1. Poor Lighting
* Mistake: Harsh shadows, blown-out highlights, uneven lighting, unflattering color casts.
* Fix:
* Use soft, diffused light: Overcast days are ideal. If shooting in sunlight, use a diffuser (scrim) or find open shade (shade that's bright but not direct sunlight).
* Reflectors: Use a reflector to bounce light back into the shadows, filling them in and creating a more even illumination.
* Golden Hour: Shoot during the hour after sunrise or the hour before sunset for warm, flattering light.
* Artificial Light: If using strobes or speedlights, use modifiers (softboxes, umbrellas) to soften and diffuse the light. Experiment with off-camera lighting for more dynamic and controlled results.
* White Balance: Set your white balance correctly (or shoot in RAW so you can adjust it later). Avoid mixed lighting sources (e.g., daylight and fluorescent) unless you're intentionally going for a specific effect.
2. Bad Posing
* Mistake: Stiff, awkward, unnatural poses.
* Fix:
* Start with Basics: Have your subject shift their weight slightly onto one foot, bend their limbs slightly, and avoid facing the camera directly (angle the body).
* Guide, Don't Dictate: Provide suggestions rather than rigid instructions. Encourage natural movement and interaction.
* Hands and Arms: Pay attention to hand placement. Avoid flat hands or having them hidden. Have them interact with something (a prop, hair, clothing) or rest naturally. Bending the arms creates curves and avoids a stiff look.
* Chin and Neck: Have your subject push their chin slightly forward and down (the "turtle" trick) to define the jawline and avoid a double chin. Lengthen the neck.
* Look for S-Curves: Slight curves in the body create a more visually appealing and feminine look.
* Practice: Study posing guides and practice with different subjects. Look at how professional portrait photographers pose their subjects.
3. Distracting Backgrounds
* Mistake: Cluttered, busy, or distracting backgrounds that pull attention away from the subject.
* Fix:
* Choose a Clean Background: Look for simple, uncluttered backgrounds like a plain wall, a field of grass, or a blurred-out scene (bokeh).
* Depth of Field: Use a wide aperture (low f-number, like f/2.8 or f/1.8) to create a shallow depth of field and blur the background.
* Change Your Perspective: Move around to find a better angle and eliminate distractions from the background. Shoot from a lower or higher position.
* Background Awareness: Be mindful of what's behind your subject *before* you take the shot. Remove any obvious distractions.
* Location Scouting: Scout locations ahead of time to find backgrounds that complement your subject.
4. Incorrect Focus
* Mistake: Soft, blurry images due to missed focus.
* Fix:
* Focus on the Eyes: The eyes are the most important part of a portrait. Ensure they are sharp.
* Use Single-Point Autofocus: Select a single autofocus point and place it directly over the subject's eye.
* Back-Button Focus: Use back-button focus to separate focusing from the shutter release. This allows you to focus once and then recompose without losing focus.
* Manual Focus: In challenging situations (low light, low contrast), use manual focus and carefully adjust the focus ring.
* Check Focus: Zoom in on the LCD screen after taking the shot to check that the eyes are sharp.
5. Poor Composition
* Mistake: Unbalanced or uninteresting compositions that lack visual appeal.
* Fix:
* Rule of Thirds: Imagine dividing the frame into thirds both horizontally and vertically. Place key elements of the portrait (like the eyes) at the intersections of these lines.
* Leading Lines: Use lines in the background to draw the viewer's eye towards the subject.
* Negative Space: Leave empty space around the subject to create a sense of balance and draw attention to them.
* Framing: Use elements in the foreground (like trees, doorways, or arches) to frame the subject.
* Experiment: Don't be afraid to break the rules and try different compositions.
6. Cropping Errors
* Mistake: Awkward crops that cut off limbs or create a cramped feel.
* Fix:
* Avoid Cropping at Joints: Don't crop at elbows, wrists, knees, or ankles.
* Leave Breathing Room: Give the subject space to "breathe" within the frame. Avoid cropping too tightly around the head.
* Purposeful Cropping: Crop intentionally to emphasize certain features or create a specific mood.
* Full Body Shots: If doing full body, give space above the head and below the feet.
* Consider Aspect Ratio: Be mindful of the aspect ratio you are shooting in, and how it might effect cropping later.
7. Unflattering Angles
* Mistake: Shooting from angles that distort features or create unflattering perspectives.
* Fix:
* Shoot at Eye Level (or Slightly Above): This is generally the most flattering angle.
* Avoid Shooting Directly Up: Shooting from a low angle can make the subject appear larger and distort their features.
