It is extremely important in photography to have the right conditions for getting those perfect shots. For creating such conditions, a photographer would have several things to take care of. Shooting in a stylish studio would be an expensive affair. So, if you’re a photographer, you can use your imagination to get the intended results.
This involves creating the right conditions to get some fantastic portraits clicked. Here are some of the things you can do for a great portrait photography session:
1. Select a meaningful location
It’s always easy to choose a location at your convenience. For instance, if you live near a beautiful park, it would be the obvious choice for the location. While this may make the photograph look attractive, it’s not always the best option. This is especially true if you’re shooting a portrait.
Each of your subjects would be a unique individual with his or her own personality. So, you must first get to know your subject. During your conversations with him or her, learn more about their favorite places and hobbies. Choose a location that they like. For example, if he or she likes to surf, choose a local beach.
2. Choose a quiet place
Busy public parks, city centers, and railway stations are places that can get extremely crowded. They are worst locations for a portrait shoot. You’ll have to wait for people to move out of the frame quite often. You may also have to deal with the questions from passers-by. It’s quite possible that your subject may become self-conscious and have a hard time trying to relax.
Such hassles can be avoided by choosing a quiet place. Get to some location far from the hustle-bustle where you and your subject won’t be disturbed. Moving away from the city to any of the remote beaches or a countryside location would be even better.
3. Don’t get distracted by the location
As a responsible photographer, you must always remember that your subject is not the location. So, you must not let it overpower your subject. Checking the photos you’ve taken from time to time during the shoot would certainly help. The emphasis must be more on your subject.
One effective technique is opening the lens’s aperture nice and wide to put the background out of focus. It would prevent the background from being too distracting and draw the viewer’s attention to the main subject.
4. Shoot close to a shelter
If you’ve chosen an outdoor location for your portrait, there’s always a chance of the weather spoiling your day. Having a backup, therefore, would be a good idea. Find a location that has some sort of a shelter nearby. It can be a bandstand, a bridge, or a cafe.
When it starts pouring all of a sudden, such places can save the day for you. If the weather gets worse, you will also be able to move your entire shoot inside the shelter. If the natural light is good enough, you can even use the shelter as the location for your portrait.
5. Use natural lighting
Most of the professional portrait photographers like natural lighting. Some go to the extent of using only natural lights for their shoots. You can also utilize the diffused, natural light offered by a certain brightly-lit place. Avoid the direct mid-day sun as it may ruin the portrait.
Choose a light shade where the sunlight is softer, such as a covered seating area. If you’re shooting at an indoor location, keep your subject close to a large window. This would help you make the most of the available natural light.