Portrait Photography How To

Sometimes working with natural light is the best way to create a stunning portrait. I love lighting, don’t get me wrong and I use artificial light almost always. However, sometimes, the opportunity is right to allow natural light to be the only source.

Sooner or later you'll be asked to photograph a female friend or significant other, even if portraiture isn’t your thing. In fact, you may even decide to model for yourself.

We all tend to get a bit stale on occasion, shooting the same types of images over and over again, instead of stepping outside our comfort zone to try something new. And that tends to limit our vision and stunt our growth as photographers.

Ever wonder why your travel portraits sometimes look no better than dull vacation snapshots? It might not be your skill as a photographer or the attractiveness of the person you’re photographing. You simply could be posing them wrong.

Let’s face it: Image sharpness is an essential component of great photographs, whether they’re portraits captured in the studio or a landscape image taken outdoors. No matter how gorgeous the model, or how scenic the destination; if the image is soft all is for naught.

(Editor’s Note: Exploring Light is a monthly Shutterbug column featuring tips, tricks, and photo advice from professional photographers in Canon's Explorers of Light education program. This month's column is by Michele Celentano on how to safely pose models in our time of social distancing.)

Even using the best posing techniques in boudoir photography is no guarantee that your images will stand out. In fact, all of us are guilty, from time to time, of being afraid to step out of our comfort zones as photographers.