Pet Photography - For Fun And Profit

Photo by BékiPe

Pet photography is a lot of fun and many people are attracted to doing it, either just for fun or as a business. Pet photography is not necessarily a lucrative business, however. Although it sounds easy, it’s not. To be successful you need to create photos that are much better than people can create on their own. You do have one thing going for you, however. Even though many people have nice cameras, very few have good lights, and even fewer know how to use their equipment effectively under many conditions. So, if you do what they won’t or can’t do, you’ll get a name for yourself.

Many professional portrait photographers avoid photographing pets because they present a big challenge, about the same as an infant or toddler. To get good at pet photography you need lots of practice because pet behavior varies widely by individual and type of animal. Try practicing on your friends’ pets by offering them a free sitting. Once you do the portrait sessions you can often get extra orders for prints if you have a nice printer. 

Photo by Sukanto Debnath

To get good pictures you will need some quality equipment, techniques, animal behavior knowledge, and loads of patience. It’s a good idea to have a trained assistant, too, especially for large dogs and horses. Get quality equipment, too, and make sure it’s durable.

Typical customers for pet photography are affluent people who love their dogs, people who breed or show dogs, etc. The best markets are big cities like New York, and the suburbs of those cities. When it comes to customers, it’s better to have a few customers that pay well than a bunch of penny-pinchers who want a lot for nothing, then complain when they don't get it. If you can do a large shoot and produce a lot of good quality pictures, you can earn a bunch of money from one event. Plus, customers tell their friends and you can get a lot of referrals. After the event, you’ll have lots of work to do sorting out photos and printing orders, so don’t try to do too many per month. It’s best to keep your customers happy. Pet photo shoots make great school, club, or church events.

Want to sell your photos and not have to do any printing? Use a service like www.Shutterfly.com . You can set your prices to whatever you want. Shutterfly takes a commission, but they do all the work, and they have the best equipment. Besides, they have a lot of other products, too, like calendars and notecards, even mugs.

Equipment 

Photo by Tambako the Jaguar

Cameras

To get good photos of pets, you need to work fast because most pets are restless in a studio and likely to move suddenly, no matter how well they are trained. This means you need a fast camera. Many digital cameras have a slow response to pressing the shutter. If you want to use a digital camera, get one that is an SLR ( single lens reflex ), such as the Canon Rebel digital, or Nikon D70. You also need a fast memory chip, because some chips take a few seconds to save the image. In pet photography, a few seconds is a long time. You can use an ordinary SLR film camera, but the film costs can be high, especially while you practice. I use the Canon XT digital, a small and very effective digital SLR camera.

Learn to use your camera. An expensive camera does you no good if you haven’t learned how to use its many features. Some lighting and exposure techniques are beyond the scope of this report, so read your instruction manual and some books on basic photography.

What to look for in a camera. You need something fast, and by fast I mean not just the shutter response, but the autofocus should also be fast. Autofocus responses on many cameras are not fast enough to do some pets, so I frequently put the setting on manual and keep within the focus range while I’m shooting. You should get a digital camera, too. In the long run, digital will save a load of money on film. It will also let you show customers the results right away, plus check your work. Get a good lens, the best you can afford, and put a hood on it. If you don’t, you stand a good chance of getting light flares in your pictures. If you can afford it, buy a new camera with a warranty.

Digital image quality. Digital image quality is based on the number of tiny picture elements in the picture, and that depends on the quality of the sensor in the camera. The camera sensor is measured in “megapixels” While a 12 megapixel camera will deliver fine quality, publishable photos, 3 megapixles can produce a decent 8 by 10 if you don’t have to crop it much. Ideally you should have a 5 megapixel or better for enlargements. Many times you need to crop part of the photo out and use a smaller portion, so the higher resolution is much better. Very few customers order anything larger than an 8 by 10, and even in magazines most of the pictures are quite small. It’s always safe to shoot at the highest quality in your camera. Just don’t overdo it. The larger the image, the less photos fit on the chip, and it takes more time to process, etc. 

Photo by seanmcgrath

Digital storage Get a camera with a robust storage chip, and buy the largest chips you can afford. They’re very reasonable on eBay, and they last a long time if you take care of them. Buy SEVERAL, too. It’s the old thing about having all your eggs in one basket. If you lose a chip with a whole shoot’s worth of photos, you’re sunk. I have at least 5 chips available to me on a shoot. MAKE COPIES of your photos. If you lose a precious photo of Rover wearing a straw hat for 2 seconds, you’ll likely never get another one. Store photos on CD’s or DVD’s for safe keeping because sooner or later, all hard drives crash.


