portrait 101 mentorship thread - DPChallenge Forums

Sony DT 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical ED Zoom Lens for Sony Alpha

04/28/2007 05:48:17 PM · #1

so this is it, portrait 101.

first a little about me, My name is Christopher, though some call me kipp. I'm graduating from oip&t with an associate of applied science in portrait photography. I have spent the last two years learning a ton. I am well versed in studio and natural lighting. I am not too bad in photoshop, and have a passion for what I do. I am working on starting my own studio with my better half, cassie. you will most likely be hearing from her somewhere in this whole thing. I was raised around art my whole life, and there isn't any other way for me. My long term goal is to teach photography somewhere, either a trade school or a collage.

now, I would love to hear about you. I also don't think our class is full yet, if there are any more that want to join feel free.

ohh, and I'm suppose to do this.
here is this

GKPhotos

Nikon D3100

04/28/2007 06:01:57 PM · #2

I'd like to join too, I don't know just how much I'll be able to participate with work et al.

angelfire

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

04/28/2007 06:10:47 PM · #3

My name is Louise. I'm attempting to start my own studio and I feel that you can never learn enough about photography. It's an ever changing subject, espicially since digital is so dominant now. I like you have spent my whole life around art. My dad is an artist who tought art classes and I had the luxury of spending my entire childhood of having a museum be my playhouse. Several of the artist's that my father taught had gone on tours to France and Germany and have encouraged me my entire life with my skills.

tcmartin

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

04/28/2007 06:15:20 PM · #4

I am always a day late and a dollar short - is it too late to join?
Thanks.

bergiekat

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

Canon EF 24-70 2.8L II

04/28/2007 06:22:17 PM · #5

I am an old film nut that has now migrated to digital after an absence of over 20 years from photography. I feel as I'm starting new and love portraits, but I've no fancy lenses or any studio stuff. Don't even have an external flash. :P

I was always an artsy type of person, yet I've neve had any formal training (other than books), so bare with me gang.

Artyste

Sony Ericsson W810i

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Pentax

04/28/2007 06:26:09 PM · #6

I won't take up any space in this group officially, but I just wanted to say that if you need any help, advice, critiques, etc. That I'm willing to lend a hand.

I'll also be following this thread closely to get some pointers and influences that I could use in my own portraiture work (Which is 95% Natural Light candid really), but will remain more of a passive lurker on that point. :)

I tried to mentor this area in the first "mentorship" run, but quickly learned I'm not really much of a teacher.

Good luck.. thank you gi_joe for taking this on, and look forward to seeing how it plays out.

wavelength

Nikon D300

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

04/28/2007 06:33:36 PM · #7

hey Kipptopher, I took the liberty of PMing all the people previously signed up for you. Thanks for helping out!

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

04/28/2007 06:48:49 PM · #8

Originally posted by wavelength:

hey Kipptopher, I took the liberty of PMing all the people previously signed up for you. Thanks for helping out!

kipptopher...lol
sweet deal, thanks

JenniferDavidGA

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

04/28/2007 06:58:47 PM · #9

My name is Jennifer. I am also trying to start my own photo studio. I have been doing photography since I was in high school. I have only taken a few basic photography courses (all film). I havebeen reading everything I can get my hands on. I plan on working mostly in family and children photography. I perfer outdoor shoots but have the equipment for a indoor studio but I have no clue how to use it correctly.

I have a shoot tomorrow with a young model/actor. He is 13 and he is trying to get into acting. This is the first time I have done this type of shoot so any advise is welcome.

Thanks for doing this!!!!

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II

04/28/2007 07:23:27 PM · #10

this is going to be wonderful.

from what I'm hearing so far I think our first lesson is going to be in natural light, might break it up and start with natural light as in subtrative lighting techniques.

mamba

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

04/28/2007 08:23:53 PM · #11

>_>

Ok somehow missed this one, so gonna sneak in here as well. :P

04/28/2007 09:42:49 PM · #12

ok guys, I'm starting work on the first write up now. how do you think the best format would be?

sir_bazz

Pentax K-5

Pentax FA 50mm f/1.4 AF

04/28/2007 09:43:09 PM · #13

I'd like to join if there's still room.

