What are the general rule of thumbs for portrait photography?

DannySC · 15th of April 2012 (Sun)

There's a few simple "tricks" out there people use that improve their portraits drastically. What are some that you know? I'll start,

1. If doing a close up you want the eye closest to camera in focus

2. Never crop at the body joints

3. Careful for scenery or objects "growing" out of the subject

AntonLargiader · 15th of April 2012 (Sun)

Two links I have saved:

http://www.lumitouch.com/benstudiotu...uideRules.html

http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tut...ampaign=news12

bryank930 · 16th of April 2012 (Mon)

I have this one saved:

http://photocamel.com/forum/tutorial...rtraiture.html

gonzogolf · 16th of April 2012 (Mon)

Generally you want the subject eye or body line to lead you into the image rather than out of it. If you have the subject looking to the left then frame the image so that there is more negative space on that side. You can break this rule to create dramatic tension, but for traditional portraiture you want the framing to match the pose.

AntonLargiader · 16th of April 2012 (Mon)

Quote:

Originally Posted by bryank930

I have this one saved:
http://photocamel.com/forum/tutorial...rtraiture.html

Same as the second one I listed! By the author himself, fortunately (not someone copying work).

chugger93 · 17th of April 2012 (Tue)

Quote:

Originally Posted by AntonLargiader

Two links I have saved:

http://www.lumitouch.com/benstudiotu...uideRules.html

http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tut...ampaign=news12

Great links and great read! Thanks, that was very informative

arich · 20th of April 2012 (Fri)

Take pictures of pretty people

15th of April 2012 (Sun)	#1
DannySC Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 152	What are the general rule of thumbs for portrait photography? There's a few simple "tricks" out there people use that improve their portraits drastically. What are some that you know? I'll start, 1. If doing a close up you want the eye closest to camera in focus 2. Never crop at the body joints 3. Careful for scenery or objects "growing" out of the subject __________________ Canon 5D \| 85mm 1.8 \| Canon 50mm 1.4\| 430EX II\| Flickr

15th of April 2012 (Sun)	#2
AntonLargiader Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Charlottesville, VA Posts: 1,784 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: What are the general rule of thumbs for portrait photography? Two links I have saved: http://www.lumitouch.com/benstudiotu...uideRules.html http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tut...ampaign=news12 __________________ T2i . 18-55 IS . 70-300 IS USM . 70-200 2.8L IS . 28mm 1.8 . 100 Macro . 430EX II . TT1/TT5 . Bogen/Manfrotto 3021 w/3265 ball-mount

16th of April 2012 (Mon)	#3
bryank930 Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Racine, WI Posts: 774 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: What are the general rule of thumbs for portrait photography? I have this one saved: http://photocamel.com/forum/tutorial...rtraiture.html __________________ BMK Productions LLC \| Facebook \| Gear

16th of April 2012 (Mon)	#4
gonzogolf Cream of the Crop Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 19,526	Re: What are the general rule of thumbs for portrait photography? Generally you want the subject eye or body line to lead you into the image rather than out of it. If you have the subject looking to the left then frame the image so that there is more negative space on that side. You can break this rule to create dramatic tension, but for traditional portraiture you want the framing to match the pose.

20th of April 2012 (Fri)	#7
arich Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 383	Re: What are the general rule of thumbs for portrait photography? Take pictures of pretty people __________________ Check out my blog!

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