QUICK PROFESSIONAL PORTRAITS
Here’s how to take quick professional portraits in 5 minutes with a minimum of fuss. You will need a digital SLR, two flashguns, a compact light stand and a square of white material.
I developed this method to take on-the-spot portraits for delegates after conferences when time and space was in short supply. Here’s how …
Set up as in the sketch. The background flash is at waist level, just behind the subject, pointing to the white material. It’s set to Manual, at 1/16th power.
It’s optical slave ignores preflashes from the cameras flashgun so that it is triggered only by the main flash. This is called the “SU4” mode for the Nikon SB700s that I use.
The flash on the camera is in normal TTL mode, but boosted by about 2 stops using the flash exposure compensation setting.
Use the camera in Manual mode, 1/160th sec, F5.6, ISO 400, and save the pictures as Raw files. Raw files give you plenty of control over both the shadows and highlights when you process the shots later.
Position the subject in front of the light stand, and take a test shot. Adjust the light on the subject by increasing or decreasing the exposure compensation of the cameras flashgun.
That’s all there is to it. A few poses and two minutes later you can pack up, or shoot the next subject.
This method is very fast to use – what takes time is becoming familiar enough with your equipment to set it up without fussing. I have an SB700 permanently set to SU4 mode, manual 1/16 power, so that I can quickly set up the background flash. If your camera has a memory bank, use it to instantly switch to the manual settings.
This setup works for me, but you may have to experiment with your own equipment to get the best results..
Professional speakers will pose naturally, but lesser mortals will appreciate a little direction and encouragement. Ask them to stand with one shoulder slightly towards the camera, take a few shots, and then have the other shoulder slightly forward.
I took this portrait using a similar setup in a small apartment. The white wall was lit by a flashgun directly behind the subject, but I placed the other flashgun into a softbox on a lighting stand, slightly higher than my head height and a little to the right.
The flashgun was on manual full power and fired using a radio trigger on the cameras hot shoe and a receiver on the flash.
A softbox gives a more flattering and even illumination: I use one when there’s plenty of time time and space to setup and shoot.
Remember to take shots from both sides of the face. I’ve had subjects who look fantastic from one side, but just don’t look comfortable from the other side.
It’s very important that you feel relaxed and confident when taking portraits. If you are preoccupied and fussing with equipment the subject will sense your discomfort and it will show in the portrait. So practice setting up your gear until it becomes second nature.
Portraits should be fun for both you and your subjects. Your main job is to create a friendly and professional atmosphere that they feel at home in. Helping your subjects to relax and enjoy themselves is far more important than the technical photography details and will produce the best results.
