How to take edgy and artistic portraits.
By Amber Collins
27 Nov 2008
My fascination with photography has always been in photographing people. I am consistently trying to find obscure locations, interesting people, and new perspectives and angles to shoot from. Here are my ten tips on how to take some extraordinary portraits.
1. My first tip is to scope out an awesome location. I suggest driving around aimlessly, blasting your favorite music and keeping your eyes peeled for anything that looks interesting. Bring your camera along for the ride and if you find a good place, snap some shots and try to imagine how you could work your subject in the location.
2. I believe that natural lighting is key. I suggest that you begin shooting in the afternoon, and continue on into the evening as the sun is going down so that you can get some stunning shadows. As the sun goes down you will see your location transform as the lighting will change and you will then have interesting shadows to work with.
3. Don't be afraid to lay down on the ground or climb on anything. I think that to get a great artistic shot, you need to have some different and interesting angles. Don't be afraid to try anything.
4. Just keep shooting! When I take photographs of people, I spend a few hours doing it and I take hundreds of shots. Just be creative and keep thinking about how you could make the last shot better. Try everything you can. Take a risk and keep clicking that shutter.
5. Remember to take a variety of shots. Make sure to get close up shots of the subjects face, full body shots, upper body, from the front, and from the back. Try to capture every angle of their body.
6. Try to get a variety of facial expressions. For a portrait to be good, I don't believe that your subject always has to be smiling. Get some serious facial expressions, sad, happy, mad. Try everything!
7. Don't let your subject just stand around, keep them moving! Take shots of them jumping and running and walking. Tell them to keep their body moving and you keep shooting as they do it. You never know what kind of moment you will catch.
8. Make sure your subject is wearing an awesome outfit. I highly suggest that they wear something without any type of logo on it. Sometimes if you have a predetermined location, you can have your subject coordinate their outfit with that location. Make sure to have them bring outfit changes so that you can get even more variety in your shoot.
9. Be sure to make your subject feel comfortable. Tell them when you think something looks awesome. Show them a picture that you love. Get feedback from them and make sure that you are getting what they wanted out of the shoot. Make them feel like a star!
10. My last tip is to be confident and have fun! Don't question yourself. Don't limit yourself. Keep snapping and keep trying different lighting and angles. You never know what you will end up with.
5 responses
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Zerina Phillip gave props (27 Nov 2008):
vote. Nicely written. good photos.
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Joerg Schlagheck gave props (28 Nov 2008):
Great essay! It is very good advice. My vote!
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Kara Krontiris gave props (29 Nov 2008):
killer britty
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Adi GEDHEK Kalingga gave props (5 Dec 2008):
yup... thanx for the advices... great essay...
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StaceyJane gave props (27 Dec 2008):
great essay & pics!