Where to get a camera If you can’t afford a new camera, you can easily buy stuff one on eBay, but you should thoroughly research the various cameras before you buy. Find out what the new price is and bid accordingly. Remember to check shipping fees. You can get the older digital Canon Rebel, with a lens, for a good price new. You might even find a superb deal, such as someone who used it very little and also has extra lens, memory chips, case, stuff like that. Watch the seller's feedback though. Remember that although last years top seller might be this year’s closeout, it’s still a good camera.

You can also find deals at yard sales and thrift shops, but be careful. If you don’t what to buy, don’t buy it. You don’t need a top model camera. In fact, it’s better to one that is light weigh, and since pet photography is very active work, cameras can be bumped or even dropped. It’s more important to have a great lens than an expensive camera. And one other thing, if you plan to do it professionally, get a backup body and lens, plus a backup battery. 

Photo by BékiPe

Lights 

Photography is all about lighting; good lighting makes good photos. So, if you want to photograph a pet indoors, you will at the very least need a flash that “bounces” off the ceiling. This avoids the “cat’s eye” situation, where the animal’s eyes glow like monster eyes. This happens because the light from a standard on-camera flash bounces directly off the retina of the pet’s eyes, back to the lens. Professional photographers use lights that shine on the subject from an angle, usually above and off to the side of the subject. That way the “bounce” goes down, not directly into the lens and final image. 

If you don’t have the means to get a professional set of lights, at least use an on-camera flash unit such as a “speedlight” by Nikon. Aim the flash up to the ceiling so the flash bounces back to the subject at an angle. Better yet, use a specially designed, coiled, flash cable and hold the flash unit away from the camera, above, off to the side, or both so the light bounces off the pet’s eyes at an angle. 

Photo by Shandi-Lee

The best setup is as follows; mount two flash units on stands about 6 feet high, several feet off to each side of the camera. Set up at least one light aimed at the background. The background light should be low and out of view, or it can be put up high if you have a studio. Then, trigger those auxiliary flash units in one of several ways. Use either a cable from camera to flash, a wireless trigger, or use the on camera flash unit to “trigger” the other flashes by a light sensitive switch, also known as a “slave” flash sensor. Most modern flash units have one built in. 

Photographers often use what’s called a “slave” flash. It's a light that can screw into a normal bulb socket that has a sensor in it for other flashes. When the camera flash goes off, it fires the slave flash. You should have 2, one on each side of your camera, a few feet to the side and about 6 feet high. If you can't buy 2, get 
one and put it behind the camera, about 6 or 7 feet high. Slave flashes are 
not terribly expensive and they last a long time. When they fire they will 
tend to make a shadow behind the subject. That's why you put them up high, so 
the shadow is short and below the viewing angle. It also helps to have a 
darker background. 

Photo by ryantron.

Photographic strobe lights are measured in “watt seconds”. The higher the number, the brighter the light. You also need to consider the time it takes for the light to charge back up for another shot. That’s called the “recycle” time. If you want to shoot fast, you need to have a fast recycle time. Most lights recycle within a few seconds, so that’s not much of an issue. The Watt-second rating is important, however. The brightest flash units usually have several settings so you can tone them down. If you shoot at 100 film speed ( best ) you need some bright lights. I recommend at least 200 watt seconds on each of the 2 main lights, preferably more. Since the background lights sometimes have colored “gels” on them that dims the output, those should be strong, too, at least 300 watt seconds if you plan to shoot through gels onto a dark background. For a white background with no gels, you can get by with a 100 watt second slave flash. 


Where to get good lights These days it’s almost a sure bet that you’ll get the best deal online, but you should do your research. You can try eBay, but lights are bulky and sometimes heavy and can cost a lot to ship. Buy new if you can afford it. If you can’t, get at least one matching pair of lights and stands for placing in front of the subject. Then, buy a small “slave” flash for the background light. 

Photo by Bert Heymans

When you get the money, buy a second matched set with short stands for the background lighting. Finally, if you have a studio, buy a “softbox” for above the subject. 

