Whether you are a photographer, a model, or simply a curious individual with a keen interest in full-body portrait photography, this article will guide you through the process of capturing flattering full-body portraits.
We will provide expert tips on posing, composition, and on what to wear for a full-body portrait photography session. By the time you finish reading this piece, you will know how to capture exceptional full-body images.
What are full-body portraits?
Full-body portraits capture the subject’s entire body – from head to toe. A full body portrait is also called a full shot or full body. You can capture full-body portraits by holding your camera vertically, that is, in the portrait orientation.
How to take full-body portraits? A Step-by-step guide
I can tell you from experience that shooting and producing good full-body portraits can be challenging. It is much easier to compose and pose your subjects for half-body shots than it is for full-body pictures. It requires careful attention to composition, lighting, and poses.
Therefore, if you know what camera lens to use, how to set your camera and lighting, and how to pose and compose your subjects, you will find full-body photography fun and easy. With that being said, here are some expert steps and tips to help you capture great full-body portraits:
1. Choose the right lens for full-body portraits
Focal length: 67mm
You can also use a wide-angle lens to capture full-length portraits. But you may get a distorted image if you get really close to your subject.
Telephoto lenses, on the other hand, are also great lenses for full-body shots. However, you will need to have more space between you and your subject if you want better results. This makes them only suitable for outdoor full-body portrait photography.
Hence, lenses with shorter focal lengths are the best for full-body portraits. They provide a natural perspective similar to our normal view.
Shorter focal length lenses are also more forgiving when it comes to shooting in tight spaces like a studio. They will allow you to get closer and capture your subject’s entire body without distortion.
Therefore, if you are looking for the best focal length lens for portraits to avoid distortion, go for at least a 50mm lens. It will allow you to capture and produce high-quality full-body shots without image distortion.
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.
2. Set up your lighting for portrait photography
As you might probably know, lighting plays a crucial role in photography, particularly when taking human portraits. Therefore, consider using soft natural light or artificial lighting for your shots.
Using natural light, which is the best for portrait photography, you should ensure your subject is close to the window when working in a room. This way, you will be able to capture better portraits indoors without artificial lighting.
However, if you are using artificial lights, it’s best to take your time and position them properly. There are various ways to set up artificial lighting equipment for full-body portraits.
However, I will recommend the frontal lighting technique, which involves placing the light source directly in front of your subject to create even illumination on the entire body.
This technique can help you produce better results, particularly in tight situations when you have only one light source, such as a flash, for the portraits. You go through the article below for a more detailed explanation of how to set up lighting for portrait photography:
Portrait Photography lighting setup-how to? Tips and ideas
3. Choose the appropriate image orientation for your full body portraits
You can capture full-body images by holding your camera vertically or horizontally. These orientations are known as portrait and landscape, respectively.
The vertical or portrait orientation is the best image orientation for capturing full-body pictures of an individual or a small group.
The horizontal or landscape orientation, on the other hand, is best for capturing full-body portraits of a posed large group.
Generally, the best image orientation for full-body portraits is the vertical or portrait orientation. Holding your camera vertically or upright will allow you to fill the frame and focus attention on the subject.
However, whether to hold your camera vertically or horizontally will depend on a few factors, such as your subject’s pose, the amount of space available, and your desired results.
If you are a bit confused about the right orientation, you should consider experimenting with both to find the best for you.
You might be interested in the article: A Vertical Photography Guide: When To Use Vertical Angle For Photography
4. Choose the right pose for your subject
You cannot pose your subjects for full-body portraits the same way you will pose them for headshots or half-body photography. The former requires a different approach and setting.
For good full-body portraits, you must pay attention to the subject’s entire body, particularly the hands, legs, head, shoulders, and face. They must all be positioned in a complementary order.
So, consider guiding your subject to sit, stand, or lie down in a flattering position that will reveal the whole body. You can go through the articles below to get some full-body posing tips and ideas for portrait photography:
- 10 best standing poses for male photoshoot
- How To Pose? Ways To Look Better In Photos – Men Edition
- How To Pose? Ways To Look Better In Photos – Women Edition
5. Pay attention to image composition
Do not forget composition when taking the shots. It is as important as lighting, particularly if you want to produce visually pleasing photographs.
You can try different composition techniques, like the rule of thirds, and the golden ratio, to find the best for your subject or the image you want to create.
6. Find the right shooting angle
Shooting from a higher angle can make your subject’s upper body part appear larger and legs shorter. Conversely, shooting from a lower angle can make the subject appear taller.
Therefore, the best approach is to position your camera in the middle, approximately at waist height. This will allow you to fit your subject’s entire body in the frame and produce a true full-body portrait.
7. Use props
Consider adding props and aesthetically pleasing objects into the images. Objects like vases can add extra allure to your full-body portraits.
Finally, ensure using only props that will complement your subject or aid in revealing the theme of the photo.