Photo by Cecilie_Arcurs via iStock
I'm a landscape photographer, but I occasionally like to take portraits of friends and family, just to challenge myself to try something a little different.
And if you've done the same - hopped from one genre of photography to the next - you know that it can be a humbling experience. After all, taking a great photo of a six-year-old is a much different challenge than taking a great photo of a sunset.
So, that got me thinking...
What can I do to improve my portrait photography game without having to spend a ton of time doing? The answer? Manny Ortiz...
In the video above, portrait photographer Manny Ortiz shares six minutes worth of epic portrait photography tips.
From using symmetrical lines to give a shot balance to changing the perspective from which you shoot to improve the angle to considering the background of the image and how it impacts the portrait, you can learn all sorts of quick, simple, and effective tips for making awesome portraits.
I think the best lesson that Manny gives, though, is to hunt for better lighting for the portraits you're taking.
There's no need to take outdoor portraits in which the model is squinting into the sun. Instead, simply find a shady spot with a pleasing background, and you can get a much more impactful portrait in soft, even light that is really flattering for the model.
At any rate, this video packs a lot of tips into a six-minute time frame, so take a few moments to check it out and learn some high-powered portrait photography tips!