It’s common and highly recommended that your main lights have “umbrellas” on them. There are two kinds. One is a “shoot through” transparent white umbrella that softens the light and distributes it more evenly. The other is a reflector, with black outside and shiny silver inside. You “bounce” the strobe light into it, and it can make a very bright flash. 

Technique 

Ultimately, only what's actually IN the photo matters, so with careful framing you can create the image you want. Although you can crop a photo later, it's best to "crop" while shooting. This means taking an extra few seconds to check the image before firing the shutter. Leave out everything that's not necessary, and use geometry to good effect. 
Move with the pet, if necessary, and take lots of shots. When using a digital camera, there’s no excuse for not taking those extra shots. Sometimes a shot you “grab” will be a real winner. You can always edit the photo later if you must. 

Try a number of angles and poses. It’s nice for the customer to have some variety and gives you more chance to sell if that is your objective. 

You know what’s interesting about a good pet picture? The expression. People love to look into the eyes of their beloved pets, so get good expressions, and get in close. It makes the viewer feel close to the animal. Make sure you get some good close-ups and some “head shots”. Then, get some of the pet’s funny side. Try to capture its unique personality. 

Photo by Mustafa Khayat

Where to “shoot” your pets 

Outdoor photos 

Outdoor pet photos are very nice, but there are a number of things to keep in mind. Many pets will run away fast, so you might have to keep them on a leash or have the owner hold them. In addition, outdoor lighting can change frequently because of clouds. The best time for outdoor photos is before 11 a.m. and after 2 p.m. It’s best to have the angle of the sun lower, around 45 degrees, if possible, and behind the camera. As long as it’s behind the camera, it’s okay for it to be off to one side. 

If you want the pet to be in a shady area, such as under a tree, it’s best to use what’s called “fill flash”. That can be the on-camera flash or another off-camera flash. It’s also possible to use a reflector. This is a large piece of reflective material that an assistant can use to aim reflected light into the shaded area. 

Photo by trazomfreak

Indoor studio 

In a studio you have time and control working in your favor, and the animal can’t run out of range. A studio does not need to be complicated. Your "studio" can be in a garage, basement, or room in your house. You need about 10 feet by 10 feet minimum, but 12 by 12 feet is much better. You need your background supports and crossbar. Keep all your cords out of the way as much as possible for safety. In a studio you can have people come one at a time or host an all day pet photo shoot. 

Running a large pet photo shoot can be a lot of fun for all participants but you need to plan it well in advance and be completely ready for it when it starts. You can pick a place such as a side room in a school, church, business, or similar location. Sometimes, to get publicity, you can do one at a flea market. If you do a flea market, it's much different than a studio. At a flea market, it's more difficult. You are better off just having a basic system and doing a few shots for a modest price. Then, hand out cards and show some samples of what you can do in a studio. I have a lot of fun props that I can use but I don't take them all to large photo shoots. I might take a few. 

If you do a large photo shoot, keep some things simple, such as the camera and light settings. You will have enough on your hands dealing with the subject. 

Photo by francesco sgroi

Backgrounds 


A bad background can ruin a picture. Professional photographers go to great lengths to set up backgrounds for their photos, so they usually have a number of backgrounds in their studio. In addition, they may also have a number of colored lights, or “gels”, to color the background in a way that suits the subject. If you don’t have a background, you can effectively use a common sheet if you mount it in such a way that it shows no wrinkles. One simple way to do this is to pin a sheet to a wall in a home. You can even use a blank white wall if you wish. To make the subject stand out from the background you need to have good contrast. For example, black or dark blue is very nice for light colored or medium colored pets. Black dogs and cats, however, are best put in front of a lighter background. 

Backgrounds are easy and cheap. In the beginning I used old sheets, stretched tight with small clamps. Make a little stand about 8 feet high ( use a king size sheet ) It's good to have several. White is always popular and you 
need light colors for dark colored pets. A grey or black one is also good. I also use blue quite often. When you get more money, get another flash unit to light up the background. You put it way down low and aim it up. Keep it 
behind your posing table so you can't see it. 

Photo by  MangakaMaiden Photography

Most pros use a background light as well. The background light is set off to the side, below, or above, and aimed at the background. By setting the background light carefully, you can put a spot of light just behind the subject. This helps enhance the contrast ratio and offsets the subject from the background. If you use a neutral background, such as grey, you can put colored “gels”, or transparent colored plastic, over the background light. This enables you to put just about any color on the background. 

