Have you ever been intimidated by the thought of photographing other people? Believe it or not, all you have to do is overcome your insecurities and people will become the easiest subjects to photograph. Why is that? Imagine that you are taking landscape photos. Most of us don't live in an area with spectacular views. This means that you need to go somewhere to take a photo. Upon arrival at the place, if the weather and lighting are not suitable, you can simply turn around and go home.
However, when photographing people, you have complete control. All the elements of good photography are in your hands. You are surrounded by potential subjects: friends, relatives, and even passers-by if you have the courage to ask them. Each potential subject is unique. If the lighting is bad, you can fix it by moving to another place or using flash. You can ask the person to wear different clothes or do something unusual. The only limit is your imagination.
That's the key to great photos of people - imagination. Have fun and, if you don't know much about your camera's settings yet, just set it to automatic mode (most cameras have a special mode Portrait), concentrating on getting beautiful photos. Next I will talk about the technical details.
One of the best ways to improve your skills is to learn from professionals. Here are some tips to get you thinking like a pro and getting into the right frame of mind for stunning portraits.
1. Create a connection with the subject
This is the most important skill! Master it and you're halfway to becoming a professional photographer. A good tip, especially for beginners, is to photograph someone you know who likes to pose for the camera. Your job as a photographer is to help the person relax and have fun. If you succeed, the result will be great photos.
Take photos of relatives and friends. The connection between you will help you get a great result. Photo: Unsplash.
If you need a model, your boyfriend or girlfriend could be a great option.
2. Choose the right lens
The focal length of the lens is very important. You need to understand the nature of your equipment and know how to use it to your advantage. Good news - if you have a digital camera with a kit lens (usually 18-55mm focal length), then this is already an excellent tool for photographing people. Just set it to 55mm and go. Instead of using the zoom, change your position. This will help you learn the characteristics of the focal length you are working with.
If you want the best, Canon and Nikon have made cheap 50mm f/1.8 lenses that are ideal for portraits; A wider aperture will blur the background better.
Even wide-angle lenses can produce great portraits. Photo: Unsplash.
Also, don't ignore the wide-angle end of your kit lens. Documentary photographers and photojournalists love wide-angle lenses because they force them to get closer to the subject. The photographs are intimate due to the close proximity of the photographer. Wide-angle lenses are also good for showing the subject along with their surroundings. This is another style of portrait photography.
Don't come near too much close if you use a wide angle. In this case, facial features will be distorted and the result will be unsatisfactory.
3. Play with different lights
The best lighting for portraits may not be at the time you think it is. Cloudy skies and late afternoon sun are good. Direct sunlight is bad - it creates harsh shadows on faces and makes people squint. Backlighting is a delightful option, but be careful of glare. You will also need a reflector or flash to direct the light onto the subject's face. Window lighting works well for indoor photography, but again you will need a reflector to illuminate the shadowed side of the subject's face.
What is a reflector? This is any object that reflects light, directing it towards the subject and softening the shadows. You can buy special reflectors from manufacturers such as Lastolite, or you can make your own from a large piece of white cardboard or paper. Photographers need reflectors because the available light is rarely ideal. And with their help you can take control of the light.
4. Learn to use camera settings
To take good pictures, you need to be able to control your camera. Don't leave it on automatic. Learn how shutter speed, aperture, and ISO affect the look of your photo.
Next time you shoot, try using Aperture Priority mode and setting it to its widest setting. This will give you a great blurred background. If the day is sunny, try ISO 100. If it's cloudy, try ISO 400. The shutter speed will be set automatically.
Learn how to use your camera correctly to get similar photos. Photo: Unsplash.
Always shoot in RAW format. It provides the most post-processing capabilities.
5. Avoid “posing”
You can learn a lot about posing by studying photographs and fashion magazines. However, don't get carried away - you can often get better results if you ask the person to fool around on camera. Ask him to relax and act naturally. Then you will get photos full of life.
Even unusual poses can work. Photo: Unsplash.
6. Play with movement
Get creative. Ask the person to stand straight while others around them move. Place your camera on a tripod for best results.
Don't take the same photo over and over again. Play with movement or different elements such as windows. Photo: Unsplash.
