Do YOU Use a Tripod? I love shooting portraits. But more and more portrait photographers seem to be using a tripod when shooting. Personally, I've always felt confined and my art stiff...

MagicMark

I love shooting portraits. But more and more portrait photographers seem to be using a tripod when shooting. Personally, I've always felt confined and my art stiff if I use one. So, I don't. And I've never had to straighten an image. I can but I've never had to.

So now I'm curious. How about you. Do YOU use a tripod while shooting portraits?

Marilyng Loc: Lorain,Oh.

MagicMark wrote:

I love shooting portraits. But more and more portrait photographers seem to be using a tripod when shooting. Personally, I've always felt confined and my art stiff if I use one. So, I don't. And I've never had to straighten an image. I can but I've never had to.

So now I'm curious. How about you. Do YOU use a tripod while shooting portraits?

No,not whenI shoot portraits but I only shoot as a hobby & they are usually of our kids or are grandchildren,when they allow me to,lol.

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

If you are shooting a rather informal portrait shoot hand-held is great, but using a tripod for a traditional head-and-shoulders studio portrait allows you more freedom to concentrate on working with the subject, repositioning them, repositioning light stands,etc,. without constantly setting the camera down and picking it up. Of course, if you have assistants to do all those things, it doesn't matter... Sometimes, of course, it just comes down to personal preference.

cockney greg Loc: London E17

If you're just sitting people on a seat and pumping out a string of portraits for corporate or college use then you might gain advantage using a tripod when trying to shoot a lot of characters but I feel it's more personal and intimate to work with someone and decide the picture as you go along. Also the subject will more likely be looking directly into camera which of course you usually want. Also I like to count off (eg 3,2,1) so people know when the shutter will go and you are less likely to get closed eyes in a shot.

ohallboyz Loc: Boston, MA

No, hardly ever unless I'm doing my own family portrait or a self portrait, or long exposure.

My tripod was broken for a year and I didn't miss it. My husband just fixed it for me though :D

norvik1943 Loc: Jenks, OK and Domazan, France

I seldom use tripod. Police and AAA do though for those stiff full frontal and side shots. :lol: I prefer relaxed poses.

CurreyPhoto Loc: Reddick, Florida

MagicMark wrote:

I love shooting portraits. But more and more portrait photographers seem to be using a tripod when shooting. Personally, I've always felt confined and my art stiff if I use one. So, I don't. And I've never had to straighten an image. I can but I've never had to.

So now I'm curious. How about you. Do YOU use a tripod while shooting portraits?

No tripod use here, but all of my portraits are unposed and I have to straighten my pictures all the time, but then I have always been a little off balance. Others learn to cope!

Biker Loc: Allentown, PA

Years back when I took my first Photography course, my instructor told me to always shoot with a tripod if possible. Well, sometimes you just can't do it. He wanted everything tack sharp. So he drummed it into me about using a tripod. If you take portraits at home or on location and you can do it, use a tripod. Just my opinion.

cthahn

MagicMark wrote:

I love shooting portraits. But more and more portrait photographers seem to be using a tripod when shooting. Personally, I've always felt confined and my art stiff if I use one. So, I don't. And I've never had to straighten an image. I can but I've never had to.

So now I'm curious. How about you. Do YOU use a tripod while shooting portraits?

Any person that calls himself or herself a photographer, and has never used a tripod is not much of a photographer.

MonochromeB Loc: Chandler, AZ

Tripod: Studio headshots and portraits, landscapes, some 5/10K's
No Tripod: Everything else

Like anything else photographic, any rule made, or one you make, today will be broken with good reason tomorrow... :)

Best of luck in your work!

wilikioti Loc: Deep South, USA

MagicMark wrote:

I love shooting portraits. But more and more portrait photographers seem to be using a tripod when shooting. Personally, I've always felt confined and my art stiff if I use one. So, I don't. And I've never had to straighten an image. I can but I've never had to.

So now I'm curious. How about you. Do YOU use a tripod while shooting portraits?

Always use a good heavy tripod for posed portraits. There's an old saying, "make your second camera a good tripod!"

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

MagicMark wrote:

I love shooting portraits. But more and more portrait photographers seem to be using a tripod when shooting. Personally, I've always felt confined and my art stiff if I use one. So, I don't. And I've never had to straighten an image. I can but I've never had to.

So now I'm curious. How about you. Do YOU use a tripod while shooting portraits?

No...and I straighten a lot.

Also, I'm not a pro so a bad portrait won't hurt my business....I don't HAVE one :)

Armadillo Loc: Ventura, CA

It is not about tack sharp captures, level captures, or composition. The use of a tripod is to allow the subject to feel comfortable, and at ease. If you get your head out from the viewfinder you can direct the subject and interact with him/her.

Michael G

CurreyPhoto Loc: Reddick, Florida

cthahn wrote:

Any person that calls himself or herself a photographer, and has never used a tripod is not much of a photographer.

Who said they never use a tripod? If you are going to be disparaging, let us know who you're talking about. Or was this just a general life rule that we should add to the rule book?

pdwoodswood Loc: Lewisville, NC

cockney greg wrote:

If you're just sitting people on a seat and pumpin... (show quote)

and I have