How to Frame a Model in Your Portrait Correctly
There are many ways to take a photo of someone in the open.
But without the right guidance, it can be easy to draw the attention away from that person for the wrong reasons.
Follow this guide to help you compose your shots and create the perfect shot of your models every time.
One of the first things to consider is should the photo be taken as landscape or portrait mode? In most cases, it makes better sense to take photos of people in landscape mode.
Not only will you have more room to play with when it comes to their surrounding, but you will also be able to compose their figure in the frame the right way.
Firstly, never put the subject in the middle of the frame.
Although technically it may make more sense to put them there, since most lenses are sharper in the middle than on the edges, it leads to a boring photo.
Only do so sparingly if you are bringing the viewers full attention to the person.
Most viewers of a photo tend to look at the first third of the picture near the top.
But aligning the eyes of your model near this area, you are able to grab their attention quickly.
Using the well known rule of 2 thirds, it makes sense to put your subject's eyes either on the left third of the photo, or the right third of the shot.
This will also open up their background which can be used to either compliment their clothing, or show a complete contrast to what they are wearing, to bring out the detail of their fabric.
Using the right colors is important to bringing attention to your models.
Drown them out in the same color and you will lose them completely, but using too much color can detract that attention away from your subjects, which can lead to a less impressive photo.
Also, never forget to use real lighting, to take away shadows that may otherwise reveal more character in that person.
If you have no reflectors, then make use of controlled lighting that may be bouncing off any walls in the surrounding structure.
Also make good use of the depth of field in your lens.
If you subjects are standing still, then it makes good sense to use as large aperture as possible, to only have your models in focus, and take the rest of the scenery out of focus.
But without the right guidance, it can be easy to draw the attention away from that person for the wrong reasons.
Follow this guide to help you compose your shots and create the perfect shot of your models every time.
One of the first things to consider is should the photo be taken as landscape or portrait mode? In most cases, it makes better sense to take photos of people in landscape mode.
Not only will you have more room to play with when it comes to their surrounding, but you will also be able to compose their figure in the frame the right way.
Firstly, never put the subject in the middle of the frame.
Although technically it may make more sense to put them there, since most lenses are sharper in the middle than on the edges, it leads to a boring photo.
Only do so sparingly if you are bringing the viewers full attention to the person.
Most viewers of a photo tend to look at the first third of the picture near the top.
But aligning the eyes of your model near this area, you are able to grab their attention quickly.
Using the well known rule of 2 thirds, it makes sense to put your subject's eyes either on the left third of the photo, or the right third of the shot.
This will also open up their background which can be used to either compliment their clothing, or show a complete contrast to what they are wearing, to bring out the detail of their fabric.
Using the right colors is important to bringing attention to your models.
Drown them out in the same color and you will lose them completely, but using too much color can detract that attention away from your subjects, which can lead to a less impressive photo.
Also, never forget to use real lighting, to take away shadows that may otherwise reveal more character in that person.
If you have no reflectors, then make use of controlled lighting that may be bouncing off any walls in the surrounding structure.
Also make good use of the depth of field in your lens.
If you subjects are standing still, then it makes good sense to use as large aperture as possible, to only have your models in focus, and take the rest of the scenery out of focus.
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