So you've decided to hire us to come take your picture...well here are some tips.
Photography is about lighting. Most of us are not models and are really not great at having our pictures taken. If you have not been satisfied in the past it is probably not your fault. You would be better if you did this for a living but if you did you wouldn't need our services so don't feel bad or sheepish about having your picture taken. Our team will pose you and help you but it will improve your pictures if you understand a little about posing for a pic. Here are four tips that should help you understand what our photographers are trying to deal with and how to create natural looking shots.
1) Watch this video by professional head shot photographer Peter Hurley on how to make your jaw line look right and why it is so important.
1) Watch this video by professional head shot photographer Peter Hurley on how to make your jaw line look right and why it is so important.
Take a look at the subject to the left. She is sitting comfortably and relaxed in a candid shot but at the last moment became nervous about how she looked, as apposed to just relaxing, and has tightened up her stomach muscles in an effort to "look" better. Unfortunately, most of us will naturally pull our chin down when we "suck it in" or even just hold our breath and it creates a look that is not flattering. Instead, relax, breath out - not in, smile and we will try to take the shot when you are at your best.
Now here is the exact same pose, same lighting, same subject but instead of trying to worry about her body she is relaxed and focused on keeping her chin and forehead forward creating a much more flattering look and accentuating her jawline. It doesn't hurt that she has a perfect smile and is really pretty, we know, but look at the difference. Tightening your abs while taking a picture to avoid any unsightly bulges in your shirt is common and not necessarily a bad thing, especially if it makes you feel more comfortable about having your picture taken. We all do it. However, please make sure it is never at the cost of your face which is the focus. Remember that women are never shot straight on, but always with their shoulders at an angle to the camera, and couples are always shot with one covering the other with their arms. Listen to the photographer and work with them until you are comfortable and then let them take the shot. Communication from both the subject and photographer will ensure great pictures.
2) Be sure to wear something matching or at least complimentary if there is going to be a family or couple shoot. Obviously the larger the family the tougher this can be. We can make suggestions but it will make your pictures look more clean if everyone is wearing something that does not seam random. Plan ahead and try to pic a theme. Then we can pic a background that compliments everyone and makes sure that no one stands out and looks like the black sheep of your family. If no one is matching that can be fine as well, just try to avoid prints that are too busy or clash with each other. Solids are usually best. When photographing couples, one solid and one pattern, such as the couple at the top of this page, works well together so that their is a contrast and the subjects don't blend together.
3) If we are going to do a simple outside shoot then backgrounds are really important. They will be out of focus but the color will still be there (just like the tree in the pic below). The further in front of the background you are the more blurred the background will be. We typically try to keep the focus on you but we still want a quiet place to shoot with no wind to deal with and no other people in the way. Please let us know during the consultation process if you have ideas in mind for locations near where you want to shoot. Parks can be great during the week when no one is there and same with schools on the weekend.
3) If we are going to do a simple outside shoot then backgrounds are really important. They will be out of focus but the color will still be there (just like the tree in the pic below). The further in front of the background you are the more blurred the background will be. We typically try to keep the focus on you but we still want a quiet place to shoot with no wind to deal with and no other people in the way. Please let us know during the consultation process if you have ideas in mind for locations near where you want to shoot. Parks can be great during the week when no one is there and same with schools on the weekend.
4) Lighting that is even is the best. You can stand in the sun as long as it is not in your eyes. Standing in the shade on a sunny day is often best so long as the shade is not created by a tree or something that has spaces for the light to pierce through. This is what is meant by un-even light (as shown in he picture to the left). In order to avoid shadows and proper exposure on your face the background will often be over-exposed a little and blown out due to the focus being on you. We can shoot you flat with a properly exposed background but it often means we will be shooting at a higher f-stop or with a shorter lens that will tend to flatten the image. Weather is often un-predicable and we are flexible enough to make changes on the fly but it is always good to have alternative location ideas available especially if we are traveling to you and we are not as familiar with your area.
Tech Specs
If you are trying to get a great portrait on your own and know a little about photography and how to use your camera try the following common rules.
1) Position the subject with their back to the sun at 1 - 2 (depending on the time of year) in the afternoon about five feet in front of a blank wall or pretty fall foliage. A repeating pattern or even background would probably be best but it obviously depends on the look you are going for. Hopefully you can find something not too distracting.
2) Use the sunny 16 rule and remember that to break it down for afternoon lighting or if you are able to line up the subject with a hair-light then the following settings should work the best. ISO 200, 1/125, F5.6 at a focal point of 100 for a camera with a crop-sensor. If you don't have a long lens to accomplish this focal length then you should adjust your settings for a shorter length and try to get the subject as far away from the background as possible for a bokeh effect.
3) Be sure to have your camera in manual with a single point of focus. Position that point on the subjects eye. If you have a group or limited space and have to use a lower focal point this should still work but you might not get the background to blur as much depending on how close they are to it. The point is to make the subject stand out and nothing else. You can also use the previous tips and just try your camera's portrait mode to accomplish a similar result if you are not as comfortable with the manual settings.
4) If shooting a group you can stand on a stool (unless you are already taller than everyone), make sure that everyone is looking up and use a higher F-stop (such as f16+) in order to make sure that the second or third row is not out of focus. You can of course change your focus to many points if you are shooting a group as well. If it is a small group you should be able to keep the single focal point and you will still get a really nice background that is out of focus.
If you are trying to get a great portrait on your own and know a little about photography and how to use your camera try the following common rules.
1) Position the subject with their back to the sun at 1 - 2 (depending on the time of year) in the afternoon about five feet in front of a blank wall or pretty fall foliage. A repeating pattern or even background would probably be best but it obviously depends on the look you are going for. Hopefully you can find something not too distracting.
2) Use the sunny 16 rule and remember that to break it down for afternoon lighting or if you are able to line up the subject with a hair-light then the following settings should work the best. ISO 200, 1/125, F5.6 at a focal point of 100 for a camera with a crop-sensor. If you don't have a long lens to accomplish this focal length then you should adjust your settings for a shorter length and try to get the subject as far away from the background as possible for a bokeh effect.
3) Be sure to have your camera in manual with a single point of focus. Position that point on the subjects eye. If you have a group or limited space and have to use a lower focal point this should still work but you might not get the background to blur as much depending on how close they are to it. The point is to make the subject stand out and nothing else. You can also use the previous tips and just try your camera's portrait mode to accomplish a similar result if you are not as comfortable with the manual settings.
4) If shooting a group you can stand on a stool (unless you are already taller than everyone), make sure that everyone is looking up and use a higher F-stop (such as f16+) in order to make sure that the second or third row is not out of focus. You can of course change your focus to many points if you are shooting a group as well. If it is a small group you should be able to keep the single focal point and you will still get a really nice background that is out of focus.
