BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: Informative Topics on Photographing People

Photography Question 

Christine S. Sines
 

Outdoor Portraits: How to Eliminate Shadows?


Can someone help me with eliminating shadows on a subject's face when taking a portrait outside? I have been taking some senior shots outside and, for example, if we are doing a "tree" shot there are shadows of the sun shining through. What is a good way to stop this, or at least calm them down a little?


To love this question, log in above
April 30, 2005

 

Jon Close
  Two options:

(a) Use a reflector, or
(b) Use fill flash.


To love this comment, log in above
May 01, 2005

 

Josh Hudson
  The best way to do an outdoor portrait is to use a GOBO (GO between). This can be any material translucent or opaque that shades the subject from the sun. I prefer a GOBO that cuts 1/2 stop or 1 stop of the suns direct light.

Then you can use a reflector or flash to fill in the light again. Always meter for your background and then light your subject accordingly (1/2 stop more than the background).

That means if you are shooting in a park that meters at f/8, 1/250sec. Then but the gobo up. That will remove all shadows because chances are the shadow side of the subjects face will be f/5.6 and a 1 stop gobo will even the shadow and the highlights of the subjects face to both be f/5.6.

Now you can put in just a little bit of reflected light back into the face and meter that light so that it is f/8 or f/9. This will give you a subject that is slightly brighter than the background giving prominence to the subject over the rest of the image.

The light you have reflected in will be softer light and controlled so you can make whatever shadows you want and where so that it is the most pleasing.


To love this comment, log in above
May 03, 2005

 

Kay Beausoleil
  Or you can shoot on an overcast day -- wonderful for portraits!


To love this comment, log in above
May 03, 2005

 
Log in to respond or ask your own question.