I recently became a DPC member, (again), and hoping to pick up some tips from the group and get more active on the site.

bazz.

04/29/2007 12:27:49 AM · #14

Natural lighting, as in subtractive lighting technique

Well, this is a great place to start. I listened to what everyone said they are doing right now and I think this will benefit all, and is a good first look at things.

Subtractive lighting is rather easy to learn and hard to master. The goal of subtractive lighting is to create light direction outdoors with no artificial light. To achive this you really only need two things

1. background
2. overhang of some sort

Lets start with this diagram.

Now that we have that wonderful(sarcasim) visual aid to help us see this lets explain things.

The idea is to put your subject in open shade, Where the light falling on them is brighter then the light falling on the background. This is done by either finding it or creating it with something. I have used everything from reflectors to cardboard, and as long as the light is being blocked�it works. Places to find this are places like big trees in the summer, doorways with awnings (keep in mind of your background though), in the shade of playhouses with large overhangs (for children). Ect. All you are tyring to do is block all the directions that the light comes from accept the one that falls on their face. So in short, there needs to be something making shade overhead, that is making enough shade to shade your choice of background to. This can also be done in the opening to things like barns too, though it�s a little tough to control your background at that point.

You will know you did it wrong when;
-there eyes are dark, this is caused by the light overhead. If you see that the light on their face is nice but there is no light in their eyes. move them back into the shade a half a step and try again.
-The background is the same brightness or brighter then the subject. This is caused by to much lighting falling on your background. This happens more then you think. If you are getting this then you need to look at your light modifiers and see where the light is coming from.

I hope this was helpful, this is my first try at this so I�m sure if it�s bad it can only get better from here. I would love to hear some response. If you have any questions please post in the thread, there is no such thing as a stupid question, if you have it I�m sure someone else is too.

As far as assignments go�I�m not sure yet. I think it�s for the best for you to try to go out and do it, posting your results so we all can learn from them. If you do heavy work to your images in photoshop, please post the orginal too.

Sony SAL-50F14 Normal 50mm f/1.4 Autofocus Lens for the Sony

04/29/2007 12:55:40 AM · #15

with that I'm going to bed. looking foward to seeing the response to this tomorrow

ladyhawk22

Sony DSLR-A700

04/29/2007 02:02:54 AM · #16

So if you were setting this up, it would be ideal to have the photographer's back to the sun, with the model facing the sun but with their body shaded by the overhang? Is that the jist of it?? Or is some kind of side angle preferred?

wavelength

Nikon D300

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

04/29/2007 02:09:31 AM · #17

Originally posted by ladyhawk22:

Just my take on it, but the sun would be overhead and blocked by the overhang, and the ambient lighting the subject.

Valdo

Canon EOS-40D

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

04/29/2007 02:11:24 AM · #18

oh I just noticed this thread. I am very interested in portraiture, now it is really time to go to bed. I would like to hop-in not sure how much we have to participate, I'll look for the "terms of use" tomorrow morning ;)

virtuamike

Nikon D2X

Carl Zeiss 35mm ZF f/2.0 Distagon T

04/29/2007 02:25:34 AM · #19

Originally posted by ladyhawk22:

If you'd like to see it applied, KMH :)

04/29/2007 09:49:36 AM · #20

Originally posted by ladyhawk22:

well, this is for times after about 9 am and before about 6 pm. early and late sun we will discuss later. so it doesn't matter really where the sun is, but it will be easier at first if the sun is not to your back. The ratio of light to dark will be easier to control at that point.

04/29/2007 09:50:36 AM · #21

Originally posted by wavelength:

Originally posted by ladyhawk22:
So if you were setting this up, it would be ideal to have the photographer's back to the sun, with the model facing the sun but with their body shaded by the overhang? Is that the jist of it?? Or is some kind of side angle preferred?

Just my take on it, but the sun would be overhead and blocked by the overhang, and the ambient lighting the subject.

correct, that is the idea. easy to learn, hard to master