Portrait photography can be done outdoors or in a studio with lighting equipment
Lighting is perhaps the most important component of portrait photography. Proper lighting can be the difference between a professional looking portrait and an amateur looking one. Outdoor portrait photography provides the simplest option for photographers, as minimal equipment is required. Studio portrait photography is more complex, but provides greater control over the image. In either case, it is important to remember to take the time to ensure the lighting is sufficient and interesting enough to create a pleasing image.
Instructions
Outdoor Portrait Lighting
1. Plan to shoot the portrait in the early morning or late afternoon hours. These are the times when the light from the sun is softest and least direct. Shooting in midday can create harsh, flat lighting on the subject.
2. Position the subject to show a two-thirds or three-quarters view of the face. The sun should be facing the side of the subject's face that is closest to the camera, or about 45 degrees to the right or left of the camera. Although you can position the subject differently to achieve different effects, this is the most common and easiest positioning.
3. Set up a reflector on the opposite side of the subject to fill in some of the shadows created by the sun. This should create a soft, pleasing light to warm your subject's face.
4. Use additional lighting as necessary to brighten the subject or to achieve various effects. If shooting outside with artificial lighting, make sure the bulbs are balanced for daylight, otherwise the color of the image will be incorrect, as daylight is more blue, and indoor lighting is more orange.
Studio Portrait Lighting
5. Position the subject several feet away from the background, if possible. This will minimize any shadows on the background. As with outdoor portraits, a two-thirds or three-quarters view of the subject's face is the most common.
6. Set up the key, or primary light, about 45 degrees to the right or left of the camera so it is facing the broad, or most exposed, side of the subject's face. The light should be at least several feet away from the subject.
7. Soften the light, if desired, with the use of an umbrella or reflector. This creates a softer, less direct lighting effect that is very desirable in traditional portrait photography.
8. Set up a fill light on the opposite side of the subject to fill in some shadows. The fill light should be of a lesser intensity than the key light, and can also be reflected or diffused to produce a softer effect.
9. Set up a back light behind the subject on the side of the key light, but out of frame, that is focused on the subjects hair and shoulders. This will highlight the subject and cause them to "pop" out from the background. Additional lighting can be used as desired to achieve certain effects or styles.
