Portraits

Portraits are an incredible way to capture the essence of a person. They can tell a story, convey emotions, and immortalize memories. It’s no surprise that portrait photography has been around for over a century, and it’s still as popular as ever. In this blog post, I’ll explain how I make a great portrait.

Understand your subject

Whether you’re photographing a child or an adult, it’s important to know what makes them unique. Spend some time talking with them, asking questions, and getting to know their personality. This will help you capture their true essence in the photograph.

Lighting

The right lighting can make all the difference in creating a beautiful, memorable portrait. Natural light is great for outdoor portraits, but it can be difficult to control. Studio lighting provides more control, allowing you to create the perfect atmosphere for your subject. I often combine these two types of lighting to create the best of both worlds.

Posing

While it’s important to photograph your subject in a natural way, posing can help create a more polished look. You can experiment with different poses to find the right one that complements your subject. I try to shoot many different poses as the subject is comfortable with, while trying to capture that perfect expression.

Composition

I pay attention to the background, as it can make or break a photograph. A cluttered or distracting background can take away from the subject, while a simple, unobtrusive background can help draw attention to the subject. A large aperture helps blur the background, while keeping the subject in focus, and adding emphasis.

Equipment

A good camera and lens are essential for portrait photography. A full frame camera is ideal, as the sensor is large and it allows greater flexibility in a variety of lighting conditions. A lens with a 2.8 aperture is also helpful, as it allows you to create a shallow depth of field, isolating the subject from the background. The key is the distance of the subject from the background. More distance provides more blur.

Relaxed atmosphere

This can be achieved by creating a positive, open and confident tone. Act happy. Tell jokes. Give positive feedback even if you may feel frustrated. The key to avoid being frustrated is to prepare ahead of time. If you are relaxed, the subject will be relaxed. A relaxed subject is more likely to feel natural in front of the camera, resulting in better portraits.

Below is a collection of some of my best portraits. Lot’s of family, neighbors, babies, and teens, but most of all… smiles.

How I create quality real estate photos

Quality real estate photos are essential to make a great first impression on potential buyers or renters. Creating real estate photos involves a combination of technical and artistic skills. Here are some tips that I use to create real estate photos are of the highest technical quality:

  1. Use a high-quality camera: Use a DSLR or mirrorless camera with a wide-angle lens to capture the entire room in a single shot.
  2. Shoot in good lighting: Take photos during the day, when natural light is abundant, and avoid shooting in low-light conditions. Open curtains and blinds to let in as much natural light as possible.
  3. Keep the camera level: Use a tripod to keep the camera level and avoid tilted or slanted photos.
  4. Highlight the best features: Take photos of the property’s best features, such as fireplaces, high ceilings, or views.
  5. Declutter and stage the property: Remove clutter and personal items to make the property look more inviting. Consider staging the property with furniture and decor to give potential buyers or renters an idea of what it would look like to live there.
  6. Edit the photos: Use photo editing software to adjust the brightness, contrast, and color balance of the photos, and to remove any blemishes or distractions.
  7. Don’t overdo it: While editing is important, be careful not to overdo it. Keep the photos realistic and avoid using filters or effects that distort the colors or lighting.

By following these tips, you can ensure that your real estate photos are of high quality and will help attract potential buyers or renters to your property. Remember to take your time and experiment with different angles and lighting to find the most flattering shots of each room.