June 9, 2010 | Filed in: FAQ, Portraiture
I get emails pretty often asking for tips, advice and technical questions. Since it’s pretty much impossible to reply back to every single one, I make posts here and let my readers, even those whom haven’t emailed but still have the same questions, get some answers.
As always, I never claim to know everything. There’s actually a lot I still learn every week from other photographer’s FAQs. I never claim my way is the RIGHT way or the easiest – but it works for me. My biggest answer, no matter how many times I repeat it is “practice, practice, practice”.
Selena asked – “Your works are truly amazing. I just recently got a SLR camera, but I’m having difficulties with it. Can you give me few tips?”
When I got my first DSLR, I took it out of the package, put my batteries in it, turned it on and looked at all of the buttons, turned it off, put it back into the box and didn’t touch it for a week. I was so intimidated and scared. Then one day I decided to jump in head first. Needless to say, there are a lot of photos of Andy and the cats from those first few months. Anytime something exciting was happening outside – a pretty sunset, a storm, a stray dog in the yard – I grabbed my camera and I tried different shooting methods and combination to learn what worked and what I liked.
I also read a lot of information online and started quite the collection of photography books. The biggest thing I did was when frustrated, I pushed through. I took a photo of the cat with the light on, then the light off, to test my ISO. I took photos at night, at music gigs, while out with friends. I finally got the hang of it, and now – I’m addicted.
Jeanette asked – “…I just love the way your shots look and wanted to know (please) whether you have any special Photoshop secrets for making the skin look so amazing.”
I used to smooth the skin quite a bit on my subjects, but have since stepped away from doing so. Not only did it look fake, but it also took a lot of time, and time is money. I wasn’t being compensated from models to make their skin look flawless – and at the same time, I began to appreciate beauty. When you snap a photo, you see your subject in person and at a distance. When editing images, you’re very up close and personal with your subject and their skin. You see the flaws, the pores, the scars, the blemishes. While I do now spot heal blemishes that aren’t a normal part of the person’s skin, I do not remove scars, freckles or wrinkles. I appreciate these things in all of my subjects, and after all, I want them to look human. Maybe I’ve been blessed with great clients that have amazing skin already – but I accept them for how they are, and they are much more appreciative for that.
Jeanette also asked – “…I’m also worried about the lighting. I have a flash but it is very harsh and wanted more natural lighting, which of course inside isn’t possible, or at least I don’t think it is. I am completely new to taking photos of people. If you do have some Photoshop actions like the flare ones, I’d gladly buy them.”
Being a natural light photographer, I am obviously a huge fan of natural light. It’s what I practiced with, learned to manipulate and work FOR me and it is what I will continue to use. I, also, own a flash – but never use it unless I absolutely have to. It can be a bit tricky when shooting inside, but the key is to have lots of windows/doors and open them if you need to! You’d be surprised how much a simple pane of glass can reflect the light away from you. Open up the doors, pull aside the shades, up your ISO and shoot wide open. Natural light CAN be used – but it has to be available, first.
I have made a set of Photoshop Actions which will help a bit with flare and to lighten your images – and they can be found here if interested.
Debbie asked – “Shooting wide open to isolate your subject, do you worry about your histogram, blown highlights? Are you controlling that by exposure compensation or are you just dialing a faster shutter speed in? I saw where you shoot manual, I mostly do to but sometimes I use Aperture mode.”
I honestly never pay attention to my histogram. I know in certain lighting situations that in order not to blow out my highlights, I need to shoot at a higher shutter speed. I also shoot in open shade, which helps 95% of the time. I do shoot manual, and if I do have a blown highlight every now and again, I can always adjust it in Photoshop if it isn’t too major. Depending on who you asked, most people would probably say most of my highlights are blown – but I know what I like and what my clientele are hiring me for, so I don’t change it.
Debbie also asked – “Is some areas where I shoot. like in alley ways for example the eyes look dead because there isn’t a catch light in them, does that bother you as well? If so how do you create one?”
It doesn’t really bother me if the eyes of my subjects don’t have a catch light. I try to focus more on the whole photo itself – surroundings, pose, clothes, hair and makeup. I don’t think the client will notice that there isn’t a catch light in their eyes. These are technical aspects that only the photographer notices, because we know that part of the business. We know the technicalities behind taking a photo, so we often see things that other people would never notice. Like a blown highlight, for example. I think there is much more to making a photo stand out than the catch light in my client’s eyes. If it is a big deal, you could always use a reflector, or use natural reflectors such as white/silver buildings, windows or even cars.
John asked – “… and what type of metering, any special Manual camera settings?”
Depending on my situation, I either shoot center weighted or matrix metering. If I have to shoot outside and there aren’t very many shade options, I will shoot center weighted, as to keep my subjects properly exposed. As far as manual settings, I shoot +5 contrast (Nikon) and that’s about it. I usually shoot wide open and at ISO 250 or below.
I hope this little FAQ helps at least a few people. If anyone else has any further questions, feel free to ask in the comments and I’ll get to them on my next FAQ! And since posts are more fun with photos, here is a sneak peek of my shoot with Kari and Kentrell – an awesome and inspiring couple. Their full shoot will be up soon!
Manual, 50mm, 1/400, F/2.0, ISO-250.
