Tips for Potrait Shots

[Hermie]

Hi,

I am a super Newbie in taking photos with my DSLR.

I'm intending to photo shoot my friends this Thurs in town area. Themed is Potrait Shots !

Full Potrait Shots and Half Potrait Shots.

I would like to get a sense of feel how its like to shoot for magazine like quality. Not shooting in studio but indoors though.

Currently, I have 18-55mm lens. A CANON EOS 300D body.

QUESTIONS

• What kind of lens should I use ?
  
• Do I need filters ?
  
• What about flash ? Is the speedlite 580EX sufficient ?
  
• Do I shoot in raw format ?
  
• Does the rule of thirds still apply ?
  
• How should I compose my shots ?

Would appreciate any tips, advices !!

Regards !

 

[ortega]

you should read more books
view more images

and decide how you want your images to be
and how you can achieve them with the tool that you have

everyone has a different style

 

[Hermie]

Hi Ortega,

Appreciate the advice.

If you don't mind what kind of books should I read ? And maybe you can share some of your experience and tips I would appreciate it very much !

Regards !

 

[willdon]

Maybe you can let us know which type of "magazine like quality" you looking at.
If FHM type then you can think about bikini :bsmilie: though not all.

 

[catchlights]

Hi Ortega,

Appreciate the advice.

If you don't mind what kind of books should I read ? And maybe you can share some of your experience and tips I would appreciate it very much !

Regards !

how 'bout some portraits photography books? from National Library?

my advice

• What kind of lens should I use ? use whatever you have now.
• Do I need filters ? why? soft filter? up to you.
• What about flash ? Is the speedlite 580EX sufficient ? up to you too, I hardly use flash for outdoor
• Do I shoot in raw format ? if you think is better, than use it.
• Does the rule of thirds still apply ? this rule can apply on any subjects, but you can brake it if you know what you want.
• How should I compose my shots ? whatever it takes, but try not to cut at the joints.

 

[harmony]

A couple of books to start with

National Geographic Photography Field Guide: People and Portraits
Steve McCurry: Looking East: Portraits by Steve McCurry​

There a quite a lot of book of the same topic.. maybe you can search the library or Amazon.com.

 

[littlejt]

ooo where do you get the nat geog book

 

[StevO]

Before discovering this website, my familes and friends tell me that i take super photos !

Getting a bit cocky, i was brought into reality by the Shifu, Master, experts, professionals etc etc that I sucks !
I have the guts to submit 4 photos now to my gallery and thought i will get at least a comment of " okay". However, read the comments and you will start to realize that how ignorant, unprofessional, newbie I am ! My DSLR with expensive equipments are nothing without skills and feel.

I am not much different from those who go around with a compact camera !

Going by the C & C I have received, I started paying closer attention to the pix on FHM (I used to focus only on cerain area), look at other professional works and practice practice.

I have set a target that I will get at least a " ok" comment in 6 mths when I post my pix for critics.

My advise as a newbie to another newbie is to keep on reading the critics page on this site, practice and practice and read.

Some of my inspiration comes form the following links :

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/be-yourself.htm
http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/howto.htm

Cheers and have fun !

 

[ortega]

Hi Ortega,

Appreciate the advice.

If you don't mind what kind of books should I read ? And maybe you can share some of your experience and tips I would appreciate it very much !

Regards !

it depends on what kind of photographic style you like

you can start by trying to reproduce the work of others
and then once you get a hang of thing
try to develope a style of your own

nobody can tell you what you like
only you know that

 

[Hermie]

Thanks for all your replies, tips and advices.

In terms of technical aspect ; maybe someone out there can highlight these areas. So far everyone has been telling me to read books, refer magazines etc..

However noone has offered to share equipments used. For example, I have 18-55mm lens. Is this sufficient for my theme ? Or should I acquire a different lens maybe 70-200mm ? Or something like that. Filters, Flash etc...

Would appreciate specifics.

Thank You

Regards !!

 

[Astin]

If u already have the 18-55 lens then its fine just use it, I guess u will use mostly the 55mm end of the lens to shoot. U dont need filter and flash as beginners, u will need them later at a "more advanced" stage, however not everyone will need filter and flash at all. While shooting, u will need to communicate with your subject, be it a pretty girl or an old man, otherwise yr subject will look tense and lost in your photos. Avoid the "snapshot" photo and make sure every photo has some point of interest or interesting elements inside.

After shoot, post your photos here for critique, and ask for very harsh critique, only those ppl who tell u the harsh words will make u learn. Those who tell u good words will not make u learn (but will make u feel better only).

 

[cantaresg]

I only read in books that when you take portraits, you need to focus at the eyes. So perhaps you need to focus on the eyes, focus lock, then recompose your pictures. Never really tried before though. Seldom take portraits.

 

[happyepower]

how 'bout some portraits photography books? from National Library?

my advice

• What kind of lens should I use ? use whatever you have now.
• Do I need filters ? why? soft filter? up to you.
• What about flash ? Is the speedlite 580EX sufficient ? up to you too, I hardly use flash for outdoor
• Do I shoot in raw format ? if you think is better, than use it.
• Does the rule of thirds still apply ? this rule can apply on any subjects, but you can brake it if you know what you want.
• How should I compose my shots ? whatever it takes, but try not to cut at the joints.

as for the flash, i thought people offen use it for outdoor photography?

 

[cantaresg]

flash can be used outdoor, especially as a fill-in flash. But it is not a must. It just depends on individual preference.

 

[catchlights]

as for the flash, i thought people offen use it for outdoor photography?

yes, you can use, but I prefer to use available light only.