#1 PAY ATTENTION TO THE LIGHT
These photos were shot at 2 pm when the sun was still high and bright… I know that if I threw Genny into the sun, she’d be squinting, my highlights would be blown the F out, and it’d just be really hard for me to control the outcome of these photos. Instead, I looked for shaded areas… Are there any specific spots that would give me a nice contrast between light and dark? This building was perfect because the windows reflected light back onto my subject without being overkill. The height of this building also blocked out enough of the sun, allowing me to capture Genny without stark, unflattering shadows.
#2 USE BACK-BUTTON FOCUS
I keep promising more photo tips and I promise, they’re coming…
I was actually saving a flatlay post for TODAY so that I could show you how I look at light, but then my brother called me for an impromptu brunch get-together and I decided to put “work” aside… Knowing Genny from Blue Augustine would be there (because obviously that’s my brother’s girlfriend), I immediately knew the camera had to come with…
Although my blog portraits (of other people) still require progression, I figure I can share those lessons as I shoot them along the way… I’ll start with the most basic tips because I don’t think anyone who really knows how to shoot would be probing for this topic on my blog. 🙂
If you’re not utilizing back-button focus, you’re gambling your shots… Back-button focus gives you 100% control of what needs to be tack sharp. It’s precise, offers no delay, and is your best bet for nailing sharp portraits. The best kind of blog portraits are those that don’t appear super posey. They’re very street style-esque, which means your subject will make natural movements. Back-button focus will help you get those shots right (as long as you’re also using the right shutter speed and ISO).
#3 USE LENS DISTORTION TO YOUR ADVANTAGE
Everyone wants to look longer and leaner. HELP YOUR SUBJECT OUT. Kneeling down and pointing the camera at stomach level helps you capture realistic proportions. If you want to make someone look even taller, use a wider angle lens and get on your knees, angling the camera up slightly as I did in the first shot. Don’t underestimate lens distortion. (Note: This also works on the iPhone.)
#4 DON’T NEGLECT THE DETAILS
When shooting portraits for the purpose of a blog, there are a few shots I advocate: 1. Full body, 2. Full body + environment, & 3. Details. Don’t be afraid to cut off heads, arms, and legs. It adds variety to a set. Your readers might be really interested in what that necklace really looks like or how you stack your rings, and at the same time, they want to see the harmony of your entire outfit.
#5 EDIT YOUR PHOTOS
I could never post an image without editing it… Photo editing is a part of my style. Even though I want to move away from it, it’s too embedded in my work to obliterate completely. Post-processing is pretty addictive. In this set, I wanted punchier colors so I added quite a bit of magenta to enhance the brick and jacket. I also used curves to brighten the highlights and darken the shadows – this helps create that punchy, contrasty effect. You don’t need to do a ton of editing, but the slightest adjustments can make all the difference in the world.
If you’d like to see an editing post, I’d love to share so let me know! More to come with these photo tips!
