Portrait ProjectAdvanced Visual Communications

Week 4,5, & 6

Photographing Portraits

• With your portrait teams you will be using your sets to photograph portraits of each other. There are different roles in a photo portrait shoot – photographer, model, stylist, props, lighting technician, and photo assistant. Switch so that everyone tries out each role.

• Lighting is important. You will be using the camera flash for flattering portrait lighting inside and the reflectors for outside lighting.

Bad and Goodportrait lighting

Hard and Softportrait lighting

To achieve softer and more flattering portrait lighting use a diffuser for your

light source or a reflector.

SOFT LIGHTING

Dramatic lighting

You can use straight on

flash for this effect.

DRAMATIC LIGHTING

Lighting with a Reflector

Use a reflector and choose a shady spot

outside to reflect flattering light back at your partner (you will need an extra person

to reflect).

PORTRAITSUSING A REFLECTOR

For bright background and colors

Use a continuous light source to your left or right. You can use sunlight and a

reflector or on camera flash to

achieve this effect.

Bright Colors in Portraits

Lighting Web Sites

• http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/portrait-lighting.htm

• http://www.petapixel.com/2011/11/12/five-basic-lighting-techniques-for-studio-portraiture/

• http://www.petapixel.com/2011/04/15/three-studio-portrait-lighting-techniques-with-a-single-light/