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Not having the right image is expensive!
publication date: Sep 17, 2007
 Millions of pounds are spent each year on product branding – and whether you like it or not, you’re your own brand! Does the image that you put out to prospective clients really connect with them emotionally – or is it a bland replica of everyone else’s?
Making sure your image stands out from the crowd is every bit as important as having a Unique Selling Proposition (USP) for your products and services, says professional photographer Paul Worpole who specialises in portraits that capture the “essence” of the sitter. Insider Interview begged him to give us his top tips for getting winning portrait shots…
1. Read the manual!
When you buy a new camera, a little time spent reading the accompanying manual will ensure that you get great pictures every time! Sadly, most people only read the manual to find out where to put the batteries! Most manuals – as well as providing basic information about the camera – all give you hints and tips to help you squeeze the best out of your particular model.
2. Use the portrait mode on your camera, if you have one!
On the selection wheel or menu of most cameras nowadays, you have a “portrait” mode (this often is shown by an image of a person’s head). Click to this setting and watch your images improve instantly! Most of the time, the portrait mode will put the background out of focus – while leaving the sitter’s head in focus - which will give the picture a professional look.
3. Check the background!
What ruins many portraits is…the background! It’s all too easy to focus on the person who’s picture you’re taking – only to realise when it’s too late that there are odd items in the background which give the illusion that they’re growing out of the person’s head! Take a little time to make sure that your picture is properly composed.
4. Don’t shoot in the sun!
As much as we celebrate a sunny day, it’s not really good news when it comes to taking portraits. Depending on where the sun is in the sky, you’ll either have the sitter squinting or massive shadows will be cast - making the eye sockets look dark and creating a very harsh (and aging) look. Outside portraits are better taken on an overcast or cloudy day. If you absolutely have to take the shot when it’s sunny, it helps if you manually turn on the flash (yes, you have to read the manual!) which will help fill in the shadow areas – making the image much more acceptable. This can also help if you’re taking someone’s picture with a sunset as a backdrop.
5. Create a background!
Rather than have a tatty background ruin your portrait, take a little time to create something which will enhance your picture. This could be something as simple as a sheet hung over a piece of wood or bamboo hung between two floor lamps. A plain background tends to look professional.
6. Go in close!
If you’re planning on using the image eventually on a website, realise that the overall dimensions are going to be quite small. It makes sense, therefore, to fill the frame with the person’s head! Portraits which look amateurish are those which have the sitter posing in the centre of the picture – with lots of wasted space above the head.
7. Make the most of having a digital camera!
It costs nothing to practice – take 30, 40, 50 or more shots! With digital technology you simply discard the ones you don’t like - but you increase the chances of getting a great portrait when you shoot more pictures.
8. Think about what you are wearing!
While you might just love a particular shirt or fancy yourself in evening dress, ask yourself whether what you’re wearing will be appropriate for your website or brochure? Wear something that projects not only you but your professional standing. Not only will it be more appropriate but you’ll feel better and this confidence will be captured on the picture.
9. Recognise that plain colours are better than patterns!
Women tend to look more “finished” in portraits when they’re wearing make up and earrings. (But don’t go overboard, this can be distracting.) Indeed, research has shown that when women aren’t wearing lipstick, they’re perceived to be less approachable. Men often look best in a dark jacket (blue) and contrasting white shirt. If a tie is appropriate, it’s best if it’s either predominately red or blue. Remember that portraits are often used tightly cropped – which means that most clothing won’t actually be seen.
10. Play some music!
Unlikely as it may sound, not everyone enjoys having their picture taken. In order to avoid the “rabbit caught in the headlights” look, it often helps to play music. Choose something that your sitter knows and enjoys. They’ll soon start to relax – and you’ll get better pictures.
11. Always focus on the eyes!
The eyes are the window to the soul – and if you want your portraits to look professional, you must focus on the eyes. This is still the case even when your sitter protests that their eyes aren’t their best feature.
12. Get your sitter to gaze into the lens!
Make the most of the emotional connection that’s made
through the eyes by encouraging your sitter to look
straight at - almost through - the lens. Even if the face is
pointing away from the camera, the shot will work –
providing the sitter is gazing directly into the lens.
13. Taking portaits indoors!
Some of the best portraits are taken indoors, using natural light, which is much softer – and forgiving – than flash. To achieve a great picture, position the sitter close to a window so that the light is either on the left or right hand side of the face – and if you can, get an assistant to hold either a large piece of white card or a white blanket very close to the sitters face. This “lifts” the face by reflecting the light. And the great news is that you can achieve better portraits with natural light than with expensive studio lighting!
14. Make the least of a double chin!
Surprisingly, fixing a double chin is easy. All you need do is ask the sitter to lift their head slightly while at the same time extending their neck. This may feel unnatural to them – but rest assured that the camera will not pick it up! You can help the situation further by lifting the camera a little – while still making sure that everything is still properly composed when you look through the viewfinder.
15. Encourage your sitter to smile!
This is so important – a portrait is not a passport photograph! Understand that your image could make or break a sale – after all, you’d smile at a prospective client, wouldn’t you? If your sitter has “bad teeth”, then suggest that they smile without opening their mouth. Even a small upturn of the mouth can make a huge difference.
To find out more about Paul – and to organise a photographic session – visit www.paulworpole.com.
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