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BetterPhoto Member		How to Get Pro Looking Pics of People i just started putting together this magazine, but I need good - no great! - pictures of people. However, I've never taken photography classes and my pictures are not coming out all that great! HELP! To love this question, log in above April 19, 2002

Jeff S. Kennedy		Brianne, you don't give us much info to go on. There are books upon books written on portraiture and photographing people. My advice is either post a more specific question or get yourself to a bookstore and buy some books on the subject. To love this comment, log in above April 19, 2002

John A. Lind		Brianne, What type of "people" photographs are you trying to make? If it's mostly "street shooting" and other candids, the master of it was Henri Cartier-Bresson. One of the great books on the subject was published by him in 1952: "The Decisive Moment." Principally a folio of his most often printed photographs, it also contains his thoughts on photography and his style of shooting people. You'll have to find it in a very large municipal or county central library. You may not be able to check it out, but might have to use it there in the Reference section or area with other, older and valuable holdings. In candids, timing is everything (very closely followed by the lighting). Informal, environmental and formal portraiture are topics that fill library bookshelves. If this is what you want some help with, the best advice I can gvie is heading to the library. It's not a simple topic either. As Jeff mentioned, if you have a very specific question, post it here, and others can help. You probably didn't realize how truly very, very broad your question is. Remember that photographs of people, like all other photography, light and lighting is extremely important. A few simple tips about shooting people which are very, very important: (a) The Eyes Have It! If the eyes will show in the portrait, very nearly always critical focus of the lens is on the eyes to get absolutely as much of the finest detail in the eyes as possible. There should be a very exceptionally compelling reason not to do this. (b) With dark eyes and in low light with large, dilated pupils in particular, "catchlights" (a small reflection of light off of the moisture on surface of the eye) bring the eyes to life. If you look at good portraits of people, you will see these catchlights in their eyes. They're much more difficult to achieve with on-camera flash and usually the light for them must come from a different angle than the camera direction (which runs the risk of red-eye). (c) Feet First! In posing people who are standing, the position of their feet sets the basis for everything else in the pose. I always position the feet first, even if they will not show in the photogrpah (full-length portraits are not that common). Even when sitting, feet position is still very important as it affects the rest of the posture. Position feet, hands and head, and the rest follows. Remember you're working with light! The photograph is not the actual people, but the light reflected by them, and that's what makes it so very important. -- John To love this comment, log in above April 19, 2002

BetterPhotoJim.com - Jim Miotke Contact Jim Miotke Jim Miotke's Gallery Join my online photography course - starting now		John has many great suggestions for you but it would be ideal, Brianne, if you could upload a sample photo or two. Then we could see first hand what you mean when you say that they are not coming out all that great. This would help us continue to help you. To love this comment, log in above April 23, 2002

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