair light, and also to provide some much-needed depth for your portrait. This works for both sunset and sunrise shots.

2) Avoid having the subject pose too close to a background until you get a clear, hard shadow in black in the picture. It is extremely crucial to allow natural light to wrap around the subject so that softer light is possible to be created for the benefit of your shots. It is best to have the subject at least 2 meters from a background when you are taking outdoor portrait pictures

3) Shooting a subject head-on is a definite NO! When you get a complete picture of someone with both shoulders and toes facing you, the created image would prove to be largely unflattering. You would successfully add weight to the subject when you shoot this way, and this is definitely not desirable.

4) Try to avoid forcing your subjects to pose in funny and uncomfortable poses, as poses that are not natural would most probably turn out to be awkward as well. Stick to the simple rules of posing, and let your subjects try to be as natural as possible when shooting outdoor portrait photographs

5) Do not place any objects in the background unless you have a specific need for it, or you would end up ruining your photograph

6) Also avoid shooting subjects from behind, a rule that can only be relaxed if you are taking pictures of babies or toddlers.

All of these mentioned basic photograph tips would work well for your outdoor portrait photographs, thus avoid the above-mentioned poses that would decrease the quality of your pictures considerably.

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Portrait Photography - What Should You Know?

Portrait photography deals with pictures that capture a person or a group of people where the facial expressions, the mood of the moment and the special features of the personality of the subjects are highlighted. A portrait is a well composed image of a person or a group in a still position. Portraits generally are done to remember a date or a special occasion such as a wedding, a graduation, an anniversary or a reunion. 

When it comes to portrait photography it can be done on the traditional lines or it can be done in a more innovative style which will express the mood of the moment with more eloquence. Striking portraits are remembered forever and treasured by many. Traditionally, the subjects in the portrait stare straight ahead at the camera which is positioned at eye level. However if you change the angle of the camera it will add a completely different aspect to the portrait. Shooting from up, down or up close can give an interesting perspective to the whole exercise.

The most important feature in a portrait is the subject's eyes. Looking straight down the lens is the most common and traditional way which is great for establishing a connection with the person looking at it. You can also have the subject looking off camera with the focus on something outside the frame. It is intriguing to the onlooker and created interest in the portrait. This has to be handled with care so as to keep the focus on the picture and not take it totally to the edge of it. The subject can be looking at something within the frame and this second point of interest can create its own story within the portrait.

The placement of the subject is also important to a portrait. Dead center or placing them with the use of the Rule of Thirds should be done as befits each picture that you are composing. There are no hard and fast rules about this and being imaginative will ensure a great portrait.

Another aspect of portrait photography is the lighting and how the different effects are used to highlight facial features, the body or the background. The possibilities are endless and need only be limited by your imagination. Side-lighting, back-lighting and silhouetting the subject can work out perfectly for portraits. Partially obscured features at times can be very powerful in a portrait.

The traditional portrait shots have nothing to show in the way of originality. If the subject is good, the portrait is good. On the other hand if the portrait can made to look more than interesting it will really stand out. So, get the subject to do something that will involve activity and the photographs that you shoot at this time will show the subject in a more upbeat light. Less posing and more candid photographs will definitely be better. This works amazingly with children.

Focusing on a prop or a body part is another way of taking portraits. Composing the photograph can be a lot of fun when you are working with a prop or focusing on one body part. Obscuring a part of the subject in the portrait can be very powerful as this creates all sorts of emotion. One other method that can be used specially when working with children is to take a series of pictures that captures a certain movement and can be presented together as a series.

With all these tips for portrait taking you can refine your techniques even further with practice. So, experiment and learn the best way that will suit you and make it your signature style.

Once you've made your photos, you may want to give them a professional touch. A great way to do it is to use photography templates from ArtcoDesign.

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