Home >> Hobbies >> Photography

How to Photograph African American People

One of the most important components of good portrait photography is the accurate representation of the subject's skin tone. Everyone's skin is different, and you need to be aware of the color and tone of your subject's skin when photographing them. When photographing African Americans or anyone with a dark complexion, you have the added challenge of compensating for your camera's internal light meter with works on reflective light.

Things You'll Need

Studio lights
Photo grey card

Instructions

- 1
  Position your subject and arrange the studio lights. This usually involves a main light on one side of your subject, with a fill light on the opposite side and a third light used as a hair light or back light.
- 2
  Set the main light to full power and the fill and third light to half the power of the main light.
- 3
  Use a photo grey card to meter off of and to set your exposure. Using a grey card gives the camera the most accurate representation of the light in the room. The camera light meter reads reflective light. Dark complexions absorb more light than lighter complexions.
- 4
  Take the picture, review the picture on the camera LCD screen, and make any adjustments needed.

Photography