To avoid shadow on the background when using a flash, either have a good background light to offset the main lights, or have the main lights up quite high. That way the shadow is short and out of the picture. Also, keep the subject about 3 feet away from the background. 

Photo by Vivatier

Props and costumes 

Interesting costumes can greatly enhance a portrait and increase its value, since it will be a rare photo of the subject. Be creative. Every outfit is a costume from another's point of view. Sometimes all you need is a hint of a costume, such as a scarf, hat, or something in the hand. If you plan to use props, have everything you need close at hand. 

For stock photographers, funny pet photos are great for cards, and nothing looks sillier than a dog wearing clothes and a hat. Now, there aren’t a lot of pets that like to wear silly clothes, so don’t expect they’ll like wearing the funny outfit you have in mind for them. You will likely need an assistant. I once photographed a dog in a Bah Mitzvah outfit. Go figure….! 

How to get the pets ready for a photo shoot 

Pets can be very temperamental, shy, nervous, or even angry when you try to photograph them. Bright flashes can terrify a pet and their instinct is to run to their owner, or simply away, as fast as they can. Since they can’t talk to you, you must pay close attention to their mannerisms and sounds. 

The main thing is to get them to relax. To calm them, touch them gently and make soothing sounds. Make your sounds upbeat and kind. Contrary as it may seem, it’s not always helpful to have the owner within sight. Pets usually try to get the owner to “save” them from their predicament, and that makes things very difficult for the photographer. 

It’s a good idea to have the dogs take a little bathroom break before the shoot. 

Photo by Shermeee

Dogs 

Dogs are fun to photograph. 

I often get asked, "How do you make the dog stay in one place?" Actually, they usually DON'T stay still. The fast shutter speed just makes it APPEAR that they were sitting still! It can take a lot of shots to get a few good ones, sometimes. To photograph dogs properly, you need to understand dog behavior. Dogs don't really understand human language. If you want to communicate with a dog, it's much more effective to do it on it's own terms. Sounds ( other than words ), and especially TOUCH, works well. Body language, both yours and the dogs, is also very important. 

Dogs tend to be curious about the camera and photographer and they move around a lot. Have a friend distract the pooch, or use a toy. Try to work without the dog noticing you. If you have a long telephoto, at least 100mm, you can step back a ways and get good shots. This will also help keep the background out of focus and keep the attention on the dog. Work quickly, and take lots of shots. It you try to bribe the dog with food, it may backfire. Once the dog knows you have treats it will keep "bugging" you. I usually just get all the shots, and then give a treat. 

Photo by astrogrl

Formal posing 

When I do a formal portrait session with a dog, I always try to have an assistant. Few dogs will sit still, and even if they do, they'll rarely have the ideal expression. I get totally involved and focus on the dog's expression. The camera shutter makes it APPEAR that the dog was sitting still. Props can add a lot of interest and fun to the photo. Use a whistle and make sounds to get the dog's ears to perk up. Get in close to your subject ! It makes a big difference..... 

One more thing: 

Dogs don't really understand people language very well. They do understand Body Language quite well, so you have to keep putting them into the position you want them. Be persistent, and eventually the dog will get the message: SIT STILL! 

Cats 

Many cats don't cooperate with photographers. I've even met some that were hostile. Other cats are very affectionate and will not sit still. A long lens is very helpful. I usually let them relax in their own environment and shoot from a distance. When doing a formal portrait, it helps to have the owner nearby because cats get nervous. Work quickly, too, or the cat will run away.

Photo by kelp1966

Horses 


Rule number 1, be careful! Horses can move very fast and without warning.

They are NOT thinking of your safety, either.

Horses are often jittery and suspicious by nature, so you have to respect that and work accordingly. Move slowly and predictably, and stay in eye contact, if possible. If you wish to get close, touch the horse, perhaps on the neck near its shoulder. Be gentle and make comforting sounds. Offer some food. They love that, but watch your fingers! Keep them TOGETHER!

Using a long lens is very effective. Most photos are done outdoors, so light is not usually a problem. Between around 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. the sun is harsh, so use the morning or afternoon. You do not usually need a shutter speed faster than about 1/250. You can get interesting effects by using a tripod and speeds from 1/8 to 1/30. Just remember that the longer the lens or zoom, the faster the shutter speed needs to be to keep it from blurring.

