Here is a photo tip that has gotten me more compliments on my portrait photography than you would ever believe! I am always hearing about how my colors are so intense and how my subjects "pop" out of the frame, etc.
It is soooo easy! In fact by the time you finish reading this article, you will be fully qualified to use this strategy yourself.
Here it is...
Photo tip - Turn on your camera's flash!
In another article we discussed turning your flash off when you are too far from the subject for it to help. With the Olympics just around the corner, watch some of the track and field events... as the runners go around the track, the flashes in the stands are going off like crazy. It's almost like a "wave" being done with light rather than spectators.
The bad news is, it's all a waste of battery power! None of those flashes are doing anything to improve the image - they are just too far away!
In today's photo tip, I say (if your subject is close enough) you should virtually ALWAYS use your flash!
We all know we need a flash when it is dark. We all know we need one when we are shooting indoors. But when you are outside even at high noon, your flash can be a true life saver!
High noon is the worst possible time to shoot! But we don't care. We can still get good shots.
Why is it so bad?
Those are the shooting conditions (the sun directly over head) that will give your subjects "raccoon eyes" or they will be squinting and totally ruin your portraits.
Here's what you do...
Block the sun in some way by putting your subject in shadow. Stick them in the shade of a tree, under a porch awning, in the shade of a building - whatever. I'm sure you know what I mean.
Now the sun is lighting the backdrop, but the subjects are shaded. It eliminates the "raccoon eyes" and squinting plus it gives a nice even - soft - lighting to the face.
But we have a problem. Our subject is darker than their surroundings. If we expose for the background, they will be too dark. If we expose for the subject the background will be too light and get blown out.
Answer - use your flash as a fill flash. This way you will balance the light between the subject and the background, while eliminating the problems associated with an overhead sun.
And as a side bonus using your flash, tends to intensify the colors and makes your subjects "pop". Try it once and you won't go back.
These little tips add up. Use this photo tip and your portrait photography will "pop" with added color and intensity. Before you know it, you will be the best shooter in your area.
To learn more and enroll in a FREE "photo tips" course, go to: http://ontargetphototraining.com/
Bonus... You will also get YOUR free copy of "7 Secrets To Stunning Photos!" AND you'll get a FREE daily photo tips newsletter! Check it out right now while you are thinking about it!
Dan Eitreim has been a professional photographer in Southern California for over 20 years - his data base exceeds 6000 past clients, and he says that learning photography is easy, if you know a few tried and true strategies.
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