Photography is an amazing field with different aspects. Today, there are different pictures all over the internet, and these pictures are taken by individuals in different parts of the world. Pictures are used in different ways today. Some use it to tell a story, for branding, or even to bring back old memories.
Whether you’re a sports photographer, food photographer, or whichever type of photography you specialize in, there’s always a time when you’ll need to take pictures of a person or even a group of people. However, as a photographer, before you take pictures of people, it is important to learn everything about this field of photography. This is because photographing people can be a difficult and intimidating task.
To photograph people, there are so many things you’ll need to pay attention to, in addition to the pressure from the people you’re taking pictures of. First, remember that the subject is waiting to get the final results, and you’ll need to ensure that they come out perfect.
Taking photographs of people has a lot of differences, compared to taking pictures of food, sports, historic architecture, buildings, butterflies, scenic ocean spaces, and more. Taking good pictures of people requires the skills of a great photographer, and the first way to become a good photographer is learning how to be good to people.
After that, you can proceed to learn about the other things involved in taking pictures of people. In this article, I have provided tips and tricks that will boost your confidence and help you photograph people. Rest assured that they will like the pictures you take when you use these tips, so read on.
Table of Contents
1. Make it Real When You Photograph People
Most photographers get carried away and overrate their abilities. This makes them make unnecessary promises, which can cause their clients to have high expectations. As a photographer, you need to know your abilities and work on improving them. For example, taking pictures of a rocky mountain may not be as easy as taking pictures of the sky.
You also need to pay attention to where the people want to take these pictures. Are you willing to try what they want? It’s best to avoid something you’re not willing to try rather than make unnecessary promises. However, if you’re bent on trying it, then you can let them know how you feel to avoid unnecessary troubles if things go south.
2. Aperture Priority Mode
These days, cameras are built with an aperture priority mode, and you can set your camera to this mode. With this, you can easily control field depth, which is a determining factor in the focus of the photo. Depth is the first thing to consider when taking pictures of people. The aperture priority mode will also make it easier for you to select a preferred aperture while the camera automatically sets the shutter speed.
This feature will increase your speed, and you won’t need to worry about the shutter speed. The aperture priority mode is a feature that most professional photographers use. It is a feature you’ll appreciate more when you’re required to take pictures in rapidly changing conditions. Examples of these conditions include a wedding ceremony or any other family photography session.
3. Be Friendly When Giving Direction
One thing to note about taking pictures of people is that it won’t always be for veteran models. There are times when you’d be required to take pictures of people who are clueless and don’t know how to strike a pose. This set of individuals will solely rely on you for guidance on how to pose. As a photographer, you don’t need to be scared to give them directions. Also, when giving them directions, it is important to ensure that you do it in a friendly manner.
You can do the pose yourself and ask them to imitate you. The bottom line is that you need to be as free as possible when giving them directions. It doesn’t stop at getting them to strike a wonderful pose. After you’ve successfully achieved this, you’ll need to try taking the pictures from different perspectives and angles. You can also ask them to look in different directions so that they can have different options to choose from.
There are so many styles that you can recommend, but you should have in mind that it depends on the occasion, and the outfit the person is putting on. For example, a style that you will ask people to try on a birthday shoot may not be ideal for a wedding shoot, or any other professional shoot. Therefore, whenever you give direction, also make sure it is in line with the purpose that the picture is meant to serve.
4. Show Them the Pictures
You don’t have to wait until you’ve worked on the pictures before you show them to them. After taking each picture, or after taking a group of pictures, you can show the subject what you’ve taken from the back of the camera. This will get them excited and boost their confidence in you. Also, it’s a way of showing them what they will get after you’ve printed the pictures.
Another reason why showing them the pictures is important is that when you show them the pictures after each shot, it inspires them to take even better shots, and strike really amazing poses. For group pictures, it is a way to ensure that everyone is happy with the picture, and when the final picture is out, nobody will look weird in the picture.
It is worth noting that you don’t need to show them all the pictures you take. You can only reveal a few to them because the aim is to get them excited.
5. Utilize Longer Lens
The importance of lenses in not only people’s photography but in every other field of photography cannot be overemphasized. Ensuring that you are using the right lens is very important. Today, there are so many types of lenses that can be applied to different fields of photography. However, for photographing people, the recommendation is to utilize a longer lens.
