Photographing people is one of the most enjoyable and rewarding parts of photography. Besides the great photos that you can acquire, for me it also means building a connection with a country and its many different kinds of people. Taking portraits of people means you need to get up close, and sometimes communicate with them, so you need to get over your shyness. Whether it’s a smile and pointing to your camera, or simply getting by with limited language, it’s incredible how receptive people are when you put in the effort.
Here are some simple tips once you’re ready to start photographing travel portraits:
Keep the Eyes Sharp
It doesn’t matter if the other features of their face are not in focus; if the eyes are not sharp your image will look blurred and won’t work. The ideal focal-length lens for photographing portrait is 80mm-105mm (hence why these lenses are often called portrait lenses). Aim to set your shutter speed to at least 1/125th of a second (faster if you can) to ensure there is no camera shake. A wide aperture of f/2-5.6 will ensure you have a nice blurred background, to draw the viewer to the face of your subject.
Ensure that the eyes of your subject are sharp.
Think About the Light
In any form of photography, light is one of the most important elements of the photo. Overcast days are ideal for portraits outdoors as it offers a soft, even light, whereas strong sun on the person’s face will cause harsh shadows to appear. Of course there is absolutely nothing wrong with taking portraits in this light, but you may need to think more about your composition. For example, you may want to show more of the person’s clothing to distract the viewer from their face, or you could use a flash to fill in the shadows. Sometimes the harsh shadows could actually enhance the photo by making it feel grittier.
Cloudy and overcast days help ensure you get even lighting.
What’s in the Background
The most important element of head and shoulder portraits is a person’s face, so the viewer shouldn’t be distracted by elements around, or behind it. Avoid bright colours or strong patterns and designs in the background. Also, by having a wide aperture you can ensure the background is blurred which highlights the sharp parts of the photo even more (i.e. the eyes).
Clean backgrounds help make your subject stand out.
Art Direct Your Subject
Sometimes the difference between a portrait that works, and one that doesn’t, is just a few steps to the left or right, or it could be just stepping back into the shade rather than in direct sun. Sometimes simply moving a hand toward, or away from the face, can make a huge difference to the photo. So don’t be afraid to direct your model as to where, and how you want them to stand. Don’t worry if you don’t speak their language, a simple smile and pointing usually does the trick.
This woman was standing in the sun so I simply moved her back a few steps so that I wasn’t getting harsh shadows on her face.
Keep Your Model Relaxed
Unless your model is a professional, chances are they are nervous and self-conscious about having their photo taken. So try to get them to relax if they look tense. Simply making them laugh can make a huge difference, and you’ll see that in your photos.
This woman was really nervous so I waited until she was distracted before taking the photo.
What is wonderful about portraits is that they can feel incredibly intimate and personal, and a great portrait will look fantastic in any portfolio. But the other great thing about portraits is that it is incredibly easy to practice. Friends, family and even colleagues, if willing, are all you need to practice so that you are ready for when you are on location or travelling.
Now it’s your turn. Share your photos, thoughts and tips below.
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