1. Unflattering Posing (And Stiffness)
* Mistake: Posing your subject straight-on to the camera, resulting in a flat, unnatural look. Forcing poses that are uncomfortable and feel unnatural to the subject.
* Fix:
* Angle the Body: Have your subject turn their body slightly (45 degrees is a good starting point). This creates more flattering lines and dimension.
* Bend the Limbs: Straight arms and legs look stiff. Encourage slight bends in elbows and knees.
* Weight Shift: Have them shift their weight from one leg to the other. This instantly makes them look more relaxed.
* Communicate & Observe: Talk to your subject! Give gentle guidance, not strict instructions. Observe their natural posture and incorporate it. Ask them what feels natural.
* Movement: Encourage subtle movements – a slight turn of the head, a shift in posture. Candid moments often arise from these small adjustments.
* Practice with mirrors: Tell them to practice poses in front of a mirror. If they feel comfortable with a pose in a mirror they will feel more comfortable when being photographed.
2. Bad Lighting
* Mistake: Harsh shadows, blown-out highlights, uneven illumination, or unflattering color casts. Relying solely on direct sunlight.
* Fix:
* Golden Hour: Shoot during the golden hour (the hour after sunrise and the hour before sunset) for soft, warm, and flattering light.
* Open Shade: Place your subject in open shade (shade that's lit indirectly from a wide area, like under a large tree or on the shady side of a building). This provides even, diffused light.
* Reflectors: Use a reflector to bounce light back into your subject's face, filling in shadows and adding a catchlight to their eyes. White or silver reflectors are common choices.
* Diffusers: Use a diffuser to soften direct sunlight. You can buy diffusers or use a thin white sheet.
* Artificial Light (Strobes/Flashes): Learn how to use strobes or flashes effectively. Use modifiers like softboxes or umbrellas to diffuse the light. Bouncing flash off a ceiling or wall can also create softer light.
* White Balance: Set your white balance correctly. If shooting in RAW, you can adjust it later, but getting it close in-camera is best.
* Light Meter: If you're serious about studio lighting, use a light meter to accurately measure the light falling on your subject.
3. Distracting Backgrounds
* Mistake: A busy or cluttered background that draws attention away from your subject. Bright colors, distracting patterns, or unwanted objects.
* Fix:
* Simple is Best: Choose backgrounds that are clean, uncluttered, and complementary to your subject. Solid colors, blurred textures, or natural elements like trees or foliage can work well.
* Depth of Field: Use a wide aperture (low f-number, like f/2.8 or f/4) to create a shallow depth of field, blurring the background and isolating your subject.
* Change Your Perspective: Move around! A slight shift in your position can drastically change the background.
* Clean Up: Physically remove any distracting objects from the background if possible.
* Consider Background Color: Be mindful of color clashes between your subject's clothing and the background.
4. Poor Composition
* Mistake: Placing your subject dead center in the frame, resulting in a static and uninteresting image. Ignoring the rule of thirds.
* Fix:
* Rule of Thirds: Imagine dividing your frame into nine equal parts with two horizontal and two vertical lines. Place key elements of your subject along these lines or at their intersections. Most cameras have a "grid" overlay option to help with this.
* Leading Lines: Use lines in the scene to guide the viewer's eye towards your subject.
* Negative Space: Use negative space (empty areas in the frame) to create a sense of balance and draw attention to your subject.
* Framing: Use elements in the foreground to frame your subject, adding depth and interest to the composition (e.g., shooting through an archway or branches).
* Vary your shots: Take wide shots, medium shots, and close-ups.
5. Incorrect Focus
* Mistake: Focusing on the wrong part of the subject (e.g., the nose instead of the eyes), resulting in a blurry image.
* Fix:
* Focus on the Eyes: The eyes are the most important element in a portrait. Make sure they are tack sharp.
* Single Point Focus: Use single-point autofocus to precisely select the focus point.
* Back Button Focus: Consider using back button focus. This separates the focus function from the shutter button, allowing you to focus once and then recompose without refocusing.
* Manual Focus: In challenging situations (low light, busy backgrounds), manual focus may be necessary. Use Live View and zoom in to ensure critical sharpness.
* Check your Images: Always review your images on the camera screen (zooming in) to ensure they are sharp.
6. Too Much or Too Little Depth of Field
* Mistake: Using too shallow a depth of field, causing important features (like part of the face) to be out of focus. Using too large a depth of field, making the background distracting.
* Fix:
* Aperture Control: Understand how aperture (f-number) affects depth of field. Lower f-numbers (e.g., f/2.8) create shallower depth of field, while higher f-numbers (e.g., f/8) create greater depth of field.
* Subject Distance: The closer you are to your subject, the shallower the depth of field will be at a given aperture.
* Focal Length: Longer focal lengths (e.g., 85mm, 135mm) also create shallower depth of field than wider focal lengths (e.g., 35mm, 50mm) at the same aperture and subject distance.
* Experiment: Take test shots at different apertures to see how the depth of field changes.
7. Ignoring the Background
* Mistake: Overlooking distracting elements in the background, resulting in an unprofessional-looking image.
