In photography, people shots fall into two basic categories. There are conventional 'portraits', where your subject is aware of being photographed, and is cooperating with you, and 'candid' shots, where your subject either doesn't know they are being photographed, or gives the impression of being unaware. Many of the same principles apply, however, regardless of the style you go for.
One of the most important things when photographing other people is being close enough to your subject. If you're taking photos of people you know, that shouldn't be too difficult. If you want to take photos of people on the street, however, you will either have to approach them and make them feel comfortable enough to have their picture taken, or learn to take photos without being noticed.
Another thing to think about when photographing people is the setting in which you are taking the photo. The backdrop against which you shoot your subject will influence the way the image looks on a purely aesthetic level, but it can also be used to give context and communicate something about the person in the photo. You should experiment with the way you use the environment around you to frame your images.
It's often best to use a low aperture for portraits, as this will help keep your subject in focus, and give the background a more abstract, blurry appearance. If you want to emphasis the context of the photo, however, this may not be desirable.
Often, the best photos are the result of being in the right place at the right time. There is certainly an element of luck to this, but being able to anticipate what people are going to do is also a skill that photographers spend years developing. It's easier to anticipate the behaviour of friends, compared with strangers, but a good understanding of human nature is fundamental for any portrait photographer worth their salt. To give yourself the best possible chance of capturing those unique, one-off moments, always have your camera at the ready, with settings fine-tuned for the conditions.
One of the most important things when photographing other people is being close enough to your subject. If you're taking photos of people you know, that shouldn't be too difficult. If you want to take photos of people on the street, however, you will either have to approach them and make them feel comfortable enough to have their picture taken, or learn to take photos without being noticed.
Another thing to think about when photographing people is the setting in which you are taking the photo. The backdrop against which you shoot your subject will influence the way the image looks on a purely aesthetic level, but it can also be used to give context and communicate something about the person in the photo. You should experiment with the way you use the environment around you to frame your images.
It's often best to use a low aperture for portraits, as this will help keep your subject in focus, and give the background a more abstract, blurry appearance. If you want to emphasis the context of the photo, however, this may not be desirable.
Often, the best photos are the result of being in the right place at the right time. There is certainly an element of luck to this, but being able to anticipate what people are going to do is also a skill that photographers spend years developing. It's easier to anticipate the behaviour of friends, compared with strangers, but a good understanding of human nature is fundamental for any portrait photographer worth their salt. To give yourself the best possible chance of capturing those unique, one-off moments, always have your camera at the ready, with settings fine-tuned for the conditions.
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