I. Composition and Posing
1. Mistake: Placing the Subject Dead Center (Always)
* Why it's a mistake: While centering *can* work sometimes, doing it all the time leads to predictable and often less dynamic images.
* The Fix:
* Rule of Thirds: Divide your frame into thirds both horizontally and vertically. Place key elements (eyes, face) along these lines or at their intersections.
* Leading Lines: Use lines in the scene to draw the viewer's eye toward the subject.
* Negative Space: Intentionally leave empty space around the subject. This can create a sense of calmness, isolation, or anticipation. Consider the direction the subject is looking and leave space in that direction.
2. Mistake: Unflattering Posing
* Why it's a mistake: Bad posing can make a subject look awkward, uncomfortable, heavier than they are, or simply unnatural.
* The Fix:
* Angling the Body: Have your subject angle their body slightly away from the camera (usually about 45 degrees). This creates a slimmer silhouette.
* Weight Shift: Instruct your subject to shift their weight onto one leg. This helps them relax and creates a more natural curve.
* Bend Limbs: Avoid having subjects keep their arms and legs straight. A slight bend at the elbows and knees looks more relaxed and natural.
* Hand Placement: Be mindful of hand placement. Avoid having hands flat against the body, which can make arms look larger. Suggest having them touch the face, hold something, or place them in pockets (partially, not all the way in).
* Practice Poses: Look at portrait photography online and practice different poses.
* Communicate: Talk to your subject and make them feel comfortable. Provide clear and positive direction. Tell them what you like and what you want them to adjust.
* Watch out for double chins: This can be mitigated by having them push their forehead towards the camera and slightly down, and also by shooting from a higher angle.
3. Mistake: Not Considering the Background
* Why it's a mistake: A distracting background can pull focus away from your subject and ruin an otherwise good portrait.
* The Fix:
* Simplify: Look for clean, uncluttered backgrounds.
* Blur: Use a wide aperture (low f-number like f/2.8 or f/1.8) to create a shallow depth of field, blurring the background.
* Distance: Increase the distance between your subject and the background. This also helps to blur the background.
* Color Harmony: Choose a background that complements the subject's clothing and skin tone. Avoid clashing colors.
* Consider the Story: The background can add context and tell a story about the subject.
4. Mistake: Chopping off Limbs at Awkward Points
* Why it's a mistake: Cutting off limbs at joints (elbows, wrists, knees, ankles) can make the subject look amputated or unnatural.
* The Fix:
* Avoid Joints: Frame the shot so that limbs are either completely in the frame or cut off *between* joints.
* Full Body Shots: If possible, include the entire body in the shot.
* Cropping in Post: Be mindful of cropping in post-processing. Double-check that you're not accidentally chopping off limbs at awkward places.
II. Exposure and Lighting
5. Mistake: Overexposure or Underexposure
* Why it's a mistake: Overexposed images lose detail in the highlights (blown out), while underexposed images lose detail in the shadows (muddy).
* The Fix:
* Understand the Exposure Triangle: Master aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.
* Use Your Camera's Meter: Pay attention to the camera's built-in light meter and adjust your settings accordingly.
* Shoot in Manual Mode (or Aperture Priority): Manual mode gives you full control. Aperture Priority allows you to choose the aperture for depth of field and the camera chooses the correct shutter speed.
* Histogram: Use the histogram on your camera's LCD to check for clipping in the highlights and shadows. The histogram is a graph that shows the distribution of tones in your image.
* Exposure Compensation: Use exposure compensation to brighten or darken the image when shooting in semi-automatic modes (Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority).
* Shoot in RAW: RAW files contain more information than JPEGs, giving you more flexibility to adjust exposure in post-processing.
6. Mistake: Harsh Lighting (Direct Sunlight)
* Why it's a mistake: Direct sunlight creates harsh shadows, blown-out highlights, and squinting subjects.
* The Fix:
* Shoot During Golden Hour: The hour after sunrise and the hour before sunset provide soft, warm, flattering light.
* Find Shade: Look for open shade (shade that is lit from a wide angle) from trees, buildings, or awnings.
* Use a Diffuser: A diffuser softens harsh sunlight, creating a more even and flattering light.
* Use a Reflector: Reflectors bounce light back onto the subject, filling in shadows and adding a pop of light to the eyes.
* Overcast Days: Overcast days provide naturally soft, diffused light.
7. Mistake: Bad Flash Photography
* Why it's a mistake: Direct on-camera flash often results in harsh shadows, red-eye, and an unnatural look.
* The Fix:
* Off-Camera Flash: Use an external flash that can be positioned off-camera. This allows you to control the direction of the light and create more interesting shadows.
* Bounce Flash: Bounce the flash off a ceiling or wall to diffuse the light and create a softer, more natural look.
* Flash Diffuser: Attach a diffuser to your on-camera flash to soften the light.
* Reduce Flash Power: Dial down the flash power to avoid overexposing the subject.
* Use a Softbox or Umbrella: These modifiers create a larger, softer light source.