Birds

Larger pet birds usually sit relatively still on their birch, but I’ve had one or two fly around my studio, especially parakeets. Take a lot of shots so you have a good selection of expressions. Cockatoos look especially nice with their top feathers extended. Some birds like toys, and photos of them playing are fun. 

Photo by Derek Purdy

Other pets

Some people have the oddest pets, such as pigs, porcupines, and snakes. For mammals, most of these suggestions apply. Reptiles don’t have much of a personality, so a close up is often very effective. It gives a sense on intimacy with a creature that, to tell the truth, just isn’t that way. ( for example, snakes and lizards ) 

How To Photograph Beautiful River Scenes

Photo by Joel Bedford

Rivers make a wonderful subject for the outdoor photographer yet I find people rarely set out with the intention to photograph them. I find they offer an abundance of opportunities from grand sweeping vistas to detailed abstracts to wildlife as well as being fantastic places to enjoy the outdoors.

Photo by  MikeBehnken

Having photographed many river locations I find they all have their own unique character. I see my role as the photographer being to identify and emphasise this character. I do this by asking myself a series of questions when I first arrive at a location:

• Is this a large and impressive river or a small natural bubbling stream?
• Is this a setting people might describe as being idyllic and picturesque or is it more of an urban or industrial setting?
• Is the river clean and pure or dirty and full of litter?
• Does the setting convey a feeling of tranquillity and calm or are there other emotions it sparks and if so what?
• Is the river fast moving and powerful or more slow and sedate?
• Is the water rough surface rough and broken by rocks or flat, calm and full of reflections?

With these essential questions answered I turn my attention to capturing images by assessing and deciding how to use a number of factors.

Photo by joiseyshowaa

Weather and light

The weather conditions, time of day and time of year all help in determining the type and quality of light you will have to work with. It may sound obvious but you can't do too much about these factors so look to create photographs that make the most of the light you have available.

Photo by Steve-h

Early morning and late evening light is probably what most photographers think of as being the best light. Typically the sky is colourful and with larger, slower moving rivers, this great light will be reflected making the river appear to glow. Shutter speeds will be longer at this time of day which also helps smooth out the surface of the river. This is probably the best lighting conditions to create a mood of calm and tranquillity. It's not always easy to organise yourself to be out photographing at this time of day but it is immensely rewarding in terms of images and the sheer pleasure of watching a sunset or sunrise.

Photo by Ian Sane

Midday light, at least outside the winter months, tends to be a little harsh and it can be difficult to reflect the character of the river in its setting. If however the river is in an urban landscape this type of lighting can still work well at it can be used to emphasise the unattractive elements. Also if the river is strong and powerful you can use the bright lighting to freeze the action. If you find yourself trying to work under harsh lighting conditions that don't suit you location, try to seek out wooded areas where there is plenty of shade or focus in on capturing detail shots.

Photo by Christopher Harriot 

The same advice also tends to hold true for bad weather such as rain. Also immediately after a rain storm, when the weather breaks can also produce magical lighting. The clearing rain storm in the image above produced very dramatic lighting, despite being shot at midday. The rain also helped swell the river to give a great cascading effect over the rocks.

The weather condition that is one of the best for adding mood and character is mist and fog. Rivers in autumn are often great locations for mist early and late in the day. Such conditions tend to be best around sunrise and sunset, often catching the colour of early morning sun. Look for the larger slow moving rivers located in open fields as these often give rise to the best mist.

Photo by Steve Gatto

Autumn is also a great time of year to photograph rivers and streams in woodland areas. Trees will be changing colour making for vibrant scenes. Leaves will be falling into the river, often gathering in pools around rocks. Here be on the lookout for opportunities to shoot swirling patterns caused by leaves caught in the rivers current. With longer shutter speed this slow movement can be recorded as a swirling pattern. Consider using a polarizing filter to give a longer shutter speed but also to emphasise and saturate the vibrant autumn colours.

Photo by Heather Katsoulis

Composition

The direction in which you shoot the river can also have a huge impact on the character of you convey in your photograph. Shooting across a river tends to create a rather static image that flows in on one side of the composition and out on the other. If you have to compose with the river flowing horizontally across the image try to include something in the foreground of the frame to create a feeling of depth to the image.

Photo by Esparta Palma

Often large areas of the riverbank are nothing but grass. In this situations there is little to hold the viewers attention. Try to find locations where there is something to include in the foreground such as rocks and reeds.

