If you think you might want a career as a photographer, and love people, you should consider concentrating your efforts on becoming a portrait photographer. The clients who are posing for you probably won't be professional models. You will have subjects that come in every shape, size, and color. The professionals have some tricks they use to create the sort of woman portrait photography Los Angeles clients love.
You need to have a meeting with your client prior to the photo shoot. During the meeting you can discuss what the client's goals are for the photo shoot. This will determine the kind of pose, makeup, clothing, hair, and background most appropriate for the shoot.
You should ask your client plenty of questions about her life, her work, and her interests and hobbies. This will give you a sense of the personality of your client. It will also inform the photographs you take.
Everybody has a good side, and most women have opinions about which one hers is. You don't have to agree with your client, but you will have to work with what she believes. If you don't, you can take wonderful photos that you believe to be some of your finest work, but your client will never be happy with them. With experience, you will learn how to adjust the camera angles and lighting to maximize your client's most flattering features.
You may not think that legs are important, but they are. You have to avoid the awkward angles that make legs appear stiff. When you are photographing mature women, you should consider suggesting that they cross their legs. This is a flattering pose that makes them look poised and graceful. You might pose younger women seated on the ground or standing leaning against an object like a tree. If they have their ankles crossed it softens the pose.
In somewhat the same vein, you must show women how to position their hands. Because you aren't working the professional models, the subjects you're photographing might have trouble deciding what to do with their hands. You can suggest that they interlace their fingers, bring a hand to the face, or play with their hair as a solution to the problem. Once your subject is comfortable with the hand situation she can relax and begin to enjoy the shoot.
One thing you can count on is that women will be concerned that their pictures will make them look fat. You have to be careful with the angle you choose to keep that from happening. One trick a lot of photographers use is to photograph the subject from slightly below the camera level. This is a way to elongate a neck and define a jawline. You don't want the angle to be so severe though that the subject is looking straight up.
You have to learn to take advantage of the environment. Photos where the wind is rifling through the woman's hair and sunlight is reflected in her eyes are always interesting. If the weather cooperates you should consider shooting outdoors in open shade.
You need to have a meeting with your client prior to the photo shoot. During the meeting you can discuss what the client's goals are for the photo shoot. This will determine the kind of pose, makeup, clothing, hair, and background most appropriate for the shoot.
You should ask your client plenty of questions about her life, her work, and her interests and hobbies. This will give you a sense of the personality of your client. It will also inform the photographs you take.
Everybody has a good side, and most women have opinions about which one hers is. You don't have to agree with your client, but you will have to work with what she believes. If you don't, you can take wonderful photos that you believe to be some of your finest work, but your client will never be happy with them. With experience, you will learn how to adjust the camera angles and lighting to maximize your client's most flattering features.
You may not think that legs are important, but they are. You have to avoid the awkward angles that make legs appear stiff. When you are photographing mature women, you should consider suggesting that they cross their legs. This is a flattering pose that makes them look poised and graceful. You might pose younger women seated on the ground or standing leaning against an object like a tree. If they have their ankles crossed it softens the pose.
In somewhat the same vein, you must show women how to position their hands. Because you aren't working the professional models, the subjects you're photographing might have trouble deciding what to do with their hands. You can suggest that they interlace their fingers, bring a hand to the face, or play with their hair as a solution to the problem. Once your subject is comfortable with the hand situation she can relax and begin to enjoy the shoot.
One thing you can count on is that women will be concerned that their pictures will make them look fat. You have to be careful with the angle you choose to keep that from happening. One trick a lot of photographers use is to photograph the subject from slightly below the camera level. This is a way to elongate a neck and define a jawline. You don't want the angle to be so severe though that the subject is looking straight up.
You have to learn to take advantage of the environment. Photos where the wind is rifling through the woman's hair and sunlight is reflected in her eyes are always interesting. If the weather cooperates you should consider shooting outdoors in open shade.
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