Your Photo - guide
Since you are not spending hours sitting in a studio, your photo is the single most important element in determining the quality of your portrait. If you wish Alan will take photos if you are not happy with your own. For best results follow this simple 5 step guide:
1. Take a head and shoulders photo and use as much of the frame as possible. Not too close-up but not too far away either
2. Use natural light avoiding direct sun light as eyes tend to squint and you'll lose eye definition. An overcast day is perfect
3. Unless your photo is taken in a professional photographer's studio, avoid using the camera's flash which can overexpose and distort or flatten the features of the face
4. Make your subject comfortable and happy. Get them to talk or tell a joke. The more relaxed and less "posed", the better the result
5. Keep eye contact. They say the eyes are the window to the soul and it's true - the eyes can make or break a portrait. So unless you're looking for something different like a soulful pose, always make sure your subject is looking at the camera and you're focussed on the detail in the eyes
1. Take a head and shoulders photo and use as much of the frame as possible. Not too close-up but not too far away either
2. Use natural light avoiding direct sun light as eyes tend to squint and you'll lose eye definition. An overcast day is perfect
3. Unless your photo is taken in a professional photographer's studio, avoid using the camera's flash which can overexpose and distort or flatten the features of the face
4. Make your subject comfortable and happy. Get them to talk or tell a joke. The more relaxed and less "posed", the better the result
5. Keep eye contact. They say the eyes are the window to the soul and it's true - the eyes can make or break a portrait. So unless you're looking for something different like a soulful pose, always make sure your subject is looking at the camera and you're focussed on the detail in the eyes
A few good and not so good examples!
This is a good photo. The full head and
shoulders fit neatly into the frame. The
lighting is good and highlights the features
perfectly. Turning slightly side on to the
camera emphasises the features of the
face and is more interesting that a straight
on pose
shoulders fit neatly into the frame. The
lighting is good and highlights the features
perfectly. Turning slightly side on to the
camera emphasises the features of the
face and is more interesting that a straight
on pose
Not so good. The photo is overexposed
so you cannot see the features to the
right hand side of the nose. Also the
forehead and top of head are not visible
so you cannot see the features to the
right hand side of the nose. Also the
forehead and top of head are not visible
Too far in the distance. Even if you
zoom into this photo, you won't see any
definition and it will become grainy and
therefore not a good reference photo
zoom into this photo, you won't see any
definition and it will become grainy and
therefore not a good reference photo
Flash photography can distort and
over-highlight the features of the face.
You are best to take your photo outdoors,
in the shade if sunny. Otherwise this is a
good image
over-highlight the features of the face.
You are best to take your photo outdoors,
in the shade if sunny. Otherwise this is a
good image
Nice 'mood' pose but too dark and
difficult to achieve any detail in the eyes
difficult to achieve any detail in the eyes
