Really excellent people photos hardly ever happen all on their own. They take planning. Even casual-looking people images are typically prepared. Some planning is simply technical, such as selecting equipment and lighting. Other planning may consist of picking your subject's clothing, hairdo, pose, and setting.
The hallmark of a picture is that you take control and leave bit to chance. Will a picture merely be a flattering similarity or a peek into your subject's persona? When you know what you desire to attain, everything else ought to pursue that end: the setting, the garments, the props, the posture, the lighting, the composition, and so on.
Think about these pointers:
**Use soft, diffused lighting such as cloudy-day lighting or indirect window light to reveal your subject's features in a flattering way.
**Keep the background simple to prevent distracting aspects, but make it relevant to the portrayal of your topic.
**Move in close for an above-the-waist or head-and-shoulders composition; for a less conventional technique, move back to show the entire figure.
**Position your cam at or somewhat below your subject's eye level. Pay particular attention to the position of hands and the angle of the head. In a picture, hands and head can quickly look uncomfortable.
**Pay extreme attention to the placement of the hands and the tilt of the head. In a portrait, the hands and the head can easily look out of place and dis-proportioned.
Semi-Formal
