Portrait Composition

[zoomermel]

I would like to find out what are some good sources for portrait composition?

I was refered to the Karl Taylor training material by a friend, but I would like to see what all everyone here suggests. I am not that great at composition in general, so I would need it to be in depth.

[Sonny]

Read this link.

http://www.texasphotoforum.com/forum...ng-people.html

[zoomermel]

Ahhhh... awsome thanks.

I forgot to mention I neede help on posing too. I am talking more in the sense of location, background, and story composition. Is it one of those things that you just have to see it? I read on another website about framing your subject, and using the landscape to do so, but it did not list any books to reference. Posing and composition would be great, Thanks!!!

[humminboid]

Hey!
First thing and primary...establish rapport with the subject. You will almost never get a good portrait if your subject is upset or hostile.

Get input from your customer as to what they would like, and what they feel their best feature(s) may be.

Basic-basic: subject never directly facing the camera. That gives what is known as "football shoulders", or "facing the firing squad" poses. Turned 45 degrees to one side or the other is a good place to start.

Separate the subject from the background; 5-6 ft should do for a start. That will de emphasize the BG, and allow the attention to be on the subject, as it should be.

Nobody is completely symmetrical. One eye is always higher than the other. High eye toward the camera.

EYES IN FOCUS! Always and forever!

Outside, subject never facing the sun. Find some shade...it'll make the photo better.

One guy posted his 36 rules for portraiture somewhere. Good, but I can remember only a fraction, so keep it simple.

The library will have good books on portraiture. Study the masters' work...Rembrandt, Karsh, Avedon. The Kodak guide to Portraiture is dated, but the basics don't change. Find what works best for you, and stick with it!

Good luck!