* Consider the Subject's Features: Experiment with different angles to find the most flattering perspective for each individual.
* Communicate with Your Subject: Ask them if they have a "good side" or any preferences.
8. Ignoring Wardrobe and Styling
* Mistake: Wardrobe choices that clash with the background, are distracting, or don't flatter the subject.
* Fix:
* Coordinate Colors: Choose colors that complement the background and the subject's skin tone.
* Avoid Distracting Patterns: Busy patterns can pull attention away from the face.
* Flattering Clothing: Choose clothing that fits well and flatters the subject's body type.
* Communicate with Your Subject: Discuss wardrobe choices beforehand and provide guidance if needed.
* Consider the Location: The wardrobe should fit the location and overall mood of the photoshoot.
9. Forgetting the Background Story/Purpose
* Mistake: Taking photos without a clear idea of what you're trying to communicate.
* Fix:
* Define Your Goal: What story do you want to tell with the portrait? What emotion do you want to evoke?
* Consider the Context: Where will the portrait be used? Who is the target audience?
* Plan Your Shoot: Develop a concept and plan the details (location, wardrobe, props, posing) to support your vision.
* Communicate with Your Subject: Explain your vision to your subject and encourage them to embody the desired emotion or character.
10. Over-Retouching
* Mistake: Excessive retouching that makes the subject look unnatural or plastic.
* Fix:
* Subtlety is Key: Focus on correcting minor imperfections (blemishes, stray hairs) and enhancing natural features.
* Retain Texture: Avoid smoothing the skin too much, as this can remove natural texture and make the subject look artificial.
* Non-Destructive Editing: Use layers and masks in Photoshop to make adjustments without permanently altering the original image.
* Less is More: When in doubt, err on the side of less retouching.
11. Not Connecting with Your Subject
* Mistake: Treating the subject as a prop rather than a person.
* Fix:
* Build Rapport: Talk to your subject, get to know them, and make them feel comfortable.
* Be Genuine: Show genuine interest in them and their story.
* Give Positive Feedback: Encourage them and let them know when they're doing well.
* Create a Relaxed Atmosphere: Play music, offer refreshments, and create a space where they feel comfortable being themselves.
12. Using the Wrong Lens
* Mistake: Using a lens that distorts features or doesn't suit the shooting environment.
* Fix:
* Ideal Focal Lengths: For portraits, lenses in the 50mm to 135mm range are generally considered ideal. A 50mm is great for environmental portraits, an 85mm is often called the "portrait prime" and 135mm can create beautiful compression.
* Avoid Wide-Angle Lenses for Close-Ups: Wide-angle lenses (e.g., 24mm, 35mm) can distort facial features when used up close.
* Consider the Background: Choose a lens that allows you to control the depth of field and create the desired background blur.
* Experiment: Try different lenses to see which ones you prefer for different types of portraits.
13. Ignoring the Histogram
* Mistake: Exposing the image incorrectly, resulting in blown-out highlights or crushed shadows.
* Fix:
* Understand the Histogram: Learn how to read the histogram on your camera's LCD screen.
* Expose to the Right (ETTR): Expose the image as brightly as possible without clipping the highlights. This will give you more detail in the shadows and reduce noise. (Note: this technique is primarily for shooting RAW.)
* Avoid Clipping: Pay attention to the edges of the histogram. If the graph is bumping up against the left or right edge, you are likely clipping shadows or highlights.
14. Not Using Manual Mode (or Not Understanding Metering)
* Mistake: Relying entirely on automatic modes, which can lead to inconsistent or inaccurate exposures.
* Fix:
* Learn Manual Mode: Master the basics of aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.
* Understand Metering Modes: Experiment with different metering modes (evaluative/matrix, center-weighted, spot) to see how they affect the exposure.
* Use Exposure Compensation: Adjust the exposure compensation dial to fine-tune the exposure in automatic modes.
* Shoot in RAW: Shooting in RAW allows you to recover details from overexposed or underexposed images.
15. Lack of Practice and Experimentation
* Mistake: Not practicing enough or being afraid to try new things.
* Fix:
* Practice Regularly: The more you practice, the better you will become.
* Experiment with Different Techniques: Try different lighting setups, posing techniques, and editing styles.
* Seek Feedback: Share your work with other photographers and ask for constructive criticism.
* Study the Masters: Look at the work of successful portrait photographers and analyze what makes their images so effective.
* Don't Be Afraid to Fail: Everyone makes mistakes. Learn from them and keep improving.
By understanding and addressing these common mistakes, you can significantly improve your portrait photography skills and create stunning images. Good luck!