Photography Poses and Other Cool Stuff

I want to start a Portrait photography buisness. I have a Nikon D40 and quite alot of gear. any tips?

4 Responses to “I want to start a Portrait photography buisness. I have a Nikon D40 and quite alot of gear. any tips?”

1. 

   cedykeman1

   - 9th Jul, 10 01:07pm

   You’ll need more backdrops

   dark ones for light colored hair

   silver ones for people with dark complexions

   What ever hair color the person has, you basically need it’s opposite.

   You’ll need a special chair that has a very low back

   Props of various kinds

   You’ll need lots more lighting, one or more for the model, one for a hair light, a backdrop light etc…

   umbrellas, softboxes, a great lightmeter. Reflective boards of various colors

   Monoblocks, ringflash

   other various strobes/hotlights

   color card, greycard

   more and better cameras, tripods, century stands, light stands, sandbags, gaffers tape, gloves, gells. etc…

   For the office you’ll need photoshop CS4, small printer, optional large printer. Dedicated photography monitor.

   This and the stuff you have will get you a basic setup.

   for more advanced stuff, your looking at elinchrome octo’s, beauty dishes, pillows, radio flash triggers, lots more lighting and backdrops, booms, props etc..
   References :

2. 

   Jt C

   - 9th Jul, 10 02:07pm

   Gear is nice, gear is fun, I live by the tenet that he who dies with the most toys wins but if you want to stand above the others in portrait photography then there are things more important. I know some excellent location portrait photographers who do all thier work out of a studio with a camera a couple of lenses and a couple of speedlights

   To me the most important thing in portrait photography is people skills. People who are nervous tend to look poor in portraits, people who are relaxed look better. You as the photographer have to establish a rapport and make them relax. You have to be able to entice the proper mood and expression from them. you have to be able to give direction and get them into a proper pose without making them feel awkward. At times you have to be able to touch them to adjust them or thier cloting without them feeling you are invading thier space and tensing up.

   The second most important thing to me for a portrait photographer is to understand lighting. Know about lighting ratios, the difference in butterfly lighting, rembrandbt lighting, broad lighting short lighting etc and the advantages and disadvantages of each so you can use the lighting to accentuate the positive aspects of the person and bring less attention to the not so perfect. aspects we all have. Know about available lighting options, how to modify available light in sun and shade and have an idea of how sunlight changes during the day.

   third you need to know how to pose them not just general body position but how they should hold thier neck, hands or position thier feet to give the best shot.

   So I would say if you want to be a portrait photogrpaher maybe the best investment would be seminars and classes to hone your skills in these areas.

   Then there is the whole other subject of running a photobusiness to learn, you need to know about contracts and how to write the terms and conditions on them. You need to know about taxes, business liscenses and such I have known some great photographers that didnot last as they were poor businessmen but thats really outside the scope of your question but you may want to go to ASMP and read up on some of the business infor on thier site

   I hope this helps
   References :

3. 

   Ansell A

   - 9th Jul, 10 02:07pm

   You can have all the gear and the best camera in the world but if you have no business and marketing skills and cannot take a good picture every single time then you will fail.

   TBH, if you have to ask this question in the way you have then you are not ready for business for a number of reasons.
   References :

4. 

   VicSEO

   - 9th Jul, 10 03:07pm

   Have you ever considered becoming a traveling photographer because there are very few traveling photographers around since they charge a lot for coming to a customer’s home or business for a photo session.

   Good luck!
   References :