Simple Tips to Get Stunning Studio Portrait Photographs

Studio portrait photography allows you the freedom to create the look you want, choose the equipment you need for this, and the greatest advantage is that you can have your entire setup in a really small space.  However, you need to get all the variables perfect in order to get a stunning studio portrait photography.  Here are some tips that could help you do just that.

Get the lighting right

The biggest advantage, and the biggest challenge, of studio portrait photography, is the absence of natural light – the advantage being that you can totally manipulate the light, and the challenge being that you need to manipulate the light to your advantage.  There are different conventional light settings that you could try – butterfly lighting, Rembrandt, rim lighting, etc.  The main thing to keep in mind is that the light should be uniform over your subject’s face.  Depending on the look you want, use one, two, or more lights and play around with the position of the lights.  You will get completely different looks for your portraits and could produce truly stunning studio portrait photographs with some of the combinations.
    

Try out different angles

Depending on the studio lighting you are using and the look you want, photograph your models from various angles.  Shooting your subject in the same pose but from different angles will create completely different-looking portraits. Experiment with these to see which angles work best in your setting.  This also depends largely on the subject’s face, body type and posture.  Find the angles that are most flattering to your subject so that they look their best in the portrait.
    

Equipment

It is totally up to you as to what equipment you choose to use as a studio portrait photographer.  The absolute basics though would be a good camera with flash and at least one good light.  In addition to this, you can use reflectors, additional lights or softboxes, reflective umbrellas, a variety of props, and so on.  Start with the basics and then gradually move on to the more complex equipment.

Shoot in RAW

Shooting in RAW means that you do not use any camera manipulations to your portrait while shooting.  You shoot the picture exactly as it is in the studio setting.  This will ensure that the only manipulations to the photograph, if any, are done post-production ensuring minimal intervention and thus the best quality of pictures.
    

Give clear directions to your model

Build a rapport with the subject before the shoot.  This way there will be better communication between the model and you.  Be specific about what poses, angles, and looks you want, but at the same time also give them some room to improvise or just be themselves.  This way you could get the best ideas from both and stand a better chance of getting stunning studio portraits.