Week 9: Portrait Photography

Portrait Poses

1. Front view
2. 3/4 view
3. Profile

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Focal Length

For the most complimentary portrait, use approx 65 mm with the class cameras.

85 mm for a full frame sensor.

Focus

When shooting a portrait, the subject’s eyes must be in focus. Full stop. Period.

Generally, portraits are shot with shallow depth of field to separate the subject from the background.

Portrait Lighting Styles

There are a 5 basic lighting styles for portrait photography. Each style is defined by how light falls on the face.

1. Rembrandt Light – the model is face forward, main light is at 45 degrees and casts a light on the opposite side of the face to form a triangle on the cheek.

2. Broad Light-model’s face in 3/4 view-light falls on the side of the face with the visible ear. Good for controlling the reflections on glasses.

3. Short Light-model’s face is in 3/4 view, the light falls on the side of the face with the features. (Not on the side with the visible ear.)

Both of these are examples of short light.

4. Butterfly Light, Clamshell or beauty or glamour light-model is face forward, front light.

5. Split Light-model is face forward, the main light is at 90 degrees to the camera and falls on one side of the face. 

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Quiz Questions

1. Identify the 2 basic portrait lighting styles for a portrait shot in a 3/4 view.

2. Identify the 3 basic portrait lighting styles for a portrait shot in a front view.

Lab

Portrait Lighting Styles

Homework

HW 7: Portraits