Comments on: Top 14 People Photography Mistakes and Tips for How to Avoid Them

By: Darlene Hildebrandt

Darlene Hildebrandt — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 18:12:00 +0000

In reply to Leyden. Thanks Leyden

By: Darlene Hildebrandt

Darlene Hildebrandt — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 18:12:00 +0000

In reply to Vala Grenier. Thanks, she's great but isn't here much any more! :-(

By: Leyden

Leyden — Mon, 05 Sep 2016 00:05:00 +0000

I only do portraits on threat of death, but this is still a very good article that has wide application ( as you pointed out for a few specifics ). THANKS (again)

By: Darlene Hildebrandt

Darlene Hildebrandt — Fri, 02 Sep 2016 23:14:00 +0000

In reply to Sona Bran.

I can try – do you understand what focus and recompose is? So you place the focus dot on something, press the shutter button part way down to focus. Then without releasing it you change the image composition, then press it the rest of the way down. So you lock focus in one spot, recompose, then shoot.

The issue with doing that using a very wide aperture is that the depth of field if so narrow that it will shift when you recompose and can make the spot you want sharp to be out of focus. This article actually explains it well: https://digital-photography-school.com/getting-sharper-images-an-understanding-of-focus-modes/

By: Vala Grenier

Vala Grenier — Wed, 31 Aug 2016 23:21:00 +0000

Great lesson. It’s nice seeing Jill Billingsley pop up 🙂

By: Sona Bran

Sona Bran — Sat, 20 Aug 2016 15:17:00 +0000

In reply to Simeon Goranov. Would love to have this explained for better understanding. thank you.

By: Darlene Hildebrandt

Darlene Hildebrandt — Fri, 19 Aug 2016 23:42:00 +0000

In reply to John Nicholson. Gotcha thanks.

By: John Nicholson

John Nicholson — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 21:04:00 +0000

In reply to Darlene Hildebrandt. Image 1: superb silhouette. Image 2: dark face with out of focus light background gives a lovely sense of mystery. Image 3: lots of life even if there are no highlights in the eyes. But of course we agree that poor light direction is bad! I still think this article and the one on lens choice are very good for reflection on what one is doing. Thank you!

By: Darlene Hildebrandt

Darlene Hildebrandt — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 18:54:00 +0000

In reply to Anshul Sukhwal. Yes good point, thanks!

By: Darlene Hildebrandt

Darlene Hildebrandt — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 18:54:00 +0000

In reply to Simeon Goranov. Yes that too! Good addition thanks.

By: Darlene Hildebrandt

Darlene Hildebrandt — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 18:53:00 +0000

In reply to John Nicholson.

Hi John – #6 is poor direction of light. Are you saying that is a good thing? It can be if you mean backlighting – but for beginners it’s a tricky lighting situation to handle. As for wide angles, yes I agree. You’ll note that I did mention that and linked to an article on how to use a wide angle effectively.

By: John Nicholson

John Nicholson — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 18:26:00 +0000

Very helpful presentation, though I would argue that any of the shots in “mistake” 6 could be accepted as something special Also, a lot of people have commented on and shown beautiful (semi?)wide-angle portraits – not-close-ups – with the Leica Q (28mm).

By: Anshul Sukhwal

Anshul Sukhwal — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 13:32:00 +0000

Great tips, Darlene. Beautifully written article with the use of very apt photographs.
Very helpful. Thanks for sharing it with us.

I would suggest one more point (“use of appropriate lens”) or rather add to the 1st point : if one wants to take environmental portraits then s(he) should use a wide-angle lens. If one only wants to take a close-up image then prime lenses like 50mm and/or 85mm lens are great.

Anshul
http://www.clickstoremember.com

By: Simeon Goranov

Simeon Goranov — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 12:35:00 +0000

Under “Mistake #7” using “focus and recompose” technique with large f/1.8 or similar apertures could be a particularly bad idea as it shifts the plane of focus and could miss the target