Notes on Shooting a Portrait

Shoot a Formal Portrait

1)      Place the background for the photograph close to a wall. There should be about 10 to 20 feet of clear space in front of the background, plus some room to the sides. The background can be a roll of paper, s background cloth, or the wall itself. Put a stool in front of the background. Now ask you’re subject to sit on the stool.

2)      Place the light about 45 degrees to the right side of the subject. Have an assistant hold the reflector on the subject’s left side, about 3 to 4 feet from the subject. The assignment will have to adjust the angle and position to the reflector for the best effect.

3)      Set the camera directly in front of the subject, anywhere from 6 to 10 feet away, depending on what kind of lens you are using. The more telephoto the lens is, the further away you’ll have to be. Talk to the subject, guide him or her in how they should pose, and take the photograph.