3 Portrait MISTAKES That Helped Me IMPROVE
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 24 ส.ค. 2024
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In today's video, I discuss three portrait mistakes I've made and how I fixed them to improve my work.
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Thanks for the shout-out Eli!
I remember Justin brought up a good point in that podcast, that using the widest aperture available is the visual representation of why we pay so much for these lenses. If you pay for it, damnit you're gonna use it, right?
But I think all your shifts in mindset are well described here. It's natural for us to be repetitive when we find something that works well. It can take a long time to recognize that the repetition may be holding us back.
Another thing I've found that can lead to an explosion of fresh ideas is trying a completely new niche of photography entirely. For me, I photographed a professional wakeboarder over the summer and I went in hell-bent on getting a specific flash-lit image. About halfway through the day I realized how much the flash was getting in my way of timing, and once I abandoned it completely the image quality went way up. A tough pill to swallow for a devout strobist🤣.
Keep up the great work!
Of course man I miss the podcast. I usually listen to it when I'm out running. I agree about the new niche. This year I've had to learn a different style of photography to teach my students. Due to COVID I've been learning new techniques with my smartphone. I haven't seen my students all year long.
@@EliInfante Justin should have his move done soon and we'll be back to recording regularly.
I can't imagine teaching in this environment, definitely forces you to get creative!
I was lucky when I first started shooting in the early 90's because I came from an art background. My understanding of light and shadow along with color theory was already in place. Everybody goes through different experiences and changes throughout a career. I was very fortunate in my career to have met and heard Dean Collins and Monte Zucker talk about lighting and portraits. Although I can't quote either one of them I'll share the two things that I learned. 1. The big secret about lighting is not the light, but rather the contrast and relative brightness of areas in the photo which triggers the brain to react and move the eye in a photo. 2. Be very careful with your composition so that you end up with a portrait that has a nice composition and not an awesome composition with a person in it. Loved the video!
Great teachers there for sure! I saw Monte a few times in the 1980’s, plus Leon Kennamar, Linda Lapp, and more. What a golden era of portraiture!
@@VintageInsightPhotography Absolutely!
Thanks for your insight Lance! You taught me a few things.
Wow! You just opened a new window of possibilities for me. I never thought of it the way you explained it and almost ALWAYS put sun behind my subject and my key light on the opposite side and try to do 90% of my wedding photography shots with a 70-200mm lens at f2.8...or a 85mm wide open with blurred background. Thanks for opening my mind to new possibilities. I will still shoot with a telephoto lens but will definitely try other type of shots as well and focus more on composition. I love your more recent work you have been posting on FB.
Appreciate the feedback DJ! Remember DJ nothing wrong with what you're doing but add more luts for more looks :)
Self assessment and keeping an open mind are vital qualities to maintain in one's life in general. Thanks for reminding us !
Absolutely Ted!
I still love dramatic clouds , bokeh and HSS cuz you have been inspiring us for so long taking amazing shots using these techniques. 👍
The dramatic clouds still love you!
First of Eli, thanks for sharing. I for one, wouldn't think of those as mistakes. If they were, I would also be guilty of the first 2. Personally, I think those are the path each of us has to go through and experience for ourselves. When we find something that works, we tend to stuck in the rut (so to sepak), till we are so sick of doing the same thing over and over again only then it will push us out of the routine and try something new. Again, my point is, they are not mistakes, but stepping stones that we shouldn't stand on them for too long without moving on. Of course, as you've mentioned, it's ok repeat them from time to time.
I’ve been shooting for about 6 years and about 2 with artificial lighting. Watching this perspective is really interesting because i fee like a lot of us can get stuck doing the same look over and over again, especially when bokeh photos do so well on Instagram
Those are some amazing tips Eli!! This is so good! I also gotta challenge myself now and shoot in uncomfortable settings
You remain my best
This was one of your most insightful videos yet. Good stuff Eli!
