Location and Background
One
of the really fun parts of embarking on a portrait shoot is exploring
all the locations that could potentially serve as interesting
environments in which to work. A key consideration is to look for an
interesting setting. The easy option would be to find a ‘clean and
simple’ location, but it’s also worth looking for something a little
different.
photo by Annabel Williams
‘When
you look really closely at a location, you’ll begin to see all sorts of
interesting shapes, colours and textures that can produce brilliant
backgrounds,’ says Annabel. ‘I’m always attracted to things like
brickwork and graffiti as these can really give your images a grungy
feel.’
The key thing is to explore, but that doesn’t mean having
to travel for miles, explains Annabel. Sometimes one location will
provide ample opportunities.
‘It may take a while to find the
perfect background, but keep your eyes open and your mind receptive,’
says Annabel. ‘It could be that your background choice is affected by
your model’s clothes or even the skin tone. Make sure the different
elements complement one another.’
Annabel also suggests
experimenting with depth of field. Having an out-of-focus background can
help to emphasise your subject and make him or her much more
three-dimensional.
‘When I want an out-of-focus background, I’ll
use a long lens such as a 75-200mm,’ says Annabel, ‘and that’s why I
always have my camera set to f/5.6. This will really bring your subject
out from the background.’
