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Forum: General Photography
02-13-2020, 06:33 PM
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I could probably repeat the lesson my studio teacher taught, setting his lights one at a time explaining what each did and showing us when it was just right. Then turning everything on so we could see the result. Some things only become clear after you've practiced a few times.
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Forum: General Photography
02-11-2020, 03:45 PM
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I don't have a great deal of experience with portrait photography, but I do have some. For double chins you may be able to minimize their appearance by using a key light to eliminate shadows on the neck. Without a tell-tale shadow the chin is less likely to look 'double'. For landscape work you are probably used to using wide angle perspectives. For portrait work I suggest you'll want to avoid the 28-49mm range of your 28-70mm lens. Too short focal lengths can introduce perspective distortion which can cause a person's nose to appear large compared to the rest of their face. Better to back away from the subject and go with short telephoto focal lengths (60-70mm). Back in my film days I often used a 135mm prime for portraits outdoors. In landscape photography you want the foreground and background in focus. For portraits you may want the background somewhat out of focus to draw attention to your subject. The shallower depth-of-field of telephoto focal lengths helps with this.
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Forum: General Photography
02-11-2020, 03:58 PM
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I'd definitely follow up with some kind of education as you move along. Portrait photography is just one of those things that for the most part is formulaic and it really doesn't make any sense to re-invent the wheel. I still remember my portrait classes from 50 years ago like they were yesterday. Once you understand the basic concepts, you're good to go.
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Forum: General Photography
02-12-2020, 12:33 AM
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Imho the lightning and composition of portraits in big parts is about knowledge rather than creativity.
With a good source you can learn it up to a very high level.
The talent part for me is modell photographer interaction. Making the modell feel good and free while adjusting little things.
A lot of people do not, or sometimes maybe even pretent to not, like their looks. This is something where you need to try to not pressurize modells and just do your best. I also found, as postet before, some people prefer a mirrored version of the pictures. I sometimes show them and tell that to people, but usually do not flip the actual result.
On retouche: This is really personal. My own rule of thumb is that I only fix temporariliy visible things, never things that are part of the model. So I may fix a single pimple, but not a scar or the general skin appereance.
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Forum: General Photography
02-11-2020, 11:47 PM
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Excellent point that shooting landscape format crops square better for portraits than vertical portrait framing. Never thought of that but it's a great tip.
a) One reason that people are not happy with photos of themselves is that they are used to and think they look like the flip image of themselves they see in the mirror everyday. The photo then shows them as they really are, as we see them, and the subject is not used to that flipped reality. It's much the same with our voices; that we are used to how we sound thru our own heads, but when it is recorded and played back, we sound differently; the way others hear us.
b) People are habituated to shooting their own selfies and having control of their self-image. They are not used to surrendering to how another thinks they look best.
c) We rarely look as we imagine ourselves. So sometimes shooting a portrait that is very different in costume, setting, lighting, etc, won't be compared to anything ordinary that may not meet expectations.
d) How much retouching? That really depends on the "client". If someone has scars or blemishes and you remove them, they may be more offended that you thought it was a flaw and that you think they look better with digital surgery. On the other hand, lighting and angles can emphasize or de-emphasize age and imperfections. With experience you'll find how vanity often increase with age and a lot of the success of your process and outcomes will have to do more with your rapport with your subjects.
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