7. Conclude a model release
If you plan to sell photos, it's worth getting a signed model release. This is a simple document that confirms the model's permission to sell photographs of her.
In general, a photo posted on a website or magazine does not require a model release, as it is considered editorial use (as long as you do not defame the subject, of course). If you plan to sell a photo for use in advertising or other promotional material, it is better to take care of this.
If you want to sell your photos, don't forget about the model release. Photo: Unsplash.
Find out about the laws in your country. Some countries, especially in Europe, have strict privacy laws that govern the use of captured images. When in doubt, sign the release. It is better when it is there and you are selling photos with the model's permission than when it is not there.
Simple tips on how to pose correctly and always look good in photographs.
It's so nice to look at old photos and see yourself looking beautiful in them. However, many complain about not being photogenic and often do not agree to be photographed for memory.
In fact, it’s worth working a little on yourself and your poses to always look good in the photo. Want to know how? Let's figure it out.
I can’t show up in photos: what should I do?
Professional photographers say you don’t have to be handsome to look good in photos.
People with sharp features or uneven facial contours often look good in the frame. And attractive people with the right features for some reason look unattractive or do not stand out from the general background.
In order to please yourself and your loved ones in photographs, you need to find a suitable angle and work on your facial expressions.
How to look good in photographs: simple rules
Before you take a photo next time, don't forget to learn 4 simple rules:
- Choose a pose. Stand in front of a mirror and experiment a little. Look at yourself from the outside. This makes it easier to understand which poses are successful for you and which ones you should avoid.
- Facial expression. Again, conduct an experiment: first look straight, then look away a little, tilt your head a little, smile or slightly raise your eyebrow. You can capture yourself at this moment so that later you can more carefully study the appropriate facial expression for the photo.
- Makeup. Regardless of the occasion for which you decide to take a photo, be it an ordinary weekday or a special event, watch your makeup. Avoid vulgar makeup (unless this is a themed photo shoot), give preference to natural shades. Don't experiment with new types of makeup if you're not sure they suit you.
- Cloth. It is customary to wear the most elegant and festive clothes for a photo shoot. In fact, you can look much better in photos in your usual everyday clothes. The most important thing is that it suits your figure, color scheme and is neat. How you feel in your clothes is also important. Often many people do not feel comfortable in business suits, in which case your stiffness will be visible in the photo. Even if you need to take a photo in business attire, try to relax as much as possible.
How to make your face look beautiful in photographs?
If you know the flaws of your face, try to hide them in the photo:
- A double chin can be hidden by placing the camera slightly above your face. Another way: support your face with your hand, but do not lean on your hand, otherwise your face will be uneven.
- People with round faces should not look directly into the camera. It is better to take pictures in ¾ or profile.
- People with a triangular face should be photographed from a lower angle. This also applies to those with a small chin.
- If you have a big nose, as they say, don't hang it up. Look up while taking photos. A front-facing photo is also suitable, that is, look directly into the lens. Actress Audrey Hepburn has many photographs of this kind.
- To enlarge your eyes, look up at the lens.
Smile in the photo
A smile is one of the main criteria for a good photo. Don't try to smile if you're in a bad mood, it's immediately obvious. Don't put on a forced smile; it won't make you look good in the photo either.
While taking the picture, think about something pleasant, imagine that your loved one has walked in, so the smile will turn out natural.
Share sincerity, then the photo will be successful. If the photo shoot tires you a little, rest, relax, and then continue taking photos.
How to pose beautifully for photographs?
- Avoid soldier formation; relaxed poses look better
- The thumbs look more impressive in the pockets, and the rest outward, as opposed to the whole hand in the pocket.
- If you support your face with your hand, make sure that it smoothly follows the oval of your face. The palm should not be facing the lens.
- Lower your shoulder slightly, this will make your face more open and your neck visually longer.
- If you're taking a photo sideways, bend your knee. In this case, the pose will look more relaxed.
- Don't look straight at the camera, tilt your face slightly.
- Smile with your natural and radiant smile.
How to look good and beautiful in photographs: poses
Learn to change your emotions 
Various poses in the studio
Poses for pregnant women
Options for lovers
How to look good and beautiful in a passport photo?
There is a joke: “If you look like the photo in your passport, it’s time for you to go on vacation!”
