Mobile phones have evolved into a well-loved technological gadget that you could bring anywhere you want. You could capture moments with a simple click on your camera unlike when you have to bring along your professional or digital camera, which could really be very inconvenient. If you browse through the various network sites you will find millions and millions of photos taken with a mobile phone camera and yet producing very distinct and appealing portraits of people. Truly, portrait photography has evolved and gone a long way!
So let us look into this innovative hobby of taking pictures freely by merely using phones and uploading them into websites. Here are some helpful hints on how to catch that beautiful light and turn something ordinary like an ordinary occasion into an unexpectedly great event!
Tips for Shooting Portrait with your Camera Phones
- To flash or not to flash
Some high-end mobile phone cameras are now equipped with flashbulbs ensuring that pictures may still be taken in the dark or at night time. However, it is likely that you will get red-eye in your photos if you decide on using a mobile phone camera. Why? This is mainly because you will be shooting close to the subject or to yourself if you are taking your own picture.
Find an area where there is ample light so the flash will be deflected. And if you are shooting in the dark, make sure that there are no mirrors to reflect and intensify the light. Better yet, you can cover the flash with a sheen material to lessen the brightness.
- Where to look
You do not always have to look directly into the camera. Find a space and focus on that space instead. Internalize and stare as if you are looking at nothing. Exude the emotions through the eyes without having to look directly into the lens to achieve a more dramatic effect.
- Use your camera features
Increasing brightness would allow for a smoother photo, and increasing darkness would attract the eyes to the lighter areas of the photos like the eyes of specific features of the face. You can always create pictures that will spell drama by simply playing with the various features of your camera phone.
- Closer, please!
Do not be afraid to get close. This will capture the true emotion behind the eyes and will draw attention to details such as skin texture, eye pigments, or the shine on the skin.
- Try different faces
A portrait photo doesn’t have to always contain a subject full of smiles. Even Mona Lisa was barely smiling at her portrait, remember? You would be surprised to find out that there are so many things you can hide and at the same time expose from your personality when you try on putting different faces and looks on the camera. Experiment with it and see for yourself.
- Edit when necessary
Make sure you edit your photos before you finally upload them on the websites. If you have red eyes on your photos, you may reduce them by selecting some programs from your camera. Simply adjust the brightness and contrast of your camera, or better yet initiate some tweaking in the colors of the original photo.
- Get props, get posing
Be innovative! Remember that among the millions of photos on the various websites accessible to us, 95% of them show very simple, straight-up photos of people smiling, with their teeth showing and rarely doing anything unusual. Pick up anything, pose anywhere, and anyhow. Don’t be mediocre and step out of the ordinary!
Bottom line is, to capture what is real. The main point of portrait photography is to seize the emotions and actions of people, knowingly or candidly, and save them for the rest of their lives. One doesn’t need photography classes to develop an eye for beauty. You may start learning the art of portrait photography by simply using that tiny gadget you always have in your pocket, your mobile phone.
Simply shoot portraits at different angles using various color effects. Master the art of portrait photography by practicing zooming in and out to un-focus of focus backgrounds. Experiment on lighting so you will know how to get a really good angle for close up photos. You will be amazed at how professional the pictures would look on your homepage when you upload them.
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Have more headshot questions or want to learn more about individual headshot options & book an appointment call us at 203-255-4002 or visit us online at Capitol Photo Interactive.
