i truly suck at portraiture... i've tried... really... i've read articles, watched videos... tested the limits of my boys' patience while practicing... i'm not good at it and i don't enjoy it... so mostly i don't do it...
but one of my boys has asked me to take grad pictures for him... and his girlfriend... and then two other friends...
honestly - i don't know where to start...
likely some will be inside and some will be outside... possibly caps and gowns will be involved...
shaking in my boots...
any and all advice welcome!
Like what Jackie said… “relax,breath and have fun!”
-Shoot randomly,candid and let your models( kids) act natural.You’re not shooting or directing a blockbuster Hollywood movie here..🥰
-Shoot them in their casual way..The goal is to capture who they are and not who you are. The more fun ,the better.!!Good luck and congratulations to your kids👨🏻🎓
Check On Instagrams: graduation.photography @sarahphotography or the link below..⬇️
Not sure if you are willing to read / watch some more, but this guy is super fun to watch. His fundamental advice is to shoot in shade (in the door frame, under a shed) or near a window with the sun not falling directly on the subject.
Here are some tips. I'll look for some videos. They are more helpful https://www.becomeabetterphotographer.co.uk/portraits-and-posing-tips/
Soooorrry!!!! I don't mean to spam. Here is the video I was looking for. It has all the details, including camera settings. https://youtu.be/TPViA1EIT-k
I think that @joemuli has it right, just shoot and explore what might or might not work. Try all sorts of ideas, lighting and locations, its family and they hopefully are patient but maybe ask them if they want serious or casual and then go from there.
What a honour and congrats to your kids. But oh, I do know that feeling(s),... I'm often asked at work, doing such stuff. And I hate it, and people don't understand, that owning a camera, doesn't mean we are specialistes in portraiture... @joemuli@30pics4jackiesdiamond@monikozi Have good tipps: relax, and make a fun event out of it. They trust you, that's good. I often make the people jump and ask them to making a victory sign in mid air. I snap away, but it is more to relax them, it brings those natural smiles to their faces. And smile too, your smile and love will be mirrored. The pictures right after the jumps are often the best. And indoor: look for the light pockets. (You are perfect in finding the light!!!!) And, eeehm,... probably consider using "colour". You will do great!
I honestly think these young adults know how to pose. They've grown up in front of cell phone cameras. For posing tips I love Jerry Ghionis on YouTube. I've done a few seniors and looking back I did pretty well without tons of experience or training. You'll do a fine job. Lots of inspo on Pinterest too.
Check out the grad photos @kwind did- they're casual and fun but she also included some of the typical poses too. I would definitely ask what they're looking for or if they have some ideas too because I think Jackie is right- they know how to pose! I was asked to do some family portraits in 2019- scared to death I wouldn't get any good ones but it worked out ok. Thankfully they didn't want portrait studio shots and allowed me to use natural lighting in the backyard. If I'd known how to use fill lights I might have attempted it, but I just did them with my camera and let the sun do the rest. So, I think you're going to do just fine- in fact- I have a feeling they'd like some northy style portraits too- with masks, chess pieces and penguins!
I suck at portraiture also so usually don't do any. Check with Kathy @myhrhelper. She started her own photography business a few years ago. She has some of her portraits in her 365 album.
Since you don't enjoy shooting portraits I think the key is to catch them at what they enjoy instead. Have them talk about what they love. Try to get them to relax and not worry too much about posing.
Same photography rules of composition apply. But focus on the eye.
I would ask what interests them. Have them use a few props. One thing that could be helpful as well as just google graduation photos and you may get ideas to inspire you, but be you. You are a great photographer and will do great.
For indoor portraits, I like using a slight light to separate them from the background. I often start with a 3 light system. One on each side with one side a little brighter than the other rather than total flat lighting. OR just be yourself and have fun with creative lighting.
Again, let them have fun, Don't worry about trying to talk them into a smile - it looks fake, get them to talk about fun things and their eyes will light up and you will see a few natural smiles.
I did my daughters graduation, lost my patience because my family like to make fun of me when I get frustrated. I got some cool shots, to be honest Kirstie had her own ideas for poses and we got ideas on the day at the location. To be honest just enjoy it and take a deep breath when needed.
85mm lens is preferred which is also fast f/2.0- 2.4
Indoors use a strobe and softbox OR strobe and beauty dish. I prefer the beauty dish.
Outdoors, good lighting, avoid squinting so the sun should be to the side of behind the subject. Watch for shadows. Pleasant background such as green leafy bush. Shoot for bokeh! Watch out for background object, such as trees, positioned behind the subjects head (e.g. tree sprouting from the person's head or a structural object)
Look up typical poses, keep the subject's chin up, if they are looking down (e.g turning to the side).
Good luck!
@northy I don't like indoor portraits either. Mostly when I take graduation photos or team photos, I take them outside. Find a fun location and take them there early in the morning or very late in the afternoon is best for lighting. We have some beautiful gazebos at local parks and a very old bridge that is makes a cool background. I like more natural poses, as well. Maybe they are sitting or leaning against a post in front of the bridge. And have fun. One of my favorite shots is photoshopped. The graduated joked about me taking his photo on top of the bridge structure, so I took a pic of him sitting and photoshopped him onto the top of the bridge. He loved it.
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365ers will come to your aid ( my advice? Don't involve any masks or shopping trolleys 😏😏 )
-Shoot randomly,candid and let your models( kids) act natural.You’re not shooting or directing a blockbuster Hollywood movie here..🥰
-Shoot them in their casual way..The goal is to capture who they are and not who you are. The more fun ,the better.!!Good luck and congratulations to your kids👨🏻🎓
Check On Instagrams: graduation.photography @sarahphotography or the link below..⬇️
https://youtu.be/NKLOQU6OGZI
Here are some tips. I'll look for some videos. They are more helpful https://www.becomeabetterphotographer.co.uk/portraits-and-posing-tips/
@joemuli @30pics4jackiesdiamond @monikozi Have good tipps: relax, and make a fun event out of it. They trust you, that's good. I often make the people jump and ask them to making a victory sign in mid air. I snap away, but it is more to relax them, it brings those natural smiles to their faces. And smile too, your smile and love will be mirrored. The pictures right after the jumps are often the best. And indoor: look for the light pockets. (You are perfect in finding the light!!!!) And, eeehm,... probably consider using "colour". You will do great!
Same photography rules of composition apply. But focus on the eye.
I would ask what interests them. Have them use a few props. One thing that could be helpful as well as just google graduation photos and you may get ideas to inspire you, but be you. You are a great photographer and will do great.
For indoor portraits, I like using a slight light to separate them from the background. I often start with a 3 light system. One on each side with one side a little brighter than the other rather than total flat lighting. OR just be yourself and have fun with creative lighting.
Again, let them have fun, Don't worry about trying to talk them into a smile - it looks fake, get them to talk about fun things and their eyes will light up and you will see a few natural smiles.
Can't wait to see what you come up with.
Indoors use a strobe and softbox OR strobe and beauty dish. I prefer the beauty dish.
Outdoors, good lighting, avoid squinting so the sun should be to the side of behind the subject. Watch for shadows. Pleasant background such as green leafy bush. Shoot for bokeh! Watch out for background object, such as trees, positioned behind the subjects head (e.g. tree sprouting from the person's head or a structural object)
Look up typical poses, keep the subject's chin up, if they are looking down (e.g turning to the side).
Good luck!