How to Do Indoor Portraits

Background

• Choose a location in a room that will not look cluttered. A pleasing display of knick-knacks can become a distracting array of small objects behind the person you are photographing. Clear a small area that provides a simple background. A plain wall works just fine, as does a favorite chair, as long as the area behind the chair is not cluttered with photographs, figurines and bright splashes of color that could draw the eye away from your subject. If you have a window in the background, make sure the outdoor area is free of toys, children playing or distracting objects.

Backlighting with Flash Fill

• If you place your subject in front of a window, the light streaming in will light the hair and help outline the head. However, the face will look dark. Use a flash to provide light on the face. The flash will blend with the natural light, allowing you to avoid a harsh snapshot style of lighting that glares on the face. You will get a portrait that clearly shows facial features while revealing a pleasing light on the hair from behind.

Side Lighting

• You can create a dramatic indoor-lighting effect by placing your subject sideways near a window. Photograph the face without a flash, allowing the light from the window to illuminate one side of the face. The other half of the face will be in shadow. This adds drama and definition to the face.

Diffused Light

• You can get a soft effect by placing no lighting directly on the face. Choose morning or late afternoon light that will brighten the room through windows without falling directly on the face. Do not use a flash attachment. Instead, capture the person̵7;s face in diffused light that will add softness without any glare.

Bouncing Window Light

• You can bounce window light off of a reflector. Reflectors are available at camera stores. They are made of soft canvas-like material and usually have a bright, foil-covered side and a soft white side. Use the white side and place the reflector in front of your subject to bounce sunlight from a window onto the face. This light is soft yet bright, allowing you to show all the features of the face while avoiding harsh direct lighting.

Night Photography

• When taking a portrait indoors at night, don̵7;t ignore light sources in the room such as lamps and overhead lighting fixtures. Try turning off the overhead lights and use the lamp light to provide a dramatic effect from the side. You can fill in features on the face with a bounce flash. This requires a flash attachment that allows you to adjust the angle of the flash. Point it at the ceiling and let the light bounce down onto your subject. This will diffuse the light, yet provide you with clear facial details.