10 WAYS TO PORTRAIT PERFECTION

Some short but sweet suggestions

16 Engage

Engage with your subject: if they are not interested, your viewer won’t be either.

17 Focus

In general, leave the focus on your model’s eyes (unless you are shooting a fine-art piece).

18 Environment

Use your surroundings to your advantage but don’t let them distract attention from the subject.

19 Coloured gels

Use complementary coloured gels to create a contemporary look; blue and red are a great combo.

20 Shoot JPEG

Learn your craft and get everything right in-camera for a satisfying experience.

21 It’s good to talk

Take time to stop, review images and chat: this will help everyone to relax and shoot with ease.

22 Use props

Bring props to shoots: even if they’re not in the final shot, it will give your model something interactive.

23 Single shot

Don’t use burst mode: frame and pose the best single shot you can, and then shoot it.

24 Prime lenses

Prime lenses are much sharper than zooms, and offer wider apertures for beautiful depth of field.

25 Spot metering

Use spot metering and focus on the model’s face and skin. This will give you the best exposure.