first attempt at portrait photography

[snappygal]

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21136535@N03/2247394826/" title="olaf11 by dmorrell463, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2178/2247394826_57a47e1b31.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="olaf11" /></a>

seriously this is the first time i shoot a real person in a studio environment. I know I could have made my friend feel more comfortable but i was uncomfortable. What tricks or tips can you give me to make my subject more at ease.

Thanks..oh and thanks for letting me post os DPS been very intermittent for past week ;)

Camera: Nikon D40
Exposure: 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture: f/13
Focal Length: 55 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: -14/3 EV

Orientation: Horizontal (normal)
X-Resolution: 72 dpi
Y-Resolution: 72 dpi
Software: Adobe Photoshop CS3 Windows
Date and Time: 2008:02:06 21:15:52
YCbCr Positioning: Co-Sited
Exposure Program: Manual
Date and Time (Original): 2008:02:06 20:04:54
Date and Time (Digitized): 2008:02:06 20:04:53
Compressed Bits per Pixel: 4 bits
Maximum Lens Aperture: 50/10
Metering Mode: Pattern
Light Source: Fine weather
Sub-Second Time: 90
Sub-Second Time (Original): 90
Sub-Second Time (Digitized): 90
Color Space: sRGB
Sensing Method: One-chip colour area sensor
CFA Pattern: BLUE GREEN GREEN RED
Exposure Mode: Manual
White Balance: Manual
Digital Zoom Ratio: 1/1
Focal Length In 35mm Film: 82
Compression: JPEG
Image Width: 2000 pixels
Image Height: 3008 pixels

[Nicole]

Congrats on getting on to the site ;) lol

Thanks for a very complete post for critique too, it makes everyone's task easier. :) I really like how your portrait turned out, and the fact that you were both uncomfortable doesn't seem to have impacted it much at all. I like the focus on the hand and the angle of the shot. The two of them work well together and I think that your depth of field was spot on. The only thing I would have considered would be is if it would be possible to bring a little more light to the left side of the picture since that's where the focus is. His arm is a bit dark towards the back but everything else is otherwise well lit.

As far as how to make your subject more comfortable I think it's a lot like making anyone more comfortable when you're not familiar with them. It should be easier with people we know, but it's not since you're interacting with them in a new way, so it can be just like shooting a stranger. So talk to them, get them laughing, get them doing things naturally so that you can shoot them then. Best of luck! :)

[oriolhdz]

Hi snappygal:
As I rarely take picture of friends I can tell you exactly what to do to make it more comfortable. What I tend to do when I take pictures (like when I took my family/girlfriend ) is joke with them so they fell more ease. Also think about that if you are not feeling comfortable you subject will sense that and respond in the same way, so try to be relaxed =)
Although you did not ask other question, I would like to see I like the angle/crop of the portrait in question. What I don't like much is the fact that the part in focus is his hand not his face. I think doing it the other way (face in focus) will give you a more stronger portrait.
Thanks for sharing it!

[Tafnap]

I think Nicole was right. If you added either a reflector or another flash/light source on left this image may have even come out better. I also like oriolhdz idea I would try the focusing on the face and let the hand be out of focus and see how you would like that. I would have maybe even tried a third shot with it all in focus.

I still like the original just am curious to see how the other ideas would have played out.

[RussHeath]

Snappygal -- I think you've hit on one of the hardest aspects of portrait photography, how do you make someone act natural in an artifical environment?

There are lots of ideas about this, but I think Oriol already mentioned the most important: relax and talk to them. It's hard to do, but people really react to how you're feeling. I like to intentionally poke fun at the situation, and I find that by calling attention to it people are able to smile and laugh with me.

If it's appropriate for the shot, then giving people something to do can work wonders. Have them eat something messy, play with a deck of cards, or just play word games with someone off camera (that can even be you if you're the multitasking type). Just get their mind somewhere else.

In terms of composition, I like the focus on the finger, and for that shot it was a nice DOF. I understand the tilted angle, but would like for his head either to not be cut off at all, or cut more (like completely in half excluding one eye).

Others have already given you good info about the lighting. I'll just second the vote for a big reflector. I have large white pieces of foamcore sitting around the house that I use for this. The car winshield reflectors also work quite well. Just get them in close (as in immediately off camera) to get enough fill light.

[snappygal]

thanks for the tips everyone! i really appreciate them..
not this wednesday but next i have a female model coming in. i don't know her either so loving to get her to do something to take the edge off, brilliant ideas! i love this forum!

[clockdoc]

Thanks for sharing your first portrait shoot with us. One of the things beginning portrait photographers tend to forget about is where and how the subject sits. Most folks tend to slouch a bit naturally. If you are using a stool as the seat, try taking an inch or so off two adjacent legs such that the stool tilts forward slightly. This tends to force the subject to sit more upright. The same thing goes for chairs. If you offer someone a soft easy-chair, they tend to sit down "in" it and body posture becomes a problem. As for putting them at ease, I think this comes with practice. Regular positive feedback helps build their self-confdence as well. Some things to avoud talking about are technical jargon such as camera settings or lighting. Also, never tell a person they are a "blinker" or you will have more of a problem on your hands. If you run into that problem , ask them to gently close their eyes for a moment (but don't say why) and when they open them distrat their attend to the pose you want. Then quickly take the shot. All this comes with lots of practice and experience. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.