Shooting along the river from its bank offers more potential especially where the river tends to bend and meander. Long straight rivers are less photogenic but can offer some potential. Look for long stretches where the perspective of the river can be emphasised using a wide angle lens. The best positions however tend to be on bends as this lets you show off the bend and lead the eye into the image. Curves are more photogenic and pleasing to the eye than straight lines. Bends also allow you to position yourself so you look like you are shooting from in the river. This can further be enhanced by a long lens to ensure there is no foreground. When doing this though remember to include a point of interest to focus the viewer's eye and attention.

Photo by Puliarf

Shutter Speed and Depth of Field

Finally, give some consideration to the shutter speed you will be using. Don't just stop down to a small aperture for good depth of field and accept the shutter speed. Increase the ISO a little if you need to as the shutter speed can be a big influence the character of the image you create. Long shutter speeds give smooth water and reflections, which all add to a sense of calm and tranquillity. Fast shutter speeds freeze the water and can really emphasise the feeling of power and strength in the water.

Written by Robin Whalley

Don’t Miss A Moment – Great Tips For Action Photography

Photo by vramak

Soccer practice, dance recitals, camping trips and music classes, our modern lives are a blur of activity - but that shouldn’t be the case for our photos! You want to make sure you have clear mementos of those all time important moments, when Sarah is the star of the school play or Jimmy scores the winning goal. 

Photo by andi.vs.zf

Action photography isn’t easy; you’ll find professionals use some of the most advanced equipment in the industry for sporting events and competitions – and they spend years mastering the skills. However, with the right professional tips, even compact digital camera users can ensure they never miss out on the action. Here are some to keep in mind: 

Photo by Patrick|Choi

Pick a good vantage point – get close to the action. Be respectful of boundaries but don’t be shy about being one of those parents that’s right up there in the thick of it, snapping away. Try different perspectives, such as getting low down on the ground or higher up if you can. 

Photo by flydime

Pick the right equipment – not all digital cameras are created equal and you’ll want to invest in a quality product. For action photos, look for a model with a fast response time and reduced shutter lag, such as the Canon Powershot SX210 IS. You’ll also want the ability to take continuous shots and adjust shutter speed as required. 

Photo by carterse

Panning – one of the main causes of blurry photos with digital cameras is shutter lag – the time it takes from when you press the button to when the picture actually gets taken. One professional “trick” that will help to overcome this is panning. Panning involves moving the camera in the same direction as your subject, so you’re tracking the shot. With practice, you’ll be able to use a low shutter speed with panning to create blurred motion effects to heighten the impact of your composition. 

Photo by Geraint Warlow

Continuous Shots – digital cameras give us the freedom to take as many photos as we want – and then delete the ones we don’t like. With action shots in particular, you can take a sequence of photos to find the best shot that really captures the moment. Most newer models of cameras have the ability to take continuous shots, but again be wary of shutter lag and the write speed (the time it takes for the image to be stored on your memory card).

 

Photo by Aristocrats-hat

Get off the Automatic – many of us camera newbies prefer to leave the settings on automatic, which is a good idea if you’re not sure of your equipment and you don’t want to be fooling around with settings in the heat of the moment. Once you’re more familiar with the operations, try experimenting with shutter speed and lighting. Fast shutter speeds mean clearer pictures but will need more light, while slower shutter speeds, combined with panning, can create awesome effects to enhance your photos. 

Photo bycmaccubbin

Enjoy the moment! – Don’t spend the entire time peering through the view finder looking for that one perfect photo. Ultimately photographs are for sharing and capturing a memory – so be in the moment to remember.




Written by Canon Australia

Portrait Photography: Four Steps to Creating a Blurry Background

Photo by Jack Batchelor

You can create a blurry background in your portrait photography with a very simple process.

When you are photographing people, a soft focus background can help rid your photo of any potential distractions. This effect is called a shallow depth of field.

With a shallow depth of field, just the face or person would be in focus, and the background would be progressively blurry. In a longer depth of field, your subject and everything in the background is sharply in focus.

Here are the four ingredients to consider when creating a dramatically shallow depth of field:

Photo by peasap

Wide aperture. One of the first lessons in manipulating exposure is that the size of your shutter controls your depth of field. The larger the shutter opening for each shot, the smaller the amount of your photo will be in focus. Choose lower numbers, like f4 - f2, to get the most dramatic effect. Remember that aperture f-stop numbers work in reverse; the lower numbers represent the larger openings.

