How to get started?

AllFallD0wn

AllFallD0wn

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Hi,

I've been into photography for about a year and a half now, and I'm looking for something new. Normally I shoot landscapes and scenery, but I'm thinking of getting into portraits. Basically, I'm wondering how you start. I have no experience in portraits and limited kit.

I'm looking in investing in a flashgun when I get a bit of money, but even then I lack the essential for portraits - models. I'm moving to university in 2 weeks, so I figure this could be a good opportunity to have some fresh inspiration, etc. I checked at the university, and there isn't a photography society, which would have been my first port of call for this kind of thing.

Any suggestions about where I can start a journey into portraits?
 
AllFallD0wn said:
Hi,

I've been into photography for about a year and a half now, and I'm looking for something new. Normally I shoot landscapes and scenery, but I'm thinking of getting into portraits. Basically, I'm wondering how you start. I have no experience in portraits and limited kit.

I'm looking in investing in a flashgun when I get a bit of money, but even then I lack the essential for portraits - models. I'm moving to university in 2 weeks, so I figure this could be a good opportunity to have some fresh inspiration, etc. I checked at the university, and there isn't a photography society, which would have been my first port of call for this kind of thing.

Any suggestions about where I can start a journey into portraits?
Click to expand...

Get some training - Always a good place to start. If you cant then read - read - read

You dont need a flash to make good portraits.
 
To make good portraits all you need is a camera and a person. Not a model, they're a totally different thing. Not that they're not people - but a model shoot and a portrait shoot are 2 different things. A friend, parent, colleague, cousin, nephew, niece, grandparent, neighbour will make great starting points. For the price of a handful of 6x4's you'll find plenty of volunteers.

Start with sunlight - either controlled outside or window light - add reflectors (these don't even have to be bought -any white surface will do. When you've learned how that light works you can add flash to your toolbox, you'll soon realise that on-camera flash takes a lot of knowledge to make look nice. SO then you'll want to take your light off your camera and control it better - then add more lights etc.....
 
There will be loads of people at university who will be more than willing to pose for you I am sure - helping you train as you go.
 
See if your university has a newspaper or magazine. That's how I first got into photography - joined the newspaper as a cub photographer one week, learned developing and printing basics the next and found myself the photo editor the next week when everyone else resigned to concentrate on their exams.
 
Phil V said:
To make good portraits all you need is a camera and a person. Not a model, they're a totally different thing. Not that they're not people - but a model shoot and a portrait shoot are 2 different things. A friend, parent, colleague, cousin, nephew, niece, grandparent, neighbour will make great starting points. For the price of a handful of 6x4's you'll find plenty of volunteers.

Start with sunlight - either controlled outside or window light - add reflectors (these don't even have to be bought -any white surface will do.
Click to expand...

Have a look at Jane Bown for inspiration. Wehn shooting portraits for the Guardian and Observer she on ever used an Olympus 35mm SLR with a 50mm lens and natural light. She might on occassion use a white table cloth to bounce some light back if it were really dark, but not as a rule.

When you've learned how that light works you can add flash to your toolbox, you'll soon realise that on-camera flash takes a lot of knowledge to make look nice. SO then you'll want to take your light off your camera and control it better - then add more lights etc.....
Click to expand...

Flash can be fun, frustrating, funky, fickle, flabbergasting and fantastic, but one you get lured into the world of strobes you can all too often forget about the beauty of natural light. Don't rush into using flash, spend plenty time getting used to using natural light, photographing people and various locations before complicating things further.
 
I recommend to get not flash, but 50mm 1.4 or 1.8. On crop sensor it will be about 85 portrait focal length, amazing for portraits. For example canon have 1.2 for crazy money, and then 1.4 for reasonable 300-400 new, and then 1.8 that is still good to start with. Same with nikon, i guess they have all range from 1.4-1.8 for different money. You will do amazing things with that lens that people love ;)
A, yes. and get a reflector, maybe around 10-30pounds new.

I lost lot of money for 1.2 recently :( But since then it is my primary lens. There are just few times i used any of my 4L zooms. The only disadvantage is that it is not environmental sealed, aim focus slowly, minimal focusing range 1m. Well, studio portrait lens. By the way 1.4 version only lack environmental sealing, but aim fast and even on quite close subjects. I was about to upgrade my standard zoom from 4 to 2.8, but now doubt if i should go with 50mm 1.2 that is environmental sealed or just budget 1.4 or 1.8. 1.4 is 2 steps brighter, mean 4times more light, 4 times faster shutter speed. And most important that they add amazing volume to every shot, that is so important for portrait shot.
 
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If your uni doesn't have a photographic society then start one - good CV fodder as it helps you stand out when it comes to getting that job at the end of Uni. Speak to your student union about how to do this.

But importantly for the portrait thing is all you need is a person.
 
HWest said:
Which would you say is most important for portrait shooting: a tripod to help sharpness and control or handheld for manouverability and immediacy?

Or does it depend on your ability to get clear shots regardless of equipment?
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don't worry about a tripod, a smallish SLR and 50mm lens weighs next to nothing, swiftness is key, handheld is the way to go, especially for random moment captures, people won't wait while you faff with a tripod :)
 
HWest said:
Which would you say is most important for portrait shooting: a tripod to help sharpness and control or handheld for manouverability and immediacy?

Or does it depend on your ability to get clear shots regardless of equipment?
Click to expand...

A portrait ought to be more about the person than technical excellence so ultimate sharpness has to be less important than your ability to react to your subject and their movements in my opinion.
Of course you want the shot to be sharp but for me being able to move around with my subject allows for a more relaxed session.
As for a flash - available light can be wonderful, and a reflector is cheap to buy or some tin foil on some cardboard is even cheaper !
 
AllFallD0wn said:
Hi,

I've been into photography for about a year and a half now, and I'm looking for something new. Normally I shoot landscapes and scenery, but I'm thinking of getting into portraits. Basically, I'm wondering how you start. I have no experience in portraits and limited kit.

I'm looking in investing in a flashgun when I get a bit of money, but even then I lack the essential for portraits - models. I'm moving to university in 2 weeks, so I figure this could be a good opportunity to have some fresh inspiration, etc. I checked at the university, and there isn't a photography society, which would have been my first port of call for this kind of thing.

Any suggestions about where I can start a journey into portraits?
Click to expand...

The best advice i could give you is to pick up your camera go out on the street and talk to the genral public people who you do not know and ask them to help you out by letting you photograph them, tell them it's for a uni project if you so wish. Some people will say no, but 99% will let you.

This will build up your confidence in dealing with people which you will need, when photographing people. Don't get too hung up over flash, you will see better results if you use natural light, try to keep the subject out the direct sunlight and use a reflector for a little fill. In the long run this will help you out understanding how to use manufactured light when you do progress to flash.

:thumbs:
 
think what everyone has already said has it covered..but how i learnt was just trial and error with friends (patient ones at that lol) and alot of reading and checking out other peoples work/techniques and setups! im sure theyll be plenty of people who'll be willing to help you in the return for some decent pics of them ;)

Let us know how you get on!

Rob
 
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