- Practice your setup routine beforehand so you do not waste time during the shoot.
- Be relaxed, so your subject will be relaxed as well.
- Stool should be about 4-6 feet in front of the background.
- Place the light about 45 degrees to the right side of your subject.
- Have a reflector on your subject's left side, about 3-4 feet away.
- Adjust the angle and position of the reflector for the best effort.
- Set the camera directly in front of the subject, 6-10 feet away.
- Talk to the subject and guide them in how you would like them to pose.
- Use a wide open aperture and a shallow depth of field to emphasize the subject.
- Shutter speed should not be slower than 1/60, faster than a subject can blink.
- Indoor lighting: use one light and a reflector on the opposite side of the light. Reflector position most critical.
- Outdoor lighting: no direct sunlight! shoot in open shade, and 3-6 feet away from the subject.
- Cloudy Days are perfect
- Avoid distracting backgrounds.
- Capture a person going about everyday life.
- Do not pose your subject, actually let them act natural.
- include your subject's surroundings.
- More photos will be taken than in other situations.
- Use a fast shutter speed, 1/250 and above.