There are many ways this will help you, whether you are taking a group photo or for a single person. The first thing to note is that longer lenses offer a more thinning look, and the focal length of the lens is also a key determinant. In general, it is easier to get more background blur with a longer lens.
Another reason why a longer lens is important is that it makes it easier to isolate an object from the background. It makes the picture pleasing to look at. Some of the lenses you might want to try out include 85 f/1.4, 85 f/1,8, to 200 f/2.8. With these lenses, you can rest assured that the pictures you take will come out great, and the subject will love them.
6. Make Everything Simple
From the props, light, clothing, and even background, ensure that everything is simple. It’s best to have a foundation you can work with even before the shoot begins. A few recommendations to help make things simple include using solid colors, even lighting, ensuring that horizon lines are not through the subject’s head, and using flat backgrounds.
In general, the details in the picture should be mainly for the subject, irrespective of how it is taken. This applies to full body and portrait photographs. While trying to make everything simple, also make sure that you’re doing it with respect to what the client wants. Remember that the picture is not about you, but about the subject, and as such, your utmost priority should be towards ensuring that they are happy with the pictures you take. With that in mind, you can ask them questions, and do things with respect to their preference.
However, there are some people that don’t usually have anything in mind and they rely solely on the photographer’s prowess. For such a category of individuals, it is best to ensure that you keep everything simple.
7. Avoid Using Photoshop Tricks
A lot of photographers are quick to run to photoshop to apply different tricks to the pictures they take. Utilizing editing tools is not a bad idea, but you need to be mindful of how you use these tools. This is because these tools can alter the exact look of the person in the picture. In some cases, it can make them look like plastic.
If you must use these tools, then it is important to know how to go about it. You can use the tools to clean blemishes, adjust color, and make the picture appear sharper. However, remember that editing tools can take things rather too far and should only be used where necessary.
8. Know your Subject
As a photographer, you’ll need to know the person you’re snapping. Doing this will help you identify their food and know whether they feel discomfort or not. You’ll need to build a connection with your subject if you want to take pictures that will reveal their personality.
Another reason why it is important to know the person you’re snapping is that will make it a lot easier for you to capture their emotions. It will also help you know how to direct the subject to pose. With this, they can pose with respect to their emotion. Photography is all about creativity, and as a photographer, you need to be able to come up with ways to make the pictures you capture memories.
9. Try Using an Anti-Pose
Images that capture action usually strike differently compared to static images. They are usually genuine and reveal true expression. One way to capture the action in an image is by using the documentary approach when snapping pictures. You can leave the subject to continue with their activity while you anticipate different actions to take.
One way to apply this approach is when taking photos of children, especially when they are playing. While doing this, you’ll need to go to their level or even join them and have fun. This strategy works better with mobile devices because kids often get distracted whenever they see a camera. But with a mobile device, you can easily do this without them even noticing.
10. Remember the Altitude
The altitude is also an important thing to pay attention to when taking pictures of people. Remember that cameras can capture light and shadows. It’s even clearer where there is a strong contrast between the light and dark regions where you are taking the pictures. You also need to know how to take photographs of shadows. The most important thing to do is ensure the consistency of light, and you can easily achieve this by taking the picture from a lower level.
These are the tips to help you get started. However, the ultimate thing about taking pictures of people is making sure you have fun while at it. The reason for this is that it will make the person you’re taking feel relaxed, thanks to your positive energy. Treating them as mere clients will only make them feel bored and intimidated. Therefore, try as much as possible to have fun when taking pictures of people.
In addition to these tips we have provided, you can also learn from photos that have been taken by professionals. Viewing these pictures will help you understand how the professional take pictures, and you can pick a few strategies from that. If you are looking for a place where you can have access to different pictures taken by professionals, you might want to check photoAC. Here, you’ll find pictures of different people taken in different ways. What’s more is that the tips we have outlined in this article are all applied to the pictures on photoAC.
Also, all the pictures we have included above were gotten from photoAC, and you can see just how beautiful these pictures are. This is because all the tips we have provided above were applied when taking these pictures. The pictures on photoAC are available for free download, and you can use these pictures anywhere and serve different purposes.
Check other tips for people’s photos.