Photography Techniques - Portraits & Night Portraits

1. Portraits:
   • Use Prime (Fixed Focal) Lens which are faster and enable taking photo with a narrow depth of field.
   • Use Wide Aperture (smaller f/number) between f/1.4 to f/4 for a narrow depth of field.
   • If you are using a Zoom (Telephoto) lens, use the maximum focal length (highest zoom) and shoot from a distance from the subject for a narrow depth of field.
   • You can use Manual mode or Aperture Priority mode to set the aperture and adjust other settings for a proper exposure.
   • Use Flash for filling up the shadows on the face (like shadows under the eyes). If the flash is strong and washes out the photo in white, reduce the Flash Exposure Compensation for a softer flash
   • If you are using external flash, point the flash at the ceiling or a wall for diffused lighting and an evenly lit face of the subject.
   • Always focus on the eyes of the subject. People like a photo with sharp eyes even if other parts are out of focus.
   • Try to position the subject in front of a plain, dark background like a field of grass or a wall for placing maximum attention on the subject.
   • Ensure that the distance between the subject and background is greater for more blurred background.
   • Use a Soft Focus filter (an actual filter attached to the lens or a software photographic effect built in the camera) for a dreamy effect. This can also be achieved using PC software like Picasa, Photoshop etc.
   • Compose a portrait based on the Rule of Thirds, place the eyes of the subject along the top horizontal line of the grid and the body along a vertical line.
   • Use a warmer color temperature for candle light / sunset effect (set the Lighting/White Balance to Shade or Cloudy.
   • Use Portrait mode in Picture Style Effects (if provided in the camera), which enhances skin tones and hair color and makes the photo look softer.
   • Use the lowest possible ISO (e.g. ISO 100 if taking a photo under bright lights) that can allow a properly exposed photo at the set Aperture and Shutter Speed.
    
   
   

   Example of Portrait

   | Shutter Speed: 1/400s | f-stop: f/4.5 | ISO: 100 | Focal Length: 50mm | Flash: Not Fired |

   
   
2. Night Portraits:
   • Use the largest aperture (smallest f/number  e.g. f/1.8) which is supported by the lens for a blurred background. This makes the background lights out of focus and they look like big balls of colorful light.
   • If the background is required in the photo, then use a smaller aperture (e.g. f/8) to get both the subject and the background in focus. This type of photo is in between a Portrait and Landscape where both the subject and background are important.
   • Use the slowest shutter speed which can be used without getting a blurry image (e.g. 1/20s).
   • Use built-in or external flash to illuminate the subject. Use Flash Exposure Compensation, if required, to reduce the burnout caused by excessive light from the flash. Using these settings, the background will not be fully dark and the subject will also be properly illuminated.
   • For more light, set a higher ISO (e.g. ISO 200 to 400). However, use the lowest possible ISO that can allow a properly exposed photo at the set Aperture and Shutter Speed without much noise.

Example of Night Portrait

| Shutter Speed: 1/15s | f-stop: f/9 | ISO: 400 | Focal Length: 50mm | Flash: Fired |

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