Shan.elliot

Hello, I am learning potrait photography. Most of
my experience is with nature photography. Shooting birds etc. I have set up a indoor private studio to start gathering photos for potraits. I was wondering if they're any lighting tips, angles, or distance to model tips I should be aware of? Aperature and focal lengths I should know? I will be shooting head shots etc. I have a Nikon d3000 Dslr. Thanks, Shan.

arphot Loc: Massachusetts

I don't do portraits, but have considered it myself. I know that you'll need appropriate lighting, backdrops, etc . . . but it will take a little practice to pull it together and get it all right. Many reviews show this camera to have poor output in low lighting, but apparently can be adjusted through some (unbeknownst to me) settings. Also, and I'm sure you know this so pardon me for mentioning it; a tripod. I don't know if your Nikon comes with software for the computer, but my Canon has a program that allows for me to show my subject on my laptop screen and shoot from remote. This is helpful so you can walk around and not be anchored to you camera. I know this is peanuts of information, but the internet is full of what you're looking for. This site (I believe) is only a few months old so may be restricted in terms of variety of shooters. Good luck!

IvanF Loc: New York City

Shan, two great free resources for finding free information are Google searches, just seach for "how to shoot portraits" for example or even youtube, I put in "photographic portraits" and came up with
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=photographic+portraits&aq=f

Please be aware that there are no rules for taking great portraits - develop your eye by looking at great portraits by the masters - Richard Avedon, Irving Penn, Yosuf Karsh (old masters), Annie Liebowitz, Herb Ritts (modern). Many portrait photographers have websites with galleries. And for true inspiration the 19th century pioneer of portrait photography: Julia Margaret Cameron.

There is nothing quite as rewarding as photographing people, your rapport with your subject is the most important tool you will have.

Good luck and have fun. Best regards, Ivan

marcomarks Loc: Ft. Myers, FL

First, make sure you don't get caught up in spending a lot on backdrops, etc. at this point. Head shots can be done with a green screen and then combined with hundreds of different pro-quality backgrounds while owning nothing but an inexpensive muslin green cloth tacked up on a wall behind your subject and a PC with software to replace the green, retouch your subject, and print.

Second, learn lighting techniques and determine whether you want to use flash lights, hot lights, fluorescent lights, or mixing any or all of those with sunlight. Info on lighting techniques is readily available by the ton on the Internet, in photography magazines, or you can buy a beginner book on the subject written by any number of famous portrait photographers. It's far too much to know to be discussed in a short forum answer.

Use the tried and true classic head shot lens focal lengths, typically 75 to 100mm. If it's a fixed length lens, that's best, but a zoom will do quite well initially and maybe always for your taste. Get yourself a rock solid tripod which will probably have bubble balancers on it. If your camera has ability to use a wired or wireless remote control get a cheap one and use it to avoid minor movement of the camera when firing off a shot.

Shoot a ton of trial and error shots with a bored but willing model or buy a used mannequin (readily available because of all the bankrupt clothing stores in today's economy) that never complains or moves when you don't want them too. You can turn the mannequin head and/or torso to try different body angles for head shots poses.

That's just a few tips to help you get started.