* Fix:
* Scout Locations: Before your shoot, scout your locations to identify potential backgrounds and problem areas.
* Reposition Yourself or Your Subject: Sometimes, simply moving a few feet to the left or right can eliminate a distracting element.
* Use a Wider Aperture: Blur the background with a shallow depth of field to minimize distractions.
* Edit in Post-Processing: In some cases, you can remove or minimize distracting elements in post-processing (e.g., using content-aware fill in Photoshop).
8. Not Connecting with Your Subject
* Mistake: Treating your subject as just an object to be photographed, resulting in a stiff and impersonal portrait.
* Fix:
* Communication is Key: Talk to your subject! Get to know them a little bit. Explain your vision for the shoot.
* Make them Comfortable: Create a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere. Play music, offer them water, and be patient.
* Give Positive Feedback: Encourage your subject and let them know what you like about their poses.
* Build Rapport: Smile, make eye contact, and show genuine interest in your subject.
* Candid Moments: Don't be afraid to capture candid moments between poses. These can often be the most authentic and memorable.
9. Using the Wrong Lens
* Mistake: Using a wide-angle lens for portraits, which can distort facial features.
* Fix:
* Portrait Lenses: Use a lens designed for portraits. Popular choices include 50mm, 85mm, and 135mm lenses. These lenses offer flattering perspectives and create a pleasing background blur.
* Avoid Wide Angles: Avoid using wide-angle lenses (e.g., 16mm, 24mm) for close-up portraits, as they can distort the face and make features appear larger than they are.
* Zoom Lenses: If you're using a zoom lens, experiment with different focal lengths to see what works best for your subject and the desired composition.
10. Over-Retouching (or Under-Retouching)
* Mistake: Removing too many blemishes, softening skin excessively, or creating an unnatural and plastic-looking appearance. Or not retouching at all and missing opportunities to improve the image.
* Fix:
* Subtlety is Key: Aim for a natural and believable look. Don't overdo the retouching.
* Preserve Texture: Be careful not to completely remove skin texture. Retain some imperfections to maintain a realistic appearance.
* Targeted Adjustments: Focus on removing distracting blemishes and evening out skin tone.
* Dodge and Burn: Use dodging and burning techniques to subtly sculpt the face and enhance highlights and shadows.
* Color Correction: Adjust the colors to create a more pleasing and balanced image.
* Sharpening: Sharpen the image subtly to enhance details.
* Know your audience: Depending on who you are shooting for, some require less retouching or more.
11. Ignoring Wardrobe and Styling
* Mistake: Allowing your subject to wear distracting clothing, unflattering colors, or inappropriate accessories.
* Fix:
* Provide Guidance: Offer your subject some guidance on what to wear. Suggest simple, classic styles in solid colors.
* Avoid Distracting Patterns: Avoid busy patterns or logos that can draw attention away from the face.
* Complementary Colors: Choose colors that complement the background and the subject's skin tone.
* Consider the Theme: The wardrobe should match the overall theme and style of the portrait.
* Iron Clothing: Make sure the clothes are ironed and wrinkle-free.
* Accessories: Keep accessories simple and minimal.
12. Not Using a Tripod (When Necessary)
* Mistake: Shooting handheld in low light or when using slow shutter speeds, resulting in blurry images.
* Fix:
* Low Light: Use a tripod in low light conditions to stabilize your camera and allow you to use slower shutter speeds without camera shake.
* Long Exposures: A tripod is essential for long exposure photography.
* Sharpness: Even in good light, a tripod can help you achieve sharper images, especially when using longer focal lengths.
* Consistent Composition: A tripod allows you to maintain a consistent composition, which is helpful when shooting multiple portraits in the same location.
13. Not Shooting in RAW
* Mistake: Shooting in JPEG format, which limits your ability to make adjustments in post-processing.
* Fix:
* RAW Format: Always shoot in RAW format. RAW files contain more information than JPEGs, giving you greater flexibility to adjust exposure, white balance, color, and other settings in post-processing without losing image quality.
14. Not Understanding Your Camera Settings
* Mistake: Leaving your camera on auto mode and not understanding how aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and white balance affect your images.
* Fix:
* Learn Manual Mode: Take the time to learn how to use your camera in manual mode. This gives you complete control over your settings and allows you to achieve the desired results.
* Understand the Exposure Triangle: Learn how aperture, shutter speed, and ISO work together to create a properly exposed image.
* Experiment: Practice shooting in different lighting conditions and with different settings to see how they affect your images.
15. Forgetting the Catchlights
* Mistake: Not having a light source that reflects in the eyes of the subject, leaving them looking dull.
* Fix:
* Pay Attention to Light Source: Ensure the light you are using is strong enough to create a catchlight (small reflection) in the eyes.
* Position Subject: Position your subject so the light can catch their eyes.
* Use a Reflector: A reflector is an excellent way to add a catchlight to the eye if there isn't one present, it will also brighten up the subject.
By being aware of these common mistakes and taking steps to avoid them, you can significantly improve the quality of your portrait photography. Remember that practice is key, so keep shooting and experimenting! Good luck!