Learning how to shot better portraits

[digijim]

Anyone know of a good place, without going back to school, to get good tips on location portraits?

I do ok, but really am interested in learning more. Kind of the way I am...

[torresj]

Hello,

This site has great tips:

http://www.photographytips.com/page.cfm/173
http://www.photographytips.com/page.cfm/2941


Juan Carlos Torres
Willamette Photography
5652 SW Bluestem Place
Corvallis, Oregon 97333
Toll Free 1-877-597-1549
Tel. (541) 753-9903
Cel. 541-760-0323
www.willamettephoto.com
Wedding Photography in
Corvallis, Salem, Eugene,
and Portland.

[JR92]

I am to stubborn to go to school for anything, so I learn from experience. I usually make time to mess with different settings and take mental notes on what and what not. I have found that angles and shooting over and under give me the best feeling of a good potrait. I also did buy some books from Barnes and Noble for about $30 each. Mostly just explains what to look for. You have digital, you won't waste any money buy learning from example. Just go and experiment, your lessons are better than those taught by others. Most importantly have fun learning if not your in the wrong business.
Good Luck, JR92.

[mjordan]

A good source of information and other photographers that can give you advice, critiques, critisisum, and the occasional high blood pressure and headache is a site called Zuga.net.

You can access it at http://www.zuga.net/ to get to the main page or you can go directly to the message forums at:

http://www.zuga.net/forums

It's a site geared towards wedding and portrait with a lot of other interests thrown in including the business side of photography and digital. As with most of the big message forums, you have all types on there, from Master Photographers to working photographers to beginners to a few know-it-alls. ;D

But it is a good source of information and help if that is what you are looking for. You can read everything as a guest but you have to register with a valid e-mail address to be able to post.

By the way, I am a moderator on there, but don't let that stop you from checking it out.

Mike

[kiwikeith]

Hi Jim
Another good board is

http://www.nylen.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl

Ron Kramer..a true artiste..you love him or hate him..does a lot of really good outdoor portraits.. without fill flash..good stuff!
KK

[KenN]

Outdoor and Location Portrait Photography by Jeff Smith (Amherst Books) is a terrific guide to making great portraits outdoors.

Based on that book (and other readings) I put together a small location kit that works well in almost any situation:

2 4'x8' Calumet folding reflectors (black, white, and diffusion) These have clamps to hook them together if needed.

1 4' gold/silver/white/diffusion pop up reflector

1 24" silver/white reflector

Carrying bag to hold it all.

It works great, and except for really exotic situations has solved lighting issues for me readily.

I'm next going to add a simple white sheet to have models stand on (reflects up), and a beach umbrella with diffusion fabric. See "How to Photograph Women Beautifually" by Barry O'Rourke and Michael Keller.

My "checklist" for any portrait is:

- are the eyes what I want
- what _don't_ I want in the background

Once that little checklist is fulfilled I may tweak/improve from there, but can shoot with confidence that the results will be above acceptable.

Regards,

Ken N.

[digijim]

There is some very good advice here.

Thank you all for your submissions.

I really like the check list, and will probably use it.

I have a tendency to not pay as much attention to backgrounds etc. as I should because I am a Photoshop freak, and like working in it... but can't always get paid for it. So the check list thing has good points.

Thanks again!

[rojoyinc]

Updating - old info again... I no longer use Jon Nylen's forum - but I teach at www.portranet.com

[Tom Barnett]

www.DG28.com
www.ecnpa.com

Not my sites but both have been beyond helpful for me, I hope they will be for you guys