4 Quick Steps For Better On-Location Headshots

So you need to take portraits for your website or for headshots – here are some quick tips to get that great photograph. Nothing shows character more than an on-location portrait, show people in their comfortable setting. The viewer will be able to connect with them easier than a white background. Here is our resident model Kris Carter, to help show my points. Keep the few things in mind when shooting next round:

1. Focus on the eyes – It’s that simple. The eyes are the most important part of the photo – so make sure they are tack sharp. Manual focus will help you get the results you need.

2. Framing – Do not center frame everything. Diving into some photography ‘rules’ – you want to practice the “Rule of Thirds.” Imagine the picture with a tic-tac-toe board over the frame – you want the focus to be on a “line” or “corner” in  1/3 or 2/3 of the frame. This example will help you imagine the lines.

3. Separate the subject – While on-location portraits are also about the environment the main focus is on the subject. Separating the subject from the background will get your great results. This is achieved by using a longer lens; 50mm or ideally 80mm+ achieves great results. In conjunction with a long lens, a shallow depth of field is achieved with the use of open F –stops i.e. ƒ1.8, ƒ2.0, ƒ2.8. Here are examples showing the difference.

4. Click & Process – Once you have your settings dialed in, focused on the eyes and properly frame – release the shutter. After the picture is taken, that isn’t the end though. Upload to your computer, open your photo-editing software and being processing the image. A few basic things to enhance the image – contrast, sharpening, saturation, color temperature. See below images for before and after.

I hope this has given you a little insight on getting better on-location portraits. Small increments make the big differences, but there is a lot to keep on your mind when you’re ready to release that shutter. Happy clicking!