Portrait Project With My Daughter
Recently I was asked to do a photoshoot for a close friend. More and more people have been asking to see more of my photography and I didn’t have any real place to display them, until now. I have now realised that I do have a talent for photographing people. Although I would be modest and I say I am still in the developmental stages of my portrait photography.
Sylvia has modelled for me many times. I have been asking her to do some poses and rather than giving me a false smile, I have been asking to close her mouth and make her portraits more natural. So every so often I am, I am going to be doing a Portrait Project probably once a month as a trial run, which may depend upon the work and who is willing to let me take their photograph. So here is my ‘Portrait Project With My Daughter‘ for the month of February 2018.
Shadows
The only issue I have with this particular portrait is the shadow on her left eye. It doesn’t spoil the photo but getting your lighting correct can take a few composure just to position your flashes/strobing lighting. My settings for this photo were: ISO 200 | Shutter Speed: 1/200’s | Focal Length: 62mm | Aperture: ƒ/7.1.
This time I moved my flash with a white umbrella to an elevated 45 down angle on Sylvia. This means the shadows are downward on her. If you look closely, she has a mild shadow of her chin, covering her neck and throat area. My settings for this photo were: ISO 200 | Shutter Speed: 1/200’s | Focal Length: 62mm | Aperture: ƒ/7.1
Again the I raised my lighting stand to give my downward shadows, but lighting up more of Sylvia’s face. She learning more about the looks and postures I need for each portrait. My settings for this photo were: ISO 200 | Shutter Speed: 1/250’s | Focal Length: 70mm | Aperture: ƒ/8
Rembrandt and Lighting
Now I don’t have a proper strobe light YET! So I have to use what I have. I currently have two Neewer TTL 1/8000’s Speed lights with light stands and one large Soft-box diffuser as means of diffusing the light as it leaves the light source.
Ever heard of Rembrandt the painter? Well is known for his paintings and the mini-triangle on the side of the nose. Here is a Rembrandt type of shot as the light comes across Sylvia’s face and makes a small triangle of shade as the light bounces off her face. My settings for this photo were: ISO 200 | Shutter Speed: 1/250’s | Focal Length: 70mm | Aperture: ƒ/8
More evenly light across the whole of her face. I had a second flash just giving me enough light, as to not to over power this shot. This time, she is smiling and this is a great photograph. My settings for this photo were: ISO 200 | Shutter Speed: 1/250’s | Focal Length: 66mm | Aperture: ƒ/8
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John M
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16 Comments
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Your photos are amazing, I really need to take your advice as it’ll make my photos so much better, thankyou so much 🙏🏼
Thank you. I am still working on my portraiture and I still have a long way to go. I am still happy with these end results.
John M
some really good advice, I am never too sure about lighting, especially for portrait photography. Sylvia is a beauty!
I have watched YouTubers on how they do their photography and then put their techniques in to practice. You then learn what works for you and what doesn’t. Thank you. Yes, Sylvia is a really beautiful young lady.
John M
Great advice! I think portraits are very hard to do well and take a lot of practice! These are great shots!
Thank you. As children get older, they either will work with you or will resist. Thankfully my daughter is helping me more, which makes me very grateful.
John M
What pretty captures and what a beautiful daughter you have! x
Thank you and yes she is. She is a beautiful young lady.
John M
I need to up my game when it comes to taking photos especially portraits. As a travel blogger most of my photos are landscape
Travel photographs are easier as you have no pressure. Portraits are only difficult if you let the whole subject overwhelm you. Please people tend to be more scared of having their photographs taken.
John M
Your photographs are brilliant. Portrait photography isn’t something I’ve tried very much of, the lighting needed seems very complicated!
Portrait photography is difficult in so many ways. The lighting can be a pain but you if you know how to bounce light from multiple sources without saturating our model/subject, you are half way there.
John M
I love your pictures, I only really take product shots but I’d love to move into portrait photography x
Thank you. Practice with your children (if you have them) or loved ones. That is how I learned and I am trying to work with others too.
John M
You have a real gift for taking photos. I have a nightmare with my youngest as he will NOT sit still when I’m trying to capture a beautiful image of him 🙂
Louise x
I once wrote an article on my sister blog about this. Sometimes when things get out of hand, just keep taking photographs, because you could come out with a few gems when they are playing up or messing around. I have worked hard on my photography, so thank you.
John M