Portrait and Candid Photography Photo Workshop

From the Author: Top Five Portrait Tips

1. Observe and Connect with People
Take the time to notice someone's special qualities, observe how they react, and make an effort to authentically connect. People want to feel respected and appreciated. If you show an interest and help them feel more comfortable, they will respond to you and your camera.

2. Find the Light
One way to create flattering portraits is to shoot during the golden hours, generally the first hour and last hour of sun during the day. At these times, your subject can face the sun without squinting, because the light is diffuse and soft and it’s easy to capture a sparkle in the eye.

Avoid harsh overhead light by placing your subject in the soft light of open shade. Open shade can be found beneath a tree, under the porch of a house, in a doorway, under an umbrella, or in the shade of a building.

3. Control the Light
Get rid of shadows and liven up the catch light in your subject's eyes by bouncing light back onto them with a reflector. Whether it's a professional reflector, white board, or tin foil on a cookie sheet, reflecting light gives you more control over the light in your photo.

Soften the harsh light of mid-day sun by placing sheer white fabric, translucent paper, or a professional diffuser between your subject and the harsh light source.

4. Compose the Shot
Use a framing element to give your image context, depth, and lead the viewer's eye towards your subject. A tree branch, doorways, archways, windows – any open shape that surrounds your subject in the foreground of your scene will work.

5. Provide Feedback
When you’re having your picture taken, you can't see how you look, which makes some people very self-conscious. People need feedback from their photographer. Encouraging comments and direction really help your subjects loosen up in front of the lens.

From the Author: Sample Photos

Taken at ISO 200, f/4.0, 1/125 sec.
With a Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS lens.
(Click on photo to zoom) Taken at ISO 200, f/6.3, 1/250 sec.
With a Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS lens
(Click on photo to zoom) Taken at ISO 400, f/2.0, 1/320 sec.
With a Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 lens.
(Click on photo to zoom)