Are you not able to get the desired results out of your studio portraits? Learn how to capture the exceptional shots that can make your work stand out from the crowd with expert advice from professionals at RH Studio that offers studio rental services in Hong Kong and have extensive experience in in-studio portrait photography.
-
Set the Right Shutter Speed
If you’re going to handhold your camera, make sure to set a shutter speed that won’t cause any camera shake.
If you are not sure about it, use the general principle: never use a shutter speed that is slower compared to the focal length of your lens.
As an instance, if you are using a 50mm lens, then don’t set the shutter speed slower than 1/60.
If you are using a flash, you may choose whether you desire the ambient light to have a strong effect.
In case you’d like your finished image to have both ambient and flashlight, set the shutter speed to slower than the synchronization rate (generally 1/250) and “drag” the shutter.
The slower shutter speed enables the ambient and flashlight to mix. If you want a shot to capture just the flashlight, set a shutter speed that’s closer to the synchronization rate of your flash.
-
Set the Best Aperture and ISO for Portraits
To start, “zero out” your camera and reset all the controls all over again.
In case the object you’re shooting is longer than 85mm, and you’re not trying for the shallow depth of field, then try f/5.6.
Lenses are sharpest here (or at f/8); also, you ought to be able to get sharp focus from the nose back to the ears of the subject.
At the time of shooting commercial portraits, it’s ideal to use strobe lighting, so you are able to use your full film speed range (ISO).
Adjust your ISO as low as possible to maximize your picture quality and reduce noise.
-
Use Go-To Lighting Setup For Full-Length Portraits.
Use softboxes or large light modifiers at some distance away from the subject for good, even lighting coverage.
A 4×6 foot softbox to get an even distribution in front with a secondary light source placed behind your subject to define edges and give some highlights.
-
Get The Most Out Of Umbrellas ( Studio Rental)
Umbrellas with silver linings are inclined to reflect a more significantly contrasting light compared to white umbrellas.
The biggest advantage of silver umbrellas is that they are more efficient, which means that you receive more light for the same amount of electricity.
If you are able to buy just one version, go with the white. Want more contrast? Place the umbrella far off your subject.
-
Use the Following Tips and Practice Regularly.
There are a couple of ways in which you can readily get in some practice!
Today, you can find a self-timer mode in most of the cameras, which you can use to act as your model so that you are able to shoot and experiment as much as you want.
The main benefit of doing this is that you are available all of the time, and you can implement your ideas on yourself in a better way.
Place a light stand at the spot where you want to stand, put your camera on manual focus to lock focus on the light stand, start the self-timer and stroll to where the lighting stand is.
Then, proceed to the light stand and find a great test shot. Once you have the focus set on, you can set a spot on the ground and get repeatable focus.
You can also use a long cable or a wireless remote to trigger the camera in place of using the self-timer.
It is more convenient, and you can take multiple shots in a row before going to the camera to check what you got.
Another budget and easy way is to buy a used mannequin as a model and dress it up in the way you want your model to look.
Bonus! Overcome Clothing Conflicts.
In case the client is wearing a dress that conflicts with the backdrop and doesn’t have an extra pair of dresses, the best solution is to switch to a different color or style of backdrop.
Eventually, it is of the utmost importance to discuss with your clients before their appointments and really discuss what they are planning to wear.
If you help them in knowing which colors are flattering and slimming and which aren’t, it is possible to help prevent a frustrating session.
Request clients to use solid, subdued colors: for example, a long-sleeved, grey knit shirt with a crew neck or a collar.
This will enable the viewer to concentrate on their face (the major part!) rather than their clothes and will also help to keep photographs from becoming obsolete quickly.
Now that you have learned few best tips to improve your in-studio portrait photography, it’s time to practice.
Practice as much as you can as “Practice makes the man perfect.”
If you are looking for a studio to practice professionally, you can book studio rental services in Hong Kong at RH Studio and get professional help as well.
Have some more tips to share with our audience? Share in the comments!
Also Read : Top 5 Tips for choosing the right franchise to invest
