Top 12 People Photography Mistakes and Tips for How to Avoid Them

Expert Advice: How to Avoid Common People Photography Mistakes

Photography is a powerful medium for capturing emotions and telling stories. However, it’s easy to make mistakes, especially when photographing people. Here are some common people’s photography mistakes and tips on avoiding them, along with the emotions they can evoke.

Mistakes to Avoid

• Boring Composition: Placing the subject in the center of the frame can make the photo look static. Instead, use the rule of thirds to create a more balanced and interesting composition.
• Overuse of flash: While flash can help illuminate dark scenes, excessive reliance on flash can create unnatural results, such as red-eye, flat lighting, and washed-out colors. Instead, try to utilize natural light whenever possible, and when necessary, opt for an external flash unit paired with diffusers or reflectors to produce more balanced and pleasing outcomes.
• Cluttered backgrounds: Keep the background simple and free of distracting elements. Busy backgrounds can draw attention away from your main subject and detract from the overall impact of the photograph.

• Using the Wrong Lens: A wide-angle lens can distort the subject’s features. Use a longer lens to avoid this and create more flattering portraits.
• Improper focus: For people photography, you always want to strive to focus on their eyes. If you are doing a posed portrait where they are not moving that’s easier. Set your focus to a single point, single focus (not continuous or tracking) and lock it on their eye. If one eye is closer to the camera than the other – