Why You Still Need Contemporary Portrait Photography Skills in the Digital Age

Contemporary portrait photography skills have lost none of their importance in the digital age. The number of mega pixels rise and become cheaper over time. Depth of focus increases with each new model, even as shutter lag comes down. Auto focus and in-built flash are typical features designed to attract buyers in hordes.

Technical innovation is however, a poor substitute for learning the art of contemporary portrait photography, and exceptional work continues to be tantalizingly rare. Cameras in telephones and cheap digital cameras have made photography enormously popular in the recent past. Basic skills of contemporary portrait photography will set you apart from the new crowd.

Facial analysis is a key step to outstanding portraits, including family portrait photography. You may have to ask people to pose or to form groups in a manner that a portrait shows each person to his or her best advantage. The shape of each face, hairstyles, skin blemishes, and bone structure are some of the important factors to consider. These principles apply to all forms of contemporary portrait photography, but family portrait photography tests creativity and technical knowledge to their limits when you have to capture the intimacy and inter-relationships of a group. It bears repetition to note that the latest and most expensive digital equipment cannot match the utility of basic skills in contemporary portrait photography.

Lighting is another key aspect of all contemporary portrait photography, including family portrait photography. Training and practice can enable you to use ambient light, as well as reflectors and related aids. This will make your contemporary portrait photography reach the best professional standards. You will also know how to use the technical capabilities of your precious equipment to best effect. The latter may often involve over-riding automatic settings for which your digital camera has a program. The interplay if light and shade as it crosses a face, can impart great character and romance in conventional portrait photography. You should know how to retain such sterling qualities in your family portrait photography when you use equipment controlled by computer chips. This is not to deride technology, but just to emphasize the role of traditional skills to get the best returns on your investment in digital cameras and accessories.

Composition makes the difference between amateur snapshots and professional family portrait photography. This truism retains all of its relevance even after you have upgraded to the best electronic equipment. It takes years of practice, close networking with accomplished artists, and a sense of style to achieve results that match the best contemporary portrait photography standards. The camera position relative to the person or people you wish to photograph is one of the key decisions with which no computer chip can help you! You may not see subtle effects in a digital image immediately. An example is a small difference in the sizes of the two eyes of a face that you would like to capture on digital record. Camera angles can make a huge difference in family portrait photography if one of more people who you wish to photograph has unusual faces and features.

It should be clear from the foregoing that electronics does not spare you from the rigors and planning that contemporary portrait photography demands. You still have to spend time planning perfect settings. Many enthusiasts spend hours learning how to use software that helps improve first results from digital photography. A judicious blend of computer knowledge and contemporary portrait photography can yield exceptional results that will delight your friends and you, if not launch a new vocation! You can gain much by studying the work of outstanding photographers. However, do not let any one of them overly influence you. It is worth cultivating a signature style of your own. Your personal reaction to what you see through the lens is the ultimate and most reliable guide!




author: Dr S Banerji

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