Taking Photos of Models and Actors with no Budget or Experience

Just about anyone can take semi-professional looking pictures of their family and friends. I have seen many terrible photos of people in some of these popular stock sites that look like they were taken at the family barbeque with a Polaroid.

Here are some simple tips for anyone interested in taking nice portrait or model type photos.

Use a good quality reflex camera (It can be digital or film).

When I say good quality I don't mean go out and buy a $10,000 professional camera. Most people with a true interest in photography can pick-up a good quality $200 reflex camera.

Working with film can be quite a hassle (and developing costs money). If you plan to digitalize your photos, you may want to spend the extra money for a digital camera. Although a quality digital reflex could get expensive, prices for digital cameras are dropping quickly. I recommend you check out the Canon Digital Rebel XT (Canon EOS 350D).

If you can't afford a nice camera, just borrow one to practice until you can afford your own or are serious enough about photography to buy one. Who doesn't have a friend with a nice camera?

Take the pictures in a sunny outdoor setting.

It's amazing what a little sunlight can do for a photo. The sun brightens up the picture and brings out color in the models skin, clothes and background. Almost any photo looks better with sunlight than without.

Look at ads in fashion and other magazines.

To take nice photos you need to know what nice photos look like! Look at professional work and imitate the poses and color combinations. Also, check out magazines sites online. But be careful with the photographer sites, some are incredible, whereas as others are terrible.

Look at the subject from different angles.

The same picture with a different angle and distances can make a huge difference. Don't take pictures of the model always horizontally or vertically straightened. Shoot the model from all different angles, above, below, a little to the upper left, behind... Don't shoot straight angles!

Choose colorful clothing and background combinations

Unless you are taking a very close headshot, the background of the photo is just as important as the model. A plain background can make the picture dull, whereas a lively and colorful background can make the same picture interesting or ‘make sense'.

The same applies to the clothing. If you want the model and the picture to work, use colorful outfits with many pieces including sunglasses, hats, etc. Be creative!. Then match those colors with the background. With the correct clothing, sunlight, and background combination you don't need to know anything about photography because any picture you take will look great!

Shoot natural poses and varied expressions.

The pictures will look more professional if the posing is natural. You don't want your model to look like he or she is trying too hard. Let the model situate him or her self as they wish and then make adjustments.

Remember that you can portray different emotions in your pictures. Put some variety in there: smiles, frowns, indifference… Every photo with a human subject says something depending on the expression portrayed.

You don't know how happy you can make someone when you make them look spectacular in a photo. Trust me, anyone can look good in a photo, it's just a matter of light and angles. Good luck!