Portraits Shooting Styles

Portraits Shooting Styles

Great Portraits don't always require a big studio and pro lighting. With these tips you can create six stunning styles with limited kit.

Portraiture is an accessible genre, which needn't cost fortune to practice. in this hand on shooting guide we'll show you six great ways to capture stunning portrait styles, all of which are achievable with little time and money.

People are all around us every day of our lives, so you don't necessarily need to hire a models to get to grips with the genre. Grab a willing friend or family member and hone you shooing skills before you begin searching the models agencies.

You can also forget about expensive, elaborate studio kit : it's perfectly possible to take creative images without the need to spend thousands. Even some simple net curtains can put to good use as a portrait accessory : the key is knowing what you want to achieve and looking for ways to create it in camera.

In order to demonstrate the scope and flexibility of portrait photography, we will demonstrate there very different environments - a small studio, outside in the middle of the day and inside in a living room using just the available light.

each location presents its own unique challenges and benefits but all are equally ideal for portraits Photography , and the similarities are actually greater than the differences. In each situation you will be working with the light to create your image. We're on hand to show you how to manipulate the light to create six distinct portrait styles.

You will also need to know how to work with your subject or models, to help them to relax and pose in a way that works with the type of image you are trying to create. Let's get shooting...

Useful Portrait Kit - Five Useful Tools of the trade

PocketWizard Plus II

PocketWizard Plus II are wireless transceivers that enable you to reliably trigger any off camera flash ( in the studio or on location) with incredible ease. For USA
>> Where To Buy <<   For UK >> Where To Buy <<

Lastolite EzyBox Hotshoe Kit 54x54cm 

Lastolite Available in three sizes, this kit has absolutely all you need for soft and diffused off camera flash, including a portable stand, brackets and softbox.For USA >> Where To Buy << For UK >> Where To Buy <<

Portrait Professional Studio

Working in a different way to other airbrushing programs. This dedicated portrait software makes light work of removing skin imperfections and can even perform re-sculpting work. For USA >> Where To Buy << For UK >> Where To Buy <<

Interfit 5-in-1 32" Reflector

This is an immensely handy and portable piece of kid, allowing you to control and odify the light quickly and easily. Includes gold, silver, black and white surfaces plus a translucent diffuser. For USA >> Where To Buy << For UK >> Where To Buy <<

Honl CTO gel

A CTO (Colour Temperature Orange) gel can be purchased as part of a kit ( a range of different configurations are available) and enables you to play with white balance and colour temperature while using off camera flash. For USA >> Where To Buy << For UK >> Where To Buy <<

In the Studio Learn to create a high key Setup and a moody low key arrangement

Using a three light setup with a white background has enabled us to create this modern high key image.

High Key

The Look

The high-key look typically involves bright and bold images set against a white background. The subject is normally very brightly lit by the key light hence the term (high key). This style gives the photographer flexibility to break some of the rules of portraiture. The skin tones may be a stop or more of portraiture. THe skin tones may be a stop or more lighter than they should be and spill from the background lights may be incorporated into the image.






Check List
Equipment
- White background
- There studio flash heads
- Softbox for the key light
- Standdard reflectors

Techiques
- Balances there lights
- Posing the model
- Framing and composition

The Setup

To achieve the high key look you will normally need at least there light. Two of these lights will be used to light the background, one on each side. A third light is used as the key light that illuminates the subject. Some photographer choose to also add a fourth light to further eliminate shadows. This shot uses a three light arrangement and we're using a standard zoom lens on our DSLR as this gives us plenty of flexibility, A fast shutter speed of 1/200 sec and an aperture of about F11 work best.

Getting The Shooting

If you position your subject very near the background and background lights, you may find that a lot of light bounces back onto the subject an creates a soft looking image or flare sports. Avoid overexposing the background and bring the subject nearer the key light. Try to get your model to adopt bold, striking poses and experiment with interesting compositions that look dramatic and dynamic.

Alternatively, Try This...

If you only have access to two lights, you can still produce effective high key images. Light your background to produce pure white and then place a reflector between the camera and the subject to bounce some of the light back in lieu of a key light. Open up your camera's aperture to ensure correct exposure on the model - we've gone for f56 here.

High key generally demands more light
but we also achieved the same effect
 using just two studio lights.

For our high key setup,
our model is lit by just one light
but there are a further two lights used
on the white  background.

Low Key

The look

Shot Portraits in a
very small studio space,
but had all the room that needed.

The low key look is a much more traditional and classic approach to portraiture. very often the images will look especially effective when converted to black and white. Portraits taken using low key lighting ten to make use of moddy expressions from the subject and frequently have an air of mystery and intrigue about them.

The Setup

you can produce low key  lighting effects with just one light. One studio flash fitted with a softbox (or beauty dish) is all you really need. The only potential problem is that in a small studio space light may bounce back from walls, floors and ceilings and spoil your shadows. Avoid this by using black *absorbers* (You an use any black surface with a matte finish, which will do the job of reducing reflections) and by shooting with a fast shutter speed to reduce the influence of ambient light as far as possible. We've increased the shutter speed to 1/250 sec here.

Getting the shot

You will need to position your subject carefully in relation to the light in order to make the shadow as attractive as possible. The modelling lamp in the flash head will give you some idea, but firing some test shot and watching the camera's LCD allow you to see exactly what's going on. Aim for an elegant, sophisticated or moddy pose. You also want your model to be wearing black or very dark clothing which will enhance the shot.