Very often people, especially women, are dissatisfied with their image in their passport. A passport photo is not the place where you can experiment with angles and a smile. Here you can see both facial asymmetry and contour imperfections. However, there are small tricks here too:
- Face tone. Create an even, natural tone using cosmetics. Conceal the circles under the eyes, remove pimples and other imperfections with concealer. Set your makeup with powder to avoid shine.
- Eyes. You should not do provocative makeup. Beautiful eyelashes and neat arrows will sufficiently emphasize the eyes.
- Pomade. Choose the most natural tone; do not paint your lips with a bright color. Or leave them without makeup at all.
- Hair. If your hairstyle is sloppy, the photo cannot be saved. Hair should be clean, neatly styled, without overgrown roots.
How can a guy look good in photographs?
Usually guys have many photos of the same type, in which they are in the same pose, with the same facial expression. And just like women, many guys are afraid of looking unattractive in photos, they just don’t say it out loud. To start looking good in photographs, guys need to work on their facial expressions and perspective.
You should avoid the same type of poses, and most importantly, learn to relax during photography.
How can men look beautiful in photographs?
- Confidence and strength in the photo can be emphasized by legs slightly spread to the sides
- If you hold your arms straight, bend your fingers as if you are holding a stone
- If you want to cross your arms over your chest, do not hide your hands, let them be visible
- For a relaxed pose, place one or both hands in your pocket
- If you're sitting, you can cross your legs with your ankle toward your knee for a more relaxed feel.
How to pose for men correctly for photographs?
Successful poses for photographing men:
How to pose beautifully for children for photographs?
Why do you think children look beautiful in photographs? Because they do not worry about their appearance, children are inherently open to the world, to people, to everything new. We should learn from them.
Some ideas for photographing children:
How do beautiful girls pose for photos?
A selection of successful shots of beautiful girls:
Professional photographers and models on various forums give advice on how to look beautiful in photos. Their essence boils down to the following:
- Be sincere when taking photographs, try to relax as much as possible and not think about your shortcomings, there are no ugly people
- Find a few good angles and don't forget about them
- Don't be afraid of the camera, it doesn't bite
- If you want to get high-quality photos, invite a professional photographer. But remember that the most important part of shooting still lies with you - your mood and emotions
Beautiful photographs are often a random shot, and most often the result of long work. Even if you can’t pose yet, don’t despair, try again and again.
But in any case, you shouldn’t make photography the meaning of your life. There are cases where a woman has undergone several plastic surgeries for the sake of successful shots. Love yourself; inner charisma never goes unnoticed.
Video: How to pose correctly - the secrets of great photos
Once you start taking photographs, professional growth seems to come very quickly. You will measure your skill by the improvements you see in your work and the photographs you take. In this article, I'll talk about the things I've learned over four years of photography and share tips for aspiring photographers to grow professionally.
Here are ten things I wish I knew before I started filming:
1. Vision changes
Once you start taking photography seriously, you will never see things the same way again. If your experience of critically examining things is like mine, you will find yourself staring at every photo and video you see. It became almost impossible for me to watch the film without analyzing the cinematography and the way it was shot. Film is a unique medium, but I still get a lot of inspiration from professional photography.
Once you start chasing good pictures, you can expect your lifestyle to change. Waking up earlier or staying up late at night to get unique lighting will become a routine part of life. Personally, I think that studying good photos closely is a great way to improve your work. Plunging yourself into the world of photography will force the right lobe of your brain to work more actively.
2. It's an expensive hobby.
Photography is not a cheap hobby, especially if you plan to actively purchase equipment. After purchasing your first DSLR, you signed up to buy a “system” of lenses and flashes that only work with that brand. If after this you want to sell everything and switch to another brand, it can cost a considerable amount of money (I've done this enough times and I know what I'm talking about).
Buying a camera will force you to buy add-ons that are only compatible with it.
There are two approaches to avoiding the costly side of photography: first, don't tie your success to the equipment you use. That is, you cannot convince yourself that an additional lens will make your work perfect. When it comes to equipment, there is no magic bullet; The best approach is to gradually and thoughtfully purchase everything you need.