Glad to hear it! More videos coming soon :)
f2.8 is the best aperture! :P I only use the low aps for video streaming and cute close-ups ^^
Thanks for sharing
Muchas gracias.
Very useful brother. Thank you for sharing.
You're welcome, bro! Thanks for coming in and leaving a comment! :)
Eli Infante Anytime!
I just got a sonny iii and got the lens that comes with it. And was already contemplating getting the 85mm gmaster. I have zero experience. This video has opened my eyes about to maybe look at another dirección. Will be watching all your videos to learn from you. Thank you for a the good content.
I totally agree. A good photo with good composition and good backdrop, is so much better than just to blur out the background. I have also done this alot, but have found out that it is much more pleasing to find the right spot, and incorporate a good background.Good video!
Appreciate the feedback Tore!
All of these are great points. I am so focused on getting the lighting just right that I forget about my surroundings. Slowing down and focusing on my surroundings could really help. Thanks for sharing Eli!
Glad it was helpful Aram! Keep me updated on your progress!
I'm new to your channel, I must admit I am really very impressed with your work, very professional, and how you educate your subscribers/viewers. Really well done, keep it up!
Thank you very much!
Solid advice here. When you stop growing and evolving, the work becomes stale and dull. Keep pushing and experimenting.
Well said James! Kudos!!!
Eli, I agree with every single word, what you’ve said. My photos became much better since I use the environment and place the model into it and create depth on the image. The photo with a blurry background was too 2D look and the model looked like been photoshoped on the image.
I appreciate the feedback Gabor! The environment is a crucial part in my work!
thank you so much man the same thinking
My pleasure
Bro, I feel exposed!!! Thank you for getting us to think!
Hahahah I exposed myself! :)
It’s all in the evolution/journey of a OCF photographer. For most, that blown out background look is why many of us get larger sensor cameras and fast glass. But it definitely can become a crutch. Love your work and how you continue to push your creativity.
Well said!
Thaaaaaaank you soo much. You got the right words really its all about being outside of comfort zone
Thank you so much. Nough said!
You are so welcome!
Nice tips! Thanks.
You bet!
Great info, thanks Eli.
My pleasure!
Outstanding! Great insight. Life long learners almost most successful! Since I don't have a "go to" shot, I always look for what the light is doing and compose my shots accordingly.
Appreciate it Hector!
Helpful video.. Me too.. Thanks for sharing.. 👍🤝
Welcome 👍
Thank you. This hit me really hard to always have a go to look and then stuck with it.
Appreciate the feedback!
A much needed video thanks 🙏🏾
No problem!!
In regards to your title-
I still think of portraits as a photo that is an honest representation of who the person is. There is not one portrait in my portfolio. Those people were all working off a script. They go back to real life when the work is done.
While your mistakes are not issues for me , whatever helps you better serve your content can only be a step in the right direction.
I love your work bro
Thank you so much 😀
High speed sync. is also good to balance the sun as a key light with speedlight fill. High speed sync. can cut back the strength of the sun compared to the speedlight which isn't as powerful as bigger flash units.
Yoo that literally Me 😩😭 thank you Eli 🙏🏾🔥
Hahaha no worries work on them and keep improving :)
Helpful and awesome video!!
So glad!
Haha, damn, man, calling me out on Number 1! 😂 I have to admit, that’s a big part of my mindset right now when I do portraits - gotta have that bokeh. But I’m glad you brought it up, and I’m going to try and start challenging myself to think differently. Great stuff in here, man.
Thanks Juan! Keep using bokeh but make sure try different things throughout your shoots to keep growing. :)
Loved the whole concept of this video. It also helped me recognize my mistakes as well. I noticed that I always shoot low angle to make the subject more tall and I don't challenge myself enough to utilize different compositions
Thanks Timothy! I think it great to recognize of tendencies and add it some new looks to grow.
