Hobbies And Interests
Camera Settings
In order to make any photograph you are taking look high-end, you must have your camera set appropriately for the lighting conditions. Use a light meter to see what the f-stop and shutter speed should be for your portrait setting, and set your camera accordingly. Some cameras have through-the-lens metering that can guide you. You can also use the automatic portrait settings on your camera if you do not feel comfortable with changing the settings manually, but take the steps directed by your camera's documentation to get the best readings for correct automatic operation.
Background
When setting up the subject for your portrait, your mantra should be ̶0;less is more.̶1; You do not want to choose a background that is too complicated because it will take away from your subject and detract from the high-end feeling of the photograph. If shooting outside or in a specific setting, you may want to scout out the location beforehand so you will be prepared before you even bring in your subject, and find a visually interesting but uncluttered setting. For indoor photography, a photographer's seamless background or fabric drop is ideal, but a dark wall will serve. Situate your subject relative to the lights so no shadow falls on your background in the framing of the shot for a high-end look.
Lighting
If you are shooting outside, you need to work with the light available to you. Avoid shooting in bright sunlight that casts harsh shadows. An overcast day is the best for portraits, but if it's sunny, find a location that is shielded from the sun and do careful light metering. If you are shooting inside, umbrellas and reflectors may be needed to get a real high-end look. A standard four-light setup is ideal. This set up includes a key light from one side of the subject, a softer fill light from the opposite side of the subject, a back light on the background, and hair light above the subject, which puts a thin rim of light around the head, separating the subject from the background. When shooting inside, you can even create feelings through artificial lighting. For example, dark photos lit from only one side create a more ̶0;moody̶1; or dramatic feel.
Bringing out the Subject̵7;s Best Features
When shooting high-end portraits, you want to make your subjects look their very best. Assess if the subject has any problem areas or issues and address them appropriately. For example, if the subject has a double-chin, they should be shot from slightly above their eye line rather than below. Additionally, you can position the subject slightly off from straight-on to the camera. This will help to hide a scar or other feature that the subject is uncomfortable with.