Second, reduce the cost through savings. Buying used equipment seemed intimidating at first, but over time it became an opportunity to buy cameras and lenses that were beyond my capabilities. Smart decisions like purchasing a fast prime focus (more on this below) can help combat equipment collection syndrome. Continue reading to learn how to make the right choices.
3. Skip stops
When I first started learning about exposure, a mistake I often talk about was trying to learn its mathematical scale. Measuring stops of light and memorizing the f-number scale is a huge waste of time.
Studying allf-numbers and cramming exposure scales are common activities for beginners, but they are not the best use of your time.
It's more important to understand how the exposure triangle works, and to learn how to balance and be creative with exposure. Don't worry about counting the feet and capturing the light perfectly, there are a lot of other things going on, like posing the models correctly and controlling the lighting.
4. Switch to manual mode
The sooner you start to truly control your exposure, the sooner you will stop being a person who just clicks buttons. It's not always easy - you'll need to learn a lot about measurements, exposure, focus, and other things.
Moving beyond automatic exposure mode is the most important step to go from beginner to master. When you begin to take control of your photography and learn to understand the nuances of exposure, you will turn your work on its head and be able to predict the outcome. You'll use lighting, create creative exposures, and come up with a variety of scenarios that the camera can handle on its own.
A difficult situation with background lighting.
A great intermediate step is to learn to control one additional factor at a time. Start by understanding ISO, how it affects your shot, and the light that hits your sensor. Then you can move on to controlling shutter speed and aperture, also studying the visual changes from them. Working on your shutter speed or aperture is an important training step towards full manual exposure control.
5. Filming takes time.
It sounds painfully basic, but I often forgot that the only way to truly improve was to hold a camera in my hand every day, constantly taking pictures. The only way I could use it was to set aside time to shoot between school and work.
How can you improve if you don't take the time to shoot? It seems so obvious, but like many, I have fallen victim to this belief. Shooting with friends and being competitive are two of the best ways to keep yourself busy shooting and improve your skills.
A great way to keep taking photos is to challenge yourself. If I have a task, even one assigned by me, the chance that I will get out and take pictures is much higher. There are tons of photos of tests on the Internet that will not let you relax. If you take this approach, different challenges and assignments will help keep you creative.
6. Prioritize your lenses
The key to avoiding unnecessary spending on equipment is to make smart purchases and use them right away. The first two years of my photography career were spent jumping from one carcass to another. I was chasing megapixels, more focal points and everything that I thought would improve the photos. Along the way, I always found a way to avoid buying what was really important: lenses!
If you stick to a cheap kit lens that comes with your camera, you'll limit your options. While a standard lens can take great pictures, it does have its limitations; Usually these are 18-55mm lenses with a slow aperture, which forces you to shoot only in well-lit areas. If you stop it down to f/8 or so, the photos will be sharp, but not sharp enough.
This point may seem to contradict one of the previous ones, constantly requiring more equipment for better photos, but there is a rational grain in buying lenses. It's much more important to make the right choice by purchasing a faster (wide aperture) lens that will produce great images.
7. Don't rush to become a pro
After you have been shooting for some time and have already started exhibiting your work, there will be a chance that you will receive your first orders. Whether it's a friend's graduation portrait, landscape photos for print, or a wedding (the most dangerous endeavor), friends will always be looking for someone (usually on the cheap) to capture their treasured moments.
Of course, the chance to quickly monetize your hobby looks very attractive. This will help you buy new equipment and make ends meet. However, there are some nuances that cannot be predicted. Dealing with difficult clients who break contracts at the last minute, risks of legal liability and many other things are all integral parts of the professional process. No matter what your relationship with the client is, you will always be in a position to receive payment for the services provided. Take your time to move on to professional photography and act carefully.
8. Always take your camera with you
You'll never get good pictures if your camera is lying around the house. I told myself that if I left my camera at home even once, that day I would lose the chance to win the photojournalism award that I had been waiting for. That's why you can rarely see me without a camera. Whether you're carrying a DSLR or an iPhone with your favorite app, your photography tool should always be within reach!
It is impossible to take pictures without a camera. Whether it's a DSLR, a point-and-shoot camera, or a smartphone camera, to improve your photography skills you should always have a photography tool on hand.
