Tips on photographing someone who is wearing glasses?

12 years 10 months ago #108313 by ArtWagner
I was helping out a neighbor and photographed her kids and she has complained about the reflection off one daughter's glasses. Are there any tips around this? I had used a flash because of where the mother wanted the photo is kind of dark and the additional light is needed.

Should I just have the kid remove her glasses? If I move the flash it might remove the glare but then the light is all screwed up for the rest of the photo?


Photo Comments
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12 years 10 months ago - 12 years 10 months ago #108337 by MLKstudios
In the olden days, we would tilt the glasses down some (by lifting them on the ear). But, you'd need a modeling light to "see" it.

With flash, you just have to be aware that it causes a reflection when aimed straight on. If possible bounce the light, or raise the ISO so flash isn't needed.

The best way to do an outdoor (available light) portrait is to use the sun as a hair light and a reflector for fill. Then you can see where the light touches.

Matthew

Matthew L Kees
MLK Studios Photography School
www.MLKstudios.com
[email protected]
"Every artist, was once an amateur"

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12 years 10 months ago #108350 by chasrich
I would try several solutions and see what looks best. A half profile perhaps or one quarter profile. Off camera flash if you got it. Something called a snoot (don't listen to me here - I know nothing) might help. Mathew mentioned the higher ISO and use of a reflector. Remove the lenses (not really practical).

In post you can try to burn the eyes a bit to reduce the glare but really you don't want to mess with the eyes too much. They can be the heart and soul of the image.

“Amateurs worry about equipment, professionals worry about money, masters worry about light, I just make pictures… ” ~ Vernon Trent
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12 years 10 months ago - 12 years 9 months ago #108391 by Maria21
I've had to deal with this issue quite a bit as a portrait photographer...there are a few ways to deal with the glare...

I have found it helpful to have the subject tip their head down just a bit, just enough to pull the chin in & lose the glare off the glasses & the light to bounce off the rim..it's very slight tip & for the most part goes un noticed in the final image.

use a diffuser on your flash if possible

use reflected lighting or natural lighting if possible.

Matthews suggestion works well for glasses with larger lenses, but smaller lenses look like they are falling off the subject....That is when I have the subject tilt their head.

There are probably more but these are what I use most.
Here are some examples of having the subject just tilt their heads a bit









Zerfing's Photographic Imaging
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12 years 10 months ago #108462 by Henry Peach

MLKstudios wrote: ... tilt the glasses down some (by lifting them on the ear).


If I can't move the light I use the above method.
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12 years 10 months ago #108526 by photobod
I often photograph children wearing glasses and there parents rarely want the glasses taking off as they are part of that child, so I always ask them to tilt the head down slightly, make sure you look at the photo in the rear screen, zoom into the eyes to check, also as Matthew suggested if you move the arms of the glasses up behind the ear about an inch this also helps.

www.dcimages.org.uk
"A good photograph is one that communicate a fact, touches the heart, leaves the viewer a changed person for having seen it. It is, in a word, effective." - Irving Penn

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12 years 10 months ago #108798 by Big Kevin
All good advice, now would a polarized filter work in this case?


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12 years 10 months ago #108803 by MLKstudios
You'd need to polarize the light as well. There's a method of "flat work" that allows you to shoot art through glass called cross polarization.

But without polarized lighting, a polarized filter isn't going to accomplish much.

HTH

Matthew L Kees
MLK Studios Photography School
www.MLKstudios.com
[email protected]
"Every artist, was once an amateur"

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