What’s Your Preference?

hawthorne17 · #1 (**permalink**) 09-08-2009, 01:27 AM

I am a little new to portrait photography, I have been taking portraits of people all this year to practice for my sisters wedding that I just took pics for. I did these Senior pictures the day before the reception (the wedding was a week earlier), I have known the girl for a long time and this was the only time I would be in the area. I feel blessed that they turned out at all, I still struggle to remember everything, posing, backgrounds, etc. I am not good at talking to make the people comfortable, is it really necessary to be a comedian to get good pictures? Also I did not use a flash and never do for outdoor portraits, what is your take? Does it make for a better portrait to use a flash and is so why?

no.absolutes · #2 (**permalink**) 09-08-2009, 01:58 AM

Love love love all of these, especially the third. I too have stopped using flash with my outdoor portraits.

Bernzfotos · #3 (**permalink**) 09-08-2009, 02:02 AM

Well these are all great shots with diffent poses.

For portraits I do use the filtered flash sometimes, especially if there is sunlight around, mainly to lighten up the shaded areas a little but not much. The best thing to do is practice and try different things eg. refectors these can be better.

Looking at the shots you have taken you don't need to be a comedian. If you are not happy doing it, ask someone else who is good at it to be with you. Organise beforehand.

I can recall at my sons wedding a top professional photographer used a flash all the time and most of the shots were taken with the sun behind the subjects.

Cheers, Bernz

JFSanders · #4 (**permalink**) 09-08-2009, 02:10 AM

Quote:

is it really necessary to be a comedian to get good pictures?

No, but it is necessary to be friendly. To engage the subject so as to alleviate anxiety on their part. Ask questions and let them speak. Ask about boyfriends, girlfriends, cars, music if the subject is a younger person. If older then ask about children, boyfriends, girlfriends... you get the idea. Once they quit thinking about the picture taking and forget the camera then you get the shot.