In fact, the “carry it all the time” philosophy has shaped a lot of my recent equipment decisions. I won’t buy another huge carcass that will lie in my bag, because what difference does it make how high quality it is if it won’t be used anyway. I don't need this at all.
9. Buy a quick fifty dollars
If your current camera has interchangeable lenses, I can't think of a better "second" lens than a 50mm. They typically have apertures of f/2, f/1.8, f/1.4, which are great for low-light photography and allow you to control depth of field in a way that a kit lens will never be able to. If you're using a smaller APS-C sensor, a 35mm lens will create almost the same field of view as a fifty-fifty full-frame camera.
A 50 mm f/1.8 lens is something that can almost always be recommended, and for good reason. With a wide aperture, you can shoot in low light conditions and get creative with depth of field.
For me, the main creative opportunity is control of depth of field. If you're not familiar with this concept, it refers to how much of the frame's content is in focus. Lenses with a wide aperture (such as f/1.8 fifty) allow you to leave only a small part of the image in focus.
10. Study the camera in detail
Another way to improve your photography skills is to understand the tools you work with. When you don't have to think about what buttons to press and what technical decisions to make, you can approach photography from a creative side. You think about the lighting, not the numbers on the aperture dial. When you examine every option, every setting, every knob on the camera, it becomes an eye-opener.
It may seem silly, but thoughtfully reading your camera manual is a great way to get started. It's even better to shoot every day, immersing yourself more and more in the settings.
conclusions
Looking back over the four years during which I was seriously engaged in photography, it is difficult to even say how much photography has influenced my life. From the friends I've met to the commercial experiences that have come with time, photography can be a great, positive endeavor for both hobbyists and lifelong professionals.
What are some things you wish you knew when you first started filming? What have you learned over the course of your photography career?
How to take photographs with a DSLR (DSLR camera)? So, you have a DSLR camera! What's next? Which shooting mode should I choose? How to build a frame? Which button should I press to make the photo look beautiful?
When photographing with a DSLR camera, you should pay attention to several nuances that distinguish shooting with a DSLR from shooting with a regular camera, even a digital one.
First of all, let's look at the shooting modes. Preset shooting modes help novice photographers get the best results without having to delve into the intricacies of setting up their camera.
Of course, even the simplest digital point-and-shoot cameras have their own preset settings - shooting modes. However, not many compact cameras have modes such as P, A(or Av), S(or TV), M, Sv, A-Dep- which are mainly the preserve of SLR cameras, or very “advanced” compact cameras.
So how do you get 100% of your camera's capabilities? Which modes should I use?
If you have just started learning the intricacies of photography, or are in doubt which mode to choose, you can, of course, set the “auto” mode, but setting this shooting mode using a DSLR is not only unreliable, but also not practical - because the ability to keep the result under control in this case is minimal.
If you are still new to photography, you can start by using the P. In this mode, the camera automatically sets exposure (the ratio of aperture and shutter speed) to accurately expose the subject being photographed. In Canon instructions, this mode is called program autoexposure, hence the letter R.
When I bought my first “advanced” digital camera, I used, for the most part, exactly this mode, since it allowed me to control the sensitivity of the matrix (and with the help of this I could take photographs without noise, and I was also able to perform exposure compensation - so that the photographs turned out dark at night, and during the day - light, and not as the camera wants :)
However, if you decide to shoot a landscape, then here too Avmay be useful! After all, for maximum detail, the aperture must be “closed”, at least to the value “ f8.0", otherwise the clarity is lost to a large extent! IN macro photography however, to obtain at least any significant depth of field, it is necessary to “close” the aperture to a minimum, even f32 might come in handy!
Using aperture priority and depth of field to create an artistic effect.
How to take photographs with a SLR camera so that it “stops the moment”?
The secret is simple - short shutter speed.
Mode M- that is, completely manual photography mode. I use this letter in non-standard cases, for example at night, or in a dark club - in which the spotlight light is almost constant, and having tuned in well one time, you can no longer think about changing the settings... or in the studio - where the light is under my complete control .
So, you bought (or begged from your parents) your first serious camera. Our congratulations! Often, when the puppyish delight of all these spinning wheels, mysterious buttons, interesting levers passes, then a completely logical question immediately arises: what should I do now to learn how to take beautiful photographs? Where is the magical mode called “100% Cool Shot”. How to learn to take cool photos?
