Being a professional photographer, I always like to click photos whenever I get a chance to capture a moment in my life, or I find something interesting. But, it is not possible to carry a huge DSLR camera every moment of your day. BUT I have a smartphone all the time! With little techniques and lighting knowledge, I am amazed, the professional photos I click from my smartphone. In this article, I am sharing some of the techniques you can follow to click a professional-looking portrait from your smartphone and it will be hard for anyone to find a difference between a photo clicked by you and a professional photographer.
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What is the importance of good lighting in smartphone portrait photography?
Generally, light is one of the most important elements in photography, including smartphone photography. Good lighting will make your portraits appear clearer, sharper, and professional.
Use Natural Light Whenever Possible
Smartphone portrait photography works best with natural light. It is softer and more diffuse than artificial light, and it can help to bring out the natural beauty in your subject’s face. The best piece of advice that I can give you is to find shady spots or use a reflector to bounce light on your subject’s face while shooting outdoors.
This will help to eliminate harsh shadows and create a more flattering light. Direct sunlight causes squinting and forms harsh shadows, so to avoid direct sunlight, shoot in the early morning and late afternoon as the light is soft in these times.
Portrait photography aims at capturing the personality, character, and emotions. It can either be candid or artistic. Portrait photography requires more than just the ability to understand your camera settings, lighting, and composition.
You must also possess the ability to connect with your subjects and capture their unique qualities. So, it is a difficult but rewarding genre of photography.
Click Below to read a comprehensive guide to learning and mastering the art of portrait photography.
Experiment With Artificial Light
If you can’t find suitable natural light, don’t worry! You can still get great results with artificial light. A simple lamp or flashlight can work wonders. Just make sure the light source is diffused (e.g., by using a white sheet or umbrella) to avoid harsh shadows.
Use a Fill Light To Eliminate Shadows
If you are shooting indoors or in a location where natural light is not available; you can use a fill light to eliminate shadows and create a more even, flattering light. It fills in the shadows on your subject’s face. You can use a small, portable light or even a reflector to create a fill light.
Use a Reflector To Bounce Light
Use a reflector to bounce back the light onto your subject while shooting indoors, like a studio so that any shadows formed are filled, creating a more lighting effect. A reflector is a simple and effective way to add light to a portrait. You can use any flat, light-colored surface as a reflector, such as a piece of foam board or a white sheet. Hold the reflector below or to the side of the subject to bounce light back onto their face and fill in any shadows.
Experiment With Different Angles
Experimenting with different angles can help you to find the most flattering light for your subject. Try shooting from above, below, or from the side to see how the light changes on your subject’s face. A particular angle creates a more attractive light than others. For me, a side angle works best where a soft natural light comes from one side of the face of a subject.
In this way, you can capture some dramatic portraits with the best lighting effect. Your client will be satisfied with the photos that you will capture in this way as his face will be half-lit and represent a very dramatic appearance.
Use A Flashlight Or Lamp For Added Light
If you are shooting in a low-light situation, try using a flashlight or lamp to add some extra light to your subject. Just be sure to diffuse the light by holding a piece of tissue paper or a white t-shirt in front of it. If your phone has a flash, try playing around with the flash settings to see how it affects your portrait.
Edit Your Photos To Adjust The Lighting
Even with the best lighting techniques; you may still need to make some adjustments to the lighting in your portrait photos. Most smartphones come with a built-in photo editing app that allows you to adjust the exposure, highlights, shadows, and other settings. I suggest you use Lightroom as it is one of the best options that doesn’t affect photo quality even after editing it.
Use Off-Camera Lighting For Greater Control
Off-camera lighting allows you to have greater control over the direction and intensity of the light in your photos. This can be achieved by using a flash unit or a constant light source that is not attached. Many smartphones have a portrait mode that uses software to blur the background and create a bokeh effect, similar to what you would get with a DSLR camera. This can draw attention to your subject and create a more professional-looking photo.
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Use Backlighting To Create A Halo Effect
Backlighting or lighting your subject from behind can create a beautiful halo effect and add depth and dimension to your photos. Just be sure to expose your subject properly to avoid silhouetting them. You can try this lighting technique to form different compositions by filling the frame perfectly. This will allow you to get better portraits with your smartphone that will feel like a professional camera shot.