Portrait Pointers 4 Dec Project

[Shebang]

So what have you more experienced portrait/fashion shooters discovered that we need to know?

The Dec Project was a great learning experience. It was hard to see junk in a new way. (Though most posters were certainly not shooting "junk.")

December's Portrait project is really interesting -- but, as I found studying the subject of hyperfocusing, there's a lot of conflicting info out there.

Thanks.

[draymorton]

*paging Adina*

[Frog]

Don't stress yourself! Just start trying to get some portraits, look at portraits you like and try to get something similar and then develop your own style.
One rule seems to almost always apply. FOCUS on the eyes.

[BlueRob]

Don't stress yourself! Just start trying to get some portraits, look at portraits you like and try to get something similar and then develop your own style.
One rule seems to almost always apply. FOCUS on the eyes.

I learned something to day....great tip Frog.

[Axle]

Don't use a wide angle lens, a 50mm 1.8 or zoom in with an existing lens. Shoot with a low depth of field, remember the focus is on the person, not the background. Use flash even outside, it will help fill in the shadows.

[Sushigaijin]

Don't use a wide angle lens, a 50mm 1.8 or zoom in with an existing lens. Shoot with a low depth of field, remember the focus is on the person, not the background. Use flash even outside, it will help fill in the shadows.

Or ignore everything above, if that's the look you're going for.

The most important thing about portraits is to shoot intentionally, and hope for serendipity.

[BlueRob]

Or ignore everything above, if that's the look you're going for.

The most important thing about portraits is to shoot intentionally, and hope for serendipity.

Interesting statement and I see your point (hope I get you right)...for me the greatest portraits I have seen are the ones where the subject is not posing for the camera. At least for me that aids to capture the "essence" of the subject and helps to capture a more natural expression...hope that makes sense.