DIY Photography

Your one stop shop for everything photo-video

  • News
  • Inspiration
  • Reviews
  • Tutorials
  • DIY
  • Gear
Search

Submit A Story

Five photography tips you’ll wish someone told you sooner

Jan 31, 2020 by Dunja Djudjic 18 Comments

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Flipboard
  • WhatsApp

 

There are plenty of tips and tricks that will help you get better shots. But here are five lesser known, yet amazing tricks for all portrait photographers out there. In this video, Miguel Quiles gives you five tips that will take your portraits to a whole new level. And once you try them out, you’ll wish someone told you about them sooner.

1. Use Continuous Drive mode

Most photographers use the Single Shot mode when taking portraits. However, the Continuous Drive mode could be a better idea. It lets you capture all the micro-transitions and subtle changes in the model’s face and thus catch the perfect moment on camera. You can pick the best shot when you’re back home at your computer. This is especially useful if you’re shooting portraits where perfect timing is crucial (like these milk and honey portraits, for example (nsfw links)).

2. Develop a poker face

Imagine taking a test shot of the model and displaying the image on your screen. You realize that you need different settings because the image is too dark, or you need to stand elsewhere to get a better composition. Your face shows that you’re not pleased with the image, but guess what – your model might think that it’s something about them.

As a photographer, you have to think about lots of things before, during and after the shoot. But while you’re taking photos, don’t let your doubts and negative thoughts show on your face. It could get your model discouraged and insecure and it will decrease your chance of getting the perfect shot.

3. Use the “eye chart” technique

Sometimes, the person you’re photographing can have an awkward “deer in the headlights” expression. To make the portraits look more natural, Miguel uses what he calls the “eye chart” technique. He asks his models to pretend that they’re looking at the eye chart at ophthalmologist. Looking down the imaginary chart makes the models squint their eyes a bit so they look more natural.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Miguel Quiles (@miguelquilesjr)

4. Tether as much as possible

Tethered shooting gives you a totally different insight into your work. It allows you to see your photos on a much larger screen than your camera’s LCD as you shoot them. This way, you’ll see more clearly if there’s anything that needs to be fixed, and you’ll be able to fix it immediately.

5. Let your model play a character

You can let your model play a character from a movie, for example. But even better, you can give them a hypothetical situation and have them play a role within it. This way, you’ll get to capture exactly the expressions you want.

I’d like to add that playing a character can make your model more relaxed and make the shoot mode fun for them. I’m saying this from experience because this is what I do when taking self-portraits or speaking in front of the camera. It makes things less awkward and I have much more fun if I imagine that I’m playing a role.

What do you think of these tips? Are you gonna try any of them for your next shoot? Or perhaps you already use them? Share your thoughts in the comments.

[5 MORE Portrait Photography HACKS You’ll Wish You Knew Sooner! |Miguel Quiles]

FIND THIS INTERESTING? SHARE IT WITH YOUR FRIENDS!

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Flipboard
  • WhatsApp

Related posts:

Seven simple landscape photography tips you’ll wish someone has told you earlier 10 things I wish someone had told me about becoming a freelancer Ten tips for posing hands in portraits you’ll wish you knew sooner Three iPhone camera tricks you wish you’d known sooner

Filed Under: Tutorials Tagged With: Miguel Quiles, portrait, portrait photography

Dunja Djudjic: from diyphotography.net

About Dunja Djudjic

Dunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.

« Couple asks photographer to shoot a 10-hour wedding in return for “exposure” to their 300 guests
The best wide angle lenses for astrophotography 2020 »

Submit A Story

Get our FREE Lighting Book

DIYP lighting book cover

* download requires newsletter signup
DIYPhotography

Recent Comments

Free Resources

Advanced lighting book

Recent Posts

  • Ace your next portrait shoot with these composition tips
  • This is how to get photography clients on Instagram – even with few followers
  • “I prefer using smaller cameras” – an unorthodox take on size
  • A pigeon scares a meteorologist as it photobombs a live camera
  • Photographer files lawsuit against NFL receiver and teams after shoving incident

Udi Tirosh: from diyphotography.netUdi Tirosh is an entrepreneur, photography inventor, journalist, educator, and writer based in Israel. With over 25 years of experience in the photo-video industry, Udi has built and sold several photography-related brands. Udi has a double degree in mass media communications and computer science.

Alex Baker: from diyphotography.netAlex Baker is a portrait and lifestyle driven photographer based in Valencia, Spain. She works on a range of projects from commercial to fine art and has had work featured in publications such as The Daily Mail, Conde Nast Traveller and El Mundo, and has exhibited work across Europe

David Williams: from diyphotography.netDave Williams is an accomplished travel photographer, writer, and best-selling author from the UK. He is also a photography educator and published Aurora expert. Dave has traveled extensively in recent years, capturing stunning images from around the world in a modified van. His work has been featured in various publications and he has worked with notable brands such as Skoda, EE, Boeing, Huawei, Microsoft, BMW, Conde Nast, Electronic Arts, Discovery, BBC, The Guardian, ESPN, NBC, and many others.

John Aldred: from diyphotography.netJohn Aldred is a photographer with over 20 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter - and occasional beta tester - of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.

Dunja Djudjic: from diyphotography.netDunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.

Copyright © DIYPhotography 2006 - 2023 | About | Contact | Advertise | Write for DIYP | Full Disclosure | Privacy Policy