Find the Best Photo Portrait Photographers What makes them better

Looking for the Best Photo Portrait Photographers? Want to know what makes them better? Overcoming boredom is a major challenge for Portrait Photographers. Many new techniques are being discovered to make the boardroom, on location and traditional headshots more interesting and dramatic. Entrepreneurs are looking for photo portraits that also show their passion whether it’s their business or personal time. Here are techniques used to enhance mundane photo portraits.

1. Longer Lens.

A lot of photographers out there say their 50 mm portrait lens is "must-have," but what a mid-range lens provides is a very familiar view, something the photographer's eyes are used to seeing all the time. They tend to avoid shooting mid-range portraits to make a more exciting picture because the photos look too ordinary. Most portraits are taken at 200 mm or 85 mm to create beautiful compression of the picture that a 50 mm could not make. Not only does the compression flatter your subjects with less distortion in images, but shooting at a longer focal length will also produce a more dramatic background blur and bring the background closer to your subject. When shooting at 200 mm, it might be harder to interact with your subjects, but the difference will be noticeable and well worth it. One solution to this dilemma is to have an associate engage at close range with couples. Then you shoot from a distance.

2. Go for angles other than eye-level.

Sometimes photographers are stuck seeing what's right in front of us a lot of times. After all, it's the easiest answer. Challenge yourself to find a new perspective on the picture from above or below eye level. It is also ideal for flattering subjects of different kinds and height. 

3. Use an off-camera flash.

Flash rarely flatters a person's face when it's straight, and the image loses its dimension. Using your flash at an angle from the side, you can create both light and shadow on your subject. It flatters their features and brings a wider range of highlights and shadows to the image. It also creates a more dramatic landscape by bringing out details in the background.

4. Outshine the Sun with flash.

Shooting at midday, when using natural light, is no simple activity. Using a couple of speedlites will diminish the power of the Sun. This technique helps create landscape-focusing environmental portraits. Using speedlites will overwhelm the Sun and under-expose the sky while just highlighting the subject matter. To produce this amount of artificial light,  use 2-4 off-camera speedlites (with no diffuser) to generate ample light to overwhelm the Sun. Keep the speedlites closer to the subject (to the side); it also helps to shed more light on the subject and further under-exposes the context for dramatic effect.

5. Use available back-light.

It is worth the time and practice to learn the difference between good light and great light. With this skill, it will help you master some fantastic portraits. After all, lighting is the essence of photographic images. Whether you're using the Sun, a window, or a light bulb, these light sources can create beautiful edge light (e.g., hair light, rim light) when the light source is behind your subject. The effect of the rim light can improve the dimension of your image. By isolating the subject from the background, your outline and focus are more on the subject.

6. Become aware of reflections and silhouettes.

Learning to look for reflective surfaces and silhouette opportunities will significantly enhance your images, both visually and in-depth. For silhouettes, it is essential to find a strong light source and place it behind your couple; it could be anything from the sky to the window or even a patch of light on the wall. To reflect, try to be creative with different types of reflective surfaces. Sometimes the best reflections can be found in unexpected places. Consider using floors, glass, puddles, and granite walls.

7. Don't Let Objects Stand in Your Way.

If things are in your way, take advantage of them. Intentionally seek to find elements to place in the foreground of your picture. Learn to find holes between tree branches, abstract objects, or even ordinary household items is easy, everyday stuff that will help enhance your images by adding to your composition an interesting and often colorful dimension. Use a longer lens to help blur out the foreground features in a more personal way to frame the subjects.

8. The Sun is still always a great light source.

You can use sunlight as a direct spotlight on your subject. When revealing for the areas directly in contact with the Sun, the backdrop and surrounding shadows will significantly distort the subjects, attracting attention and light. It will create varying visual effects by applying this technique to various lighting situations.

9. Use video light for night portraits.

Video lights are handy in dark situations where there is no light source available to illuminate your subject. The best thing about video lights is they are a continuous source of illumination, and you can see what the picture looks like in the camera. Use LED video lights, which give sufficient power to last for two-plus hours. For low light conditions, they are a perfect alternative to speedlites and are easier to adapt in dark situations.

10. Gel Hack for Speedlites.

The insertion of CTO (orange) or CTB (blue) gels into your speedlites will shift your picture mood. Often shooting in a very blue and overcast environment will warm up the entire atmosphere by applying a CTB gel if the white balance is set correctly. One may also use CTO gels to mimic sunlight.