Elaine Gates Recap

Cool useful tips from Elaine Gates on how to take good portraits.

• Create a personal style for your shots (gritty, vibrant, dull etc) 
• Minimalist photographer - take as if using film; less editing
• Showcase model's personality 
• Composition
• Good lighting
• Interaction with model
• Angles and Perspectives of the model (that flatters their face and body type)
• Golden hour, HR before sun sets. (soft light, no harsh overhead lighting)
• Relax. Give positive feedback. 
• Being above the model, especially for woman is more flattering rather than up on the model. 
• Tips for backlighting
• Place the model in a position where the sun is behind them. 
• Get close to the skin meter exposure. 
• Most of the time you should underexpose to get proper exposure. 
• Use rule of thirds, sometimes center model. 
• Pay special attention to lighting and composition, 
• Be creative with cropping and changing camera angles.
• Demonstrate how you want your model to pose or do.
• Model should bring clothes and props or objects that represent them. 
• Choose a versatile location and also find nice shade that compliments them. 
• Keep rotating the model or move around the model to find the most flattering angle.
• Meter the face of the model for good lighting. 
• Lastly, take portrait photos with a low aperture (f/stop) (emphasize subject, blur background)