"One studio flash fitted with a softbox is all you really need"

Check List
Equipment
- Studio flash and softbox
- Black or dark background
- Black 'absorbers' to prevent light bouncing
Techniques
- Using a single light
- Control the spill of light
- Pose your subject to complement the lighting

This Low key image is very simple to create and requires a minimal amount of equipment. In this care. just one flash with softbox does the job

Pros and Cons Of Studio Lighting

- Control all aspects of the light and background
- Images Look polished and professional

> Not easy for everyone to access a studio
> Equipment may not suit everyone's budget

Natural Light Setup

Check ListEquipment- Net curtain- Silver or white relector
Techniques- Use a natural *key light*- Balance light on the face- Deliberate overexposure

Check List
Equipment
- Net curtain
- Silver or white refletor

Techiques
- Use a nantura background
- Use a reflector as a key light
- Remove background detail

- Deliberate overexposure

Discover how window light can be all you need to create dramatic results

Net Effects

The Look

When you use studio flash, you almost always modify it, such as by using a softbox. When working with natural light, keep the same idea in mind. The net curtains in a living room are ideal, Diffusing the light in much the same way as a softbox does. This is an ideal technique for photographing a bride on her wedding morning.

The Setup

Aside from the large window and net curtains, a small silver reflector is used to bounce a little light back onto the side of her face. A shallow depth of field reduces unwanted detail so a wide aperture of f2.8 is ideal. By ignoring the camera's meter and slowing the shutter speed, we've been able to overexpose the shot and create a high key effect without any flash.

Getting the Shot

We've asked our model to lean into the curtains and rest her head on them while looking back at the camera. We've also asked her to wear a simple white top to match thee texture and tone of the net curtains.


If the contrast is too hight, introduce a reflective surface to subtly fill in shadow on the other side of the subject's face

If you don't have any fancy gear beyond the camera itself-some white card or silver foil can be used as a reflector.

Pros and cons of Natural Lighting

- Natural light is free! it doesn't cost you anything to use and it's all around us.
- Images taken in natural light look closer to what our eyes actually see in everyday life.

> You can't control natural light to the extent taht ou can control falsh lighting
> On very dull days or in low light you'll need to use a camera that can perform well when using high ISOs

"If there's space, try getting the model to sit down or go for a full-length shot"

Overexposed Background

Equipment

- Net curtain

- Silver or white refletor

Techiques

- Use a nantura background

- Use a reflector as a key light

- Remove background detail

The Look

Rather than positioning the model so that the light is falling onto her face, you could also try posing her with her back to the light source. If there's enough space in you location, perhaps you could even consider getting the model to sit down or go for a full length shot.

The Setup

A small reflector is used to ensure light bounces back onto the model from the window behind her. This setup almost exactly recreates the studio setup we tried using just two background lights and a reflector. Just as we did then, we've opened up the camera's aperture to ensure that the model is correctly exposed.

Getting shot 

Ask the model to look off to the side and slightly overexpose the image again. Ignore the camera's meter. IF you expose for the background (in this care the window light) not only will the model end up being very underexposed, you will also record detail from outside such as cars an brick walls.

Location Setups

Using your flash or speed light off camera dramatically increases the range of shots you can take on location and lets you control the ambient light.

Check list

Equipment

- Hotshoe flash unit
- Flash braket and stand
- Portable softbox
- PocketWizards or wireless trigger

Techiques

- Underexpose the light
- Balance flash with ambient light

Off-Camera Flash

The Look

For this shot, we will produce a fashion style images with very underexposed ambient light. Our model's is illuminated by just one small off camera flash. The more power offered by the flash the better as it makes underexposing the ambient light easier. However, the effect can still be achieved with a regular hotshoe flash or speed light.

The setup

we are using a Nikon SB-800 mounted on the portable stand and fitted with a small softbox to light this shot. This was positioned to the right of the camera (the model's left) an angled at 45 degrees toward her. Using the flash mounted on the camera would have resulted in a less effective looking shot as we wouldn't be able to control how the shadows fall on her face.

Getting the shot

The ambient light is underexposed by two and a half to there stops, leaving the flash to do all the work. We asked the model to play with her scarf and look straight into the lens.

"Play around with the white balance settings on your DSLR"
This is a great way of creating a quick and dramatic effect outside. For an extra bit of contrast, try adding a half CTO gel in addition to the full CTO gel.

Using Gels

This is a great way of creating a quick and dramatic effect outside. For an extra bit of contrast, try adding a half CTO gel in addition to the full CTO gel.

Check list

Equipment

- Hotshoe flash unit

- Flash braket and stand

- Portable softbox

- PocketWizards or wireless trigger

Techiques

- Underexpose the light

- Balance flash with ambient light

The Look

You can create dramatic effects outdoors by experimenting with a gel on your flash and playing around with the white balance settings on your DSLR. This can produce a range of creative and interesting effects straight out of the camera with minimal post processing work.

The Setup

A hotshoe flash fitted with a full CTO ( Colour Temperature Orange) gel was positioned on a portable stand to the right of the camera (the model's left). The gel ensures that the background records as a cool blue due to the white balance settings used.

Getting the Shot

We asked the model to sit in one of the trees and compose the image so that the line of trees stretching out into the distance is visible over her right shoulder. Only the model, plus the tree in which she is sitting, are affected by the output from the flash, creating the effect we were after.

Pros and cons of location lighting

- There can be lots of potential to explore
- Use flash or the ambient light, depending on the effect you can

> Weather conditions may not be great on the day
> It can be har to get rid of all distracting/unattractive elements from the scene