Distance to your subject. Getting close to your subject is a great composition principle anyway, but it is even more important when you want to knock out your background. If you are 10 feet from your subject, it is much easier to create a shallow depth of field than if you are 50 feet from your subject.

Photo by Johan J.Ingles-Le Nobel

The amount of zoom: When you zoom in, you compress the elements of your photo, so everything behind your subject becomes more dramatic. A wide angle lens might not create a shallow depth of field, but if you zoom in a telephoto lens to 100 mm to 200 mm, the results become far more dramatic.

Size of your sensor: Your sensor size will impact the final quality of your image in many ways. Making your background blurry is just one of them.

Photo by Jack Batchelor

Don't try to get a shallow depth of field with a camera phone. The sensor is so tiny, you won't see much effect. With a compact camera (point and shoot), it is possible to manipulate depth of field, but difficult. With a DSLR, you can start to see really dramatic effects because the sensor is much larger. Use a full frame digital sensor camera, and the results will be incredible.

Blurring out your background is one of many composition techniques you can use to create great portrait photography. With four easy ingredients, you could be on your way to making outstanding pictures.

About the author
Lynford Morton is founder and lead instructor of PhotoTour DC, where he teaches photography principles on walking workshops around Washington, DC. He shares and insights and resources at http://www.PhotoCoachPro.com. Register for photography workshops in Washington, DC at http://www.phototourdc.com.

    

Portrait Photography Tips For Beautiful Portraits

Photo by Toni Frissell

The skills to take great portraits will depend on after having a few essential "rules" I've reduced to those portrait photography tips. Even if you're just starting out, following these pointers may help you in improving your portraits.

Styles of Portraits
First, you must view the unique variations of portraits that you can take. You will discover three basic kinds of portraits. They are 1) close-ups or head shots, 2) head and shoulder shots and three) environmental shots. An eco shot is a form of portrait the location where the photographer targets on individual in addition to the environment that surrounds the subject. This sort of shot provides character into the subject.

The level of portrait you decide on depends on the aim of the portrait and therefore the mood you need to convey. An even more formal portrait, for example, might feature a maximum body shot. A less formal portrait will be an environmental shot. An incredible environmental portrait may be accomplished given that you frame the earth and the subject well. Arches, doorways and windows can be employed to your advantage for framing an eco portrait.

Portrait Photography Tips: Posing

In addition there are various methods the location where the subject should be posed. Most of the best portraits are taken if the subject is simply not looking into the camera. The fact is, great portraits are usually taken in the event the subject is utterly comfortable and natural. Permit the susceptible to sit or stay comfortably.

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You may have them sit on a chair or simply on to the ground. Get them to be comfy. If you want a lesser relaxed look, you can move in better concentrate on a face shot.

Portrait Photography Tips: Depth of Field and Focal Length

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Both depth of field and focal length are critical to creating great portraits. If you have a shallow depth of field, the point of interest shall be sharp while the rest becomes blurry. This may avoid the background from distracting the viewer's attention by way of subject.

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A better aperture setting can result in a shallow depth of field which includes a background this is softer even though the subject is sharp. Likewise a smaller aperture setting can lead to both the foreground as well as background appearing in focus and sharp.

Zooming or walking in closer will encourage you to fill the frame while using subject of the portrait. This isn't going to indicate you should do a facial or close-up shot. Filling the frame with the subject will still help you to gain a 'tight' full-body shot.

Portrait Photography Tips: Lighting

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Lighting is essential that you good portrait photography. There are many styles of lighting you can use in portrait photography. Main light should typically be diffused or you may have results that are too harsh. You may diffuse the main light by placing something nearly transparent concerning the main light as well as the subject. Generally, an important light must be positioned approximately 45 degrees either to the left or even the right of a portrait subject.

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Fill lights are also used, typically opposite the key light source. Fill lights need to be utilized on less intensity in comparison to the main source of light; however. One of the advantages of fill lights are they can soften shadows which may be created owing to the primary light.

Side lights or hair lights will supply lighting for that subject's hair. This could certainly give your portrait depth and might also help in separating your subject at the background.

The capacity to take great portraits depends upon following a few essential "rules" I've boiled down in order to those portrait photography tips. Informed, searching a newbie, following these tips could help you in boosting your portraits.