8. Mistake: Ignoring Catchlights
* Why it's a mistake: Catchlights are the small reflections of light in the subject's eyes. They add sparkle and life to a portrait. Without them, the eyes can look dull and lifeless.
* The Fix:
* Positioning: Pay attention to the position of your light source (natural or artificial) and how it reflects in the subject's eyes.
* Reflectors: Use a reflector to bounce light into the subject's eyes.
* Angle of Light: Adjust the angle of the light source until you see a pleasing catchlight.
III. Focus and Technical Issues
9. Mistake: Soft Focus (Not Sharp)
* Why it's a mistake: A blurry or out-of-focus portrait is generally unacceptable (unless it's an intentional artistic choice).
* The Fix:
* Focus on the Eyes: The eyes are the most important part of a portrait. Make sure they are sharp and in focus.
* Use Single-Point Autofocus: This allows you to select a specific focus point (e.g., the subject's eye).
* Increase Shutter Speed: A faster shutter speed will help to prevent motion blur, especially when shooting handheld.
* Use a Tripod: A tripod will stabilize the camera and help to ensure sharp images, especially in low light.
* Check Focus Confirmation: Make sure your camera is confirming focus before you take the shot.
* Clean Your Lens: A dirty lens can cause soft focus.
* Avoid very wide apertures in group shots: At f/1.4 or f/1.8, it can be very difficult to get all faces in focus.
10. Mistake: Using the Wrong Aperture
* Why it's a mistake: Aperture controls depth of field. The wrong aperture can lead to too much or too little of the image being in focus.
* The Fix:
* Wide Aperture (Low f-number): Use a wide aperture (e.g., f/1.8, f/2.8) to create a shallow depth of field, blurring the background and isolating the subject. Good for single-subject portraits.
* Narrow Aperture (High f-number): Use a narrow aperture (e.g., f/8, f/11) to increase depth of field, keeping more of the scene in focus. Good for group portraits or environmental portraits.
* Consider the Background: If you want to show the background, use a narrower aperture to keep it sharp.
11. Mistake: Shooting at Too High an ISO
* Why it's a mistake: High ISO settings can introduce noise (grain) into your images, reducing detail and image quality.
* The Fix:
* Keep ISO as Low as Possible: Start with the lowest ISO setting (usually ISO 100) and only increase it if necessary to achieve a proper exposure.
* Use a Fast Lens: A lens with a wide aperture (low f-number) will allow more light to enter the camera, allowing you to use a lower ISO.
* Use a Tripod: A tripod will allow you to use a slower shutter speed, allowing you to use a lower ISO.
* Noise Reduction in Post: Use noise reduction software to reduce noise in post-processing, but be careful not to overdo it, as this can soften the image.
12. Mistake: Not Calibrating Your Monitor
* Why it's a mistake: If your monitor is not calibrated correctly, colors and brightness levels may not be accurate, leading to inaccurate editing decisions.
* The Fix:
* Use a Monitor Calibration Tool: Tools like X-Rite i1Display or Datacolor Spyder can calibrate your monitor for accurate color representation.
* Calibrate Regularly: Recalibrate your monitor every few weeks or months to ensure ongoing accuracy.
IV. Post-Processing and Artistic Choices
13. Mistake: Over-Editing
* Why it's a mistake: Over-editing can make a portrait look unnatural and artificial. Common examples include excessive smoothing, unrealistic skin tones, and over-sharpening.
* The Fix:
* Subtlety: Less is often more. Make small, incremental adjustments.
* Natural Skin Tones: Aim for realistic and healthy-looking skin tones. Avoid orange or overly smooth skin.
* Avoid Excessive Sharpening: Over-sharpening can create unwanted artifacts and make the image look harsh.
* Step Back: Take breaks during editing to avoid getting "tunnel vision." Come back to the image later with fresh eyes.
* Compare to the Original: Regularly compare the edited image to the original to make sure you're not going too far.
14. Mistake: Inconsistent White Balance
* Why it's a mistake: Incorrect white balance can make skin tones look unnatural (too warm or too cool) and create an overall color cast in the image.
* The Fix:
* Shoot in RAW: RAW files allow you to adjust white balance in post-processing without losing image quality.
* Use a White Balance Target: Use a grey card or white balance target to set a custom white balance in-camera.
* Adjust White Balance in Post: Use software like Adobe Lightroom or Capture One to adjust white balance until skin tones look natural. Use the eyedropper tool on a neutral grey area if available.
15. Mistake: Not Having a Vision/Purpose
* Why it's a mistake: Taking portraits without a clear idea of what you want to achieve can lead to generic and uninspired images.
* The Fix:
* Define Your Style: What kind of portraits do you want to create? What emotions do you want to evoke?
* Develop a Concept: Think about the story you want to tell with your portrait. Consider the mood, setting, and styling.
* Research and Inspiration: Look at the work of other portrait photographers you admire. Analyze what you like about their images and try to incorporate those elements into your own work.
* Communicate with Your Subject: Discuss your vision with your subject and involve them in the creative process.
By being aware of these common mistakes and taking the time to correct them, you can significantly improve your portrait photography and create stunning images that you and your subjects will love. Practice is key! Good luck!