Thanks a lot for this Video Eli!!! thanks a lot for sharing your knowledge!!!
My pleasure Vicente!
I’m guilty of all 3 lol 😂 great video.
You and me both! Hahaha
Great video! I’ve found myself in this same rut and this video was very refreshing
Glad you enjoyed it Bryan! Appreciate the feedback man
Thanks a lot for making this video. Such a lovely video. So much to learn from.
My pleasure 😊
Thank you so much for this video! You are the best Eli!
You're so welcome Antonio!
Good tips
Glad it was helpful!
We've all been there! I'm sure I wasn't the only one nodding my head at home :) Thanks for this inspirational video Eli!
Glad you enjoyed it David!
Damn, thanks so much. Thus is critical to hear at this stage in my photography. ❤️❤️❤️
You're welcome Scholom!
What was the name of the book regarding the brain's look up tables?
This was well done and very informative. Can you do another same subject but show your work? More like a tutorial going into depth with thought process.
Great suggestion Max! I have a few photo breakdown videos on my channel.
Good job ser 🤪
Gracias Adile! :)
Dude thanks a bunch, your talk, pardon the pun, was illuminating
Thank you so much Patrick!
Love the insight! Also, what light stand were you using at 7:52?
I have all the info on my kit link.
@@EliInfante thank you!
I love your photos 😍
My photos love you!
This is so helpful thanks a lot Eli
Happy to help!
Thank you Eli for that great inspiration of thinking :-)
I think i do the same - bokeh bokeh an shoot every time wide open.
Thanks a lot ;-)
Nothing wrong with that Alexander but think about trying new things to develop growth in new areas. :)
Você é show Eli!!!
Thank you Carlos!
Thanks for sharing this educative information with us and again for the 14 days skillshare link
My pleasure! Thanks for supporting my Skillshare link! That really helps me out Emmanuel
Michael Zelbel sent me here.
Im glad his my teacher your the best
Gracias Daniela! Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe!
Can you share the name of the book that discusses LUTS?
Teaching Photography :)
Thanks, great video!
You're welcome!
Ur thumbnail is better than the photos in the video
Thank you!
that was me too
We've all been there at one time hahaha!
I miss the magic words 🥲 lets cover TODO EL PEDO. Nice video eli 👍 you are awesome 🙌🏽
Hahaha I wanted this to be a quick video so I decided to leave it out!
Excellent, thank you
Just a question, what do you mean by « key Light same direction as the sun »?
If the light direction is coming in from the right you would keep your key light on the right side too. On Instagram you will see by BTS photos for reference.
@@EliInfante OK thank you, for some shoots, I can see that your soft box is perpendicular, of the light which is coming from the back
How do you avoid getting stuck spending insane amounts of time editing 10-15 images per shoot for your models? I spend like 2 hours shooting and 40-50 hours editing that shoot. That means I get to do 1 shoot a week at most and the rest of the time I am at home behind my computer selecting and editing, especially skin retouching takes a insane amount of time, I feel like it's holding me back from getting more experience/better doing shoots.
I have to turn down like 80% of the models that ask me for a shoot because I got a backlog of previous shoots I need to edit for 40-50 hours each
For anyone who wants to listen to the podcast it's on Spotify too - open.spotify.com/show/5LSP9DAOmInjMpARGQ3hIi
Infante ! no tienes videos en español ?????
I don't sorry!
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Thanks Sid!
Someday I’ll be that good
You're already good vato!
Damn I'm glad I'm not the only one who felt roasted watching this
Hahaha I was roasting myself!
excelente pero seria bueno en español...
Gracias Leonardo!
I have friends that still only shoot wide open. Ah the #bokehcrutch
I still do it too! Its nice to mix it up though
Subtitles please
Yes sir!
So many New LUTS but no word about emotions or feelings of models... I think you're thinking too much about tech and post things ;)
That's for a new video Paul 😎 trust me man emotion is everything for me.