If taking pictures is a passion of yours, and you love photographing people, you could have a great career as a portrait photographer. It's unlikely that the people who pose for you will be professional models. You will encounter all kinds, shapes, sizes, and colors of clients along the way. There are some simple things you can do to create the kind of woman portrait photography Los Angeles clients will love.
You need to meet with the clients in advance. This meeting should address what the client wants to accomplish with the pictures you take. That will help determine the most appropriate background, pose, hair, makeup, and clothing for the shoot.
You need to get to know the client a little bit by asking about her interests, hobbies, work, and family life. This gives you a feeling for your client's personality. The information you get will inform the pictures you take.
Everyone has a more flattering side, and it is not unusual for the women you photograph to have strong opinions about which side is her best. You may not agree with the client, but you're going to have to take her concerns into account. If you ignore her opinions, you might end up with what are to you fantastic photos. The client will probably hate them however. As you gain experience, you'll learn to adjust your lighting and camera angles to maximize the client's best features.
You may not think that legs are important, but they are. You have to avoid the awkward angles that make legs appear stiff. When you are photographing mature women, you should consider suggesting that they cross their legs. This is a flattering pose that makes them look poised and graceful. You might pose younger women seated on the ground or standing leaning against an object like a tree. If they have their ankles crossed it softens the pose.
In the same vein, you have to give women something to do with their hands. Since your subjects aren't professional models deciding where to put their hands can be hard for them. You might suggest interlacing their fingers in front of them, bringing their hands to their faces, or playing with their hair as a way of solving the problem. Once women know what to do with their hands, it's easier for them to relax and enjoy the shoot.
One thing you can count on is that women will be concerned that their pictures will make them look fat. You have to be careful with the angle you choose to keep that from happening. One trick a lot of photographers use is to photograph the subject from slightly below the camera level. This is a way to elongate a neck and define a jawline. You don't want the angle to be so severe though that the subject is looking straight up.
You should use the environment to your advantage. A slightly windblown look and sunlight reflected in the iris of the eye are always compelling. If the weather cooperates, you should try to shoot outside in open shade.
You need to meet with the clients in advance. This meeting should address what the client wants to accomplish with the pictures you take. That will help determine the most appropriate background, pose, hair, makeup, and clothing for the shoot.
You need to get to know the client a little bit by asking about her interests, hobbies, work, and family life. This gives you a feeling for your client's personality. The information you get will inform the pictures you take.
Everyone has a more flattering side, and it is not unusual for the women you photograph to have strong opinions about which side is her best. You may not agree with the client, but you're going to have to take her concerns into account. If you ignore her opinions, you might end up with what are to you fantastic photos. The client will probably hate them however. As you gain experience, you'll learn to adjust your lighting and camera angles to maximize the client's best features.
You may not think that legs are important, but they are. You have to avoid the awkward angles that make legs appear stiff. When you are photographing mature women, you should consider suggesting that they cross their legs. This is a flattering pose that makes them look poised and graceful. You might pose younger women seated on the ground or standing leaning against an object like a tree. If they have their ankles crossed it softens the pose.
In the same vein, you have to give women something to do with their hands. Since your subjects aren't professional models deciding where to put their hands can be hard for them. You might suggest interlacing their fingers in front of them, bringing their hands to their faces, or playing with their hair as a way of solving the problem. Once women know what to do with their hands, it's easier for them to relax and enjoy the shoot.
One thing you can count on is that women will be concerned that their pictures will make them look fat. You have to be careful with the angle you choose to keep that from happening. One trick a lot of photographers use is to photograph the subject from slightly below the camera level. This is a way to elongate a neck and define a jawline. You don't want the angle to be so severe though that the subject is looking straight up.
You should use the environment to your advantage. A slightly windblown look and sunlight reflected in the iris of the eye are always compelling. If the weather cooperates, you should try to shoot outside in open shade.
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