What do I need to do to improve these shots?

E

El Tranquilo

Senior Member
I would like to learn how to take good portraits. These are four examples of what I've done in the last few months. They were all shot with natural lighting only. I'm trying to sort out where I can make improvements. I suspect some better lighting would help, but that there are many things I should be doing better within the natural lighting environment as well. Any suggestions would be really appreciated.

DSC_0048-3.jpg

IMG_6918-3.jpg

DSC_0168-2-3.jpg

IMG_6929-2.jpg
 
T

TedG954

Senior Member
From a technical side, I can't help you, I really don't know anything. But, your subject matter is great, in both scenes and people. Keep up the good work. I find your postings to be among the most interesting on this site.

:encouragement:
 
D

Dave_W

The Dude
i think these portraits are great and don't think you should change anything. I also am a big fan of natural lighting for portraits like these, it tends to bring out more personality when you see exactly how a person looks in the world. So I guess the only thing I can offer it to mix up your position relative to your subject. For instance, if you shoot a standing subject while you're sitting on the ground will enhance the strength of their personality and give them a stronger personal presence. And in the same way shooting someone from above looking down can have an opposite effect. So consider adding perspective to help underscore the personality of your subject, it will add a nice punch to your portraits.
 
E

El Tranquilo

Senior Member
Thanks guys, I appreciate the encouraging words.

I guess one of the things I'm wondering is whether or not I should make an investment in some lighting equipment and to what extent that would open up new possibilities. I'm also wondering whether or not I have a tendency to operate in a dark palette too frequently.

Unfortunately, it looks like the metadata on these photos no longer exists (or I can't retrieve it.) I think that information would be helpful in knowing what I could be doing to improve things in the here and now.
 
R

Rick M

Senior Member
In my opinion portraites are best done in either controlled lighting situations like a studio, or very good natural lighting manipulated. To me, anything else, is really street photography as you are subject to uncontrollable source lighting. You posted a shot of a guy in a white hat recently, which to me was perfect. It was street photography, I think, but the lighting, composition and settings were perfect. I think if you want great portraites, you need to buy lighting. If you want great "street" shots, become a master of natural light. Once I began to revolve my shooting around lighting and gained a better understanding of it, I became a better photographer.
 
Last edited:
E

Eye-level

Banned
The most surefire, fastest, and cheapest way to possibly improve the light in the photos you posted above is to get you a good reflector. They are already good snaps IMO maybe you don't need all the lighting equipment!

Get one shoulder leading and at an angle sometimes might help soften those portraits above a bit and get them looking into instead of out of the frame.

2nd pic is my favorite a reflector on this one and it would have been kick @ss.
 
E

El Tranquilo

Senior Member
CD7000,
These were all shot with a d3100, using the 18-55mm kit lens, pretty basic stuff. The only other lens I have is the Nikkor 55-300/f 4.5-5.6, which I use for non-posed street photography.

Cnyram,
I think you're right in making the distinction between street photography and portrait photography. I want to pursue both genres.

I think I'll have to make some significant lighting, lens and camera investments to get to where I'd like to be with pure portraiture (not to mention the most important and obvious investment--practice and dedication.) All this will come with time.

Investing in new equipment is really expensive here in Costa Rica since import duties nearly double the price on everything I'll need. My solution is to have most of my purchases shipped to my sister's in the States and collect them all when I visit in the Spring.

At the recent Expo Foto gathering that they had down here, I priced a studio lighting set-up that consisted of two softboxes and an umbrella for $640. That seemed pretty high to me. I'm debating whether to make that purchase, buy some good prime lenses or upgrade my camera next--which would give me the greater return on investment?

In the meantime, I'm interested in figuring out any ways of improving on my natural light shots of people--shots that are a little more formal than non-posed street shots. Two things I'm working on are trying to do a better job of getting really good focus and improving my post processing skills. Any helpful suggestions are really welcome.
 
E

El Tranquilo

Senior Member
Eye-level said:
The most surefire, fastest, and cheapest way to possibly improve the light in the photos you posted above is to get you a good reflector. They are already good snaps IMO maybe you don't need all the lighting equipment!

Get one shoulder leading and at an angle sometimes might help soften those portraits above a bit and get them looking into instead of out of the frame.

2nd pic is my favorite a reflector on this one and it would have been kick @ss.
Click to expand...

Jeff,
Just an collapsible umbrella reflector and natural light? That sounds nice and simple. :)
 
E

Eye-level

Banned
Yes this is what I was saying when I was saying reflector...I am going to get me one...screw all that electric mumbo jumbo unless you are wanting to open a portrait studio or something or it is just your thing...natural light, one multi disc reflector, a good subject, a nice body, and a good lens is a good place to start with the basics...it is like Rick said above...once you start learning and understanding the light that is when you begin to grow big time. IT IS ALL ABOUT THE LIGHT to begin with right? :)
 
M

martenfisher

New member
Only thing I would change was the first picture. I think the model should have been further away from the background unless you had no other choice.
 
S

Shutteringfocus

New member
What focal length are you shooting at?

Generally portraits of people look best at longer focal lengths. Do you have a longer zoom lens? Something like 100mm or even 200mm?

Here is an interesting thread on another forum about shooting portraits with natural light.

I'd spend your time (and maybe even some money) on learning good posing. These days lots of people take photos, and its always easier to buy more gear with the thought that it will make your photos better, but that isn't true of course.

However, not many people do the homework on posing, which actually makes a huge difference in how your photos work.

Have you heard of CreativeLive.com? You can get some fantastic educational video downloads there on photography.

This one is on posing and lighting.

This one is just on posing pretty much

I think spending $100 on one of these video courses and watching it over and over will be WAY MORE valuable than buying any equipment.

You can get a lot done with natural light and a camera.
 
Top