In order not to fuel your confusion caused by the ominous words: ISO, aberration, bokeh and aperture, we decided to make it easier for you to find the information you need and have collected the most important and useful tips on the topic: “how to learn to take good photographs.” And we dedicate the resulting small reminder to you, aspiring amateur photographer.
How do you know how good your photo is?
First of all, you need to understand the concepts. How can you tell a good professional photograph from a bad one? First of all, you should pay attention to the lighting. You don’t have to immediately run to the store for professional studio equipment. Your main ally is a well-chosen angle, time and place of shooting, when natural lighting will show its best side. From this we can conclude: the subject of shooting is not as important as what perspective you choose for this object.
If we talk about technology, then you can take a beautiful photo with anything, even with a phone that only has a 1 megapixel camera in its arsenal; the desire to learn is what is really important. Although professional photographic equipment will make your life much easier.
And now, you have a beautiful new camera with a bunch of buttons that you can’t wait to figure out. You must understand what your camera can do, what its advantages are and how they can be used to advantage. For example, you can’t make a good portrait with excellent depth of field using a point-and-shoot camera, but you can quite convey the mood of the photo and the composition.
How to learn to take photographs professionally?
Practical advice
Tip #1. The first thing you need to do is study the instructions for your unit in detail. You need to understand all the functions, find out what each of the buttons is for and what will happen if you turn that wheel over there. The most common question that beginners have is: what mode should you use to take professional photos? Unfortunately, there is no one regime for all occasions. In order to learn how to take great photographs, you need to become more familiar with shutter speed and aperture. Getting to know shutter speed will give you magical shots of the city at night, and you'll fall in love with aperture when you start photographing people.
Tip #2. The next important aspect that you must master is the ISO value (photo sensitivity of the matrix). You need to understand that a beautiful landscape cannot be captured at high ISO values: noise will certainly arise. At night, it is advisable to photograph from a stand or from a tripod. And if the subject is in motion, and the shutter speed cannot be longer, then it is best to raise the ISO slightly so that the frame does not blur. For photographing restless children and animals.
Tip #3.The lens is also an important component of photography. It’s not difficult to guess that each lens has individual characteristics that in one way or another affect the final result. If you don’t know what the letters on your lens mean (what a shame), then immediately start studying the markings. The main parameter of any lens, which most influences its cost, is aperture. Before you spend extra money on another lens, figure out whether you really need it. Do you want to experience the mysterious depth of field or just enjoy a good focus? Knowledge is power that will help protect your wallet from unnecessary purchases.
Tip #4. In cases where there is not enough lighting, you have to use a flash. Keep in mind that the flash already in the camera is only useful when the main light source is behind the subject or in harsh daylight. You should not try to shoot indoors with the built-in flash, otherwise you are guaranteed to get a glare on the face and a not very beautiful shadow in the background. Although in order to achieve a certain mood of the photo you can break all the rules, the main thing is that the photo turns out “with soul”.
Tip #5. Don't ignore white balance. The color rendition in your photo depends on this. If you want to take a photo of a sunset that can get more than 100 likes, then learn how to configure this function correctly.
Tip #6. If your photos turn out blurry, then you shouldn’t immediately call your camera or lens unflattering names. Maybe it's all about you? See what you're doing wrong, check your settings.
Tip #7. Don’t forget about the possible appearance of chromatic aberrations, which like to creep into the frame along with the sun. Also be aware of diffraction, which can ruin sharpness in macro mode. Take into account distortion with wide-angle lenses as well. Google all these phenomena and learn their definitions by heart.
Tip #8. Remember about filters. A gradient filter will allow you to get an incredible effect, a polarizer will show the true beauty of the blue sky, and a protective filter can protect your lens from all kinds of scratches and water.
By following all these rules, you can easily take the “correct” photo. Beauty depends on emotions, ideas, mood, imagination: they can only be developed. Be inspired by the work of other photographers, communicate with colleagues and, of course, learn.
In our school you will find . You will not only learn how to take beautiful photographs, but also master retouching, professional equipment and many other useful things.
