📷News Photography Unit 9 – Capturing News Portraits and Headshots

Key Concepts and Terminology

• News portraits convey the subject's personality, emotion, and relevance to the story
• Headshots focus on the subject's face and upper shoulders, often used for profiles or bylines
• Environmental portraits incorporate the subject's surroundings to provide context
• Aperture controls depth of field, impacting how much of the image is in focus (f/2.8 for shallow depth of field, f/8 for greater depth of field)
• Shutter speed determines how motion is captured (1/250 for freezing action, 1/60 for some motion blur)
• ISO affects the camera's sensitivity to light and impacts image noise (ISO 100 for bright scenes, ISO 1600 for low light)
• Focal length influences the perspective and compression of the image (50mm for natural look, 85mm for flattering portraits)
• Catchlights are the reflections of light sources in the subject's eyes, adding life and sparkle

Equipment and Technical Setup

• DSLR or mirrorless cameras offer manual control over settings and interchangeable lenses
• Prime lenses (35mm, 50mm, 85mm) provide sharp images and wide apertures for shallow depth of field
• Zoom lenses (24-70mm, 70-200mm) allow for flexibility in framing and composition
• Tripods stabilize the camera, especially in low light or when using slower shutter speeds
• Lighting equipment includes continuous lights, speedlights, and strobes for illuminating the subject
  • Continuous lights provide a constant light source, allowing the photographer to see the lighting effect in real-time
  • Speedlights are portable flash units that can be used on or off-camera for additional light
  • Strobes are powerful flash units often used in studio settings for greater control over lighting
• Light modifiers (softboxes, umbrellas, reflectors) shape and soften the light for more flattering portraits
• Remote triggers enable the photographer to control the camera or flash wirelessly

Lighting Techniques for Portraits

• Three-point lighting is a standard setup that includes a key light, fill light, and backlight
  • The key light is the primary light source, positioned at a 45-degree angle to the subject for dimensionality
  • The fill light is placed opposite the key light to soften shadows and balance the lighting
  • The backlight is positioned behind the subject to separate them from the background and create a rim light
• Butterfly lighting places the main light source directly in front of and slightly above the subject, creating a butterfly-shaped shadow under the nose
• Loop lighting positions the main light at a 45-degree angle to the subject, creating a small shadow of the nose on the cheek
• Rembrandt lighting creates a triangle of light on the subject's cheek opposite the light source, adding drama and depth
• Split lighting illuminates half of the subject's face, leaving the other half in shadow for a moody effect
• Backlighting places the light source behind the subject, creating a glowing effect and separating them from the background
• Diffused light (softboxes, umbrellas) creates soft, wraparound light that minimizes shadows and is flattering for most subjects

Posing and Directing Subjects

• Build rapport with the subject to help them feel comfortable and relaxed in front of the camera
• Provide clear and concise directions to guide the subject into flattering poses
• Have the subject angle their body slightly away from the camera to create a slimming effect and add visual interest
• Encourage the subject to lean slightly forward to appear more engaged and reduce the appearance of a double chin
• Direct the subject's gaze (at the camera, off-camera, or at a specific point) to convey different emotions and create a connection with the viewer
• Use hand placement to create visual interest and convey the subject's personality (hands on hips, arms crossed, hands clasped)
• Adjust the subject's clothing, hair, and accessories to ensure a polished appearance
• Capture a variety of poses and expressions to provide options for the final image selection

Composition and Framing

• Use the rule of thirds to create balanced and visually appealing compositions by placing the subject at the intersection points of a 3x3 grid
• Fill the frame with the subject to create a sense of intimacy and focus on their features
• Utilize negative space to create a sense of context and emphasize the subject's importance
• Experiment with different camera angles (eye-level, high angle, low angle) to convey different moods and perspectives
• Use leading lines and natural framing elements to guide the viewer's eye towards the subject
• Pay attention to the background and ensure it complements the subject without distracting from them
  • Choose backgrounds that are simple and uncluttered to keep the focus on the subject
  • Use a shallow depth of field to blur the background and separate the subject from their surroundings
• Consider the orientation of the image (vertical for emphasizing height, horizontal for emphasizing width) based on the subject and intended use of the portrait

Capturing Emotion and Personality

• Engage the subject in conversation to capture genuine expressions and emotions
• Use prompts and questions to evoke specific emotions or reactions from the subject
• Be patient and wait for the right moment to capture authentic expressions and gestures
• Pay attention to the subject's body language and nonverbal cues to anticipate candid moments
• Capture a range of emotions (serious, smiling, laughing) to showcase different aspects of the subject's personality
• Encourage the subject to interact with their environment or props to add context and visual interest
• Use the subject's unique features, quirks, or mannerisms to create a compelling and memorable portrait
• Capture candid moments between posed shots to showcase the subject's natural behavior and interactions

Post-Processing and Editing

• Use editing software (Adobe Lightroom, Capture One) to enhance the raw image files
• Adjust exposure, contrast, and white balance to create a balanced and properly exposed image
• Correct any lens distortion or perspective issues to ensure the subject appears natural
• Retouch the image to remove blemishes, stray hairs, or distracting elements while maintaining the subject's authentic appearance
• Crop the image to improve composition and remove any unnecessary elements
• Convert the image to black and white for a timeless and classic look, or to emphasize texture and contrast
• Apply dodging and burning techniques to selectively lighten or darken areas of the image for enhanced dimensionality
• Sharpen the image to bring out details and improve overall clarity, being careful not to over-sharpen and create artifacts

Ethical Considerations in News Portraits

• Obtain proper consent from the subject before capturing and publishing their portrait
• Be transparent about the intended use and context of the portrait to ensure the subject's understanding and agreement
• Respect the subject's privacy and personal boundaries, especially when capturing portraits in sensitive situations
• Avoid staging or manipulating the scene in a way that misrepresents the subject or the story
• Accurately represent the subject's appearance, emotions, and context without excessive editing or alteration
• Be mindful of the power dynamics between the photographer and the subject, particularly when working with vulnerable populations
• Consider the potential impact of the portrait on the subject's life and reputation, both in the short and long term
• Adhere to journalistic standards of ethics, including accuracy, fairness, and impartiality, when capturing and presenting news portraits