Project 5: Perfect the Portrait
This week we are going to be learning about portraits. You are going to use Tuesday's class to learn all about portraits and plan your shoot. You will have Thursday and Friday to set up your shoot and take some portraits.
Your challenge:
Plan and execute a portrait shoot of one of your classmates. Find a partner, talk to them about what they want in their portrait, and plan a shoot to give them what you want. You will be selecting a backdrop, lighting your portrait, and posing your subject. Then, you will switch places and your partner will shoot your portrait.
What colour backdrop?
What kind of light? Natural? Artificial? Where will you set up your lights?
What poses will you use?
To help you plan, do some research.
1. Understand the Rule of Thirds
When you are setting up your portrait, you will want your subject to not be in the centre of your picture. Instead, imagine a tic-tac-toe board. Put your subject where two of the lines intersect. Check out this site to understand the rule of thirds.
Rule of Thirds Video
Another Rule of Thirds Video
2. Setting Up Your Portrait
Composing your portrait means thinking about rule of thirds, depth of field, shutter speed (ISO and aperture), lighting, and posing. Check out this video for some hints.
3. Lighting Your Portrait
This guy knows his stuff. Watch his video. He is a wedding photographer, so he talks about brides, but his information is GREAT FOR EVERYONE!
Your challenge:
Plan and execute a portrait shoot of one of your classmates. Find a partner, talk to them about what they want in their portrait, and plan a shoot to give them what you want. You will be selecting a backdrop, lighting your portrait, and posing your subject. Then, you will switch places and your partner will shoot your portrait.
What colour backdrop?
What kind of light? Natural? Artificial? Where will you set up your lights?
What poses will you use?
To help you plan, do some research.
1. Understand the Rule of Thirds
When you are setting up your portrait, you will want your subject to not be in the centre of your picture. Instead, imagine a tic-tac-toe board. Put your subject where two of the lines intersect. Check out this site to understand the rule of thirds.
Rule of Thirds Video
Another Rule of Thirds Video
2. Setting Up Your Portrait
Composing your portrait means thinking about rule of thirds, depth of field, shutter speed (ISO and aperture), lighting, and posing. Check out this video for some hints.
3. Lighting Your Portrait
This guy knows his stuff. Watch his video. He is a wedding photographer, so he talks about brides, but his information is GREAT FOR EVERYONE!
Here are lots more sites to check out to get some portrait ideas. Click on the text to go to the link:
Posing Ideas to Get You Started
Some Posing Ideas
Posing Ideas for Guys
Posing Ideas for Gals
Unconventional and Unusual Portrait Ideas
Posing Groups
Please, please don't forget that you can do your research on your own too. Hit the Google and search for what you are looking for. There are thousands of sites, videos, and images to inspire you!
Posing Ideas to Get You Started
Some Posing Ideas
Posing Ideas for Guys
Posing Ideas for Gals
Unconventional and Unusual Portrait Ideas
Posing Groups
Please, please don't forget that you can do your research on your own too. Hit the Google and search for what you are looking for. There are thousands of sites, videos, and images to inspire you!