Break the rules to make your portraits stand out

When it comes to portrait photography, everyone has their own opinions, but there are always some established rules, such as accurate exposure, no wide-angle lens and so on. However, rules are meant to be broken, and sometimes creative rule breaking can make your portrait photography stand out.

1, the HDR

The popularity of HDR should be more than ten years ago when digital photography was just popular, when HDR was often used, I wish all photos were done with HDR. Admittedly, HDR is useful in landscape photography, where it can be used to synthesize a wider range of dynamics. However, it is rarely used in portrait photography, because most of the time we want to make the portrait look soft rather than hard like HDR. In fact, when taking sports photography or other photos with great impact, you can use HDR appropriately, which will bring you a new look and feel.

2. Over-exposure or under-exposure

Whether it is portrait photography, or other subjects of photography, we will always pursue the accurate exposure. It is true that inaccurate exposure is a failure. Especially when it comes to portrait photography, overexposure can cause the loss of skin detail. Not to mention the underexposure, not to mention the massive amount of black death.

But occasionally the appropriate overexposure or underexposure can also be a shooting method, shooting portrait, to learn according to the model and the subject of the different emotions, the appropriate adjustment exposure.

3. Don't focus on eyes

The eyes are the window to the soul. We always say that when shooting a portrait, focus on the eyes and let the eyes speak. This explains that most portrait photography aims to capture their beauty by capturing the eyes. But in this way, the focus of many photos is shifted. Sometimes, the eyes of the model can be avoided and shadows or other props can be used to create another atmosphere. At the same time, the focus of the picture can be transferred to the whole picture by the audience. Let the model's emotions not to interfere with the concept of the whole picture.

4.Use a wide-angle lens

If you were asked the best focal length for a portrait, no one would say wide-angle, let alone ultra-wide-angle. Indeed, 50mm to 200mm is often the best focal length for a portrait, providing less facial contortion and a better sense of space. And below 50mm are mostly used by photographers for street photography and so on.

But a wide-angle lens can often give the viewer a comic sense of fun and drama, and if you want to create an alternative portrait, use a wide-angle lens.

5.Let the characters wear bright clothes

Although this is not a rule, most of the time when portrait shooting often have a stable color matching, in order to achieve a harmonious unity of the picture. But don't forget to wear bright, eye-catching clothes, which can also be used to enhance the character's presence.

6.Avoid messy backgrounds

When shooting works of any subject, we usually try to avoid having a messy background, which will disturb the integrity of the image and make the viewer's line of sight deviate from the focus of the subject. Portrait photography in particular, the way is often simple and crude, the use of large aperture outside the main background to the virtual out of the good.

But for portrait photography, you want to show more than just the model itself, the appropriate background, the appropriate props, can make the photo more stories. Background serves the whole. Choosing the right background can highlight the subject's emotion.

7. Try to use various light sources

Although lighting is not necessary, it is not possible for most non-professional photographers. However, natural light can often provide an effective effect. If you want to take a better picture, you can try to use a variety of other light sources, such as street lights, candles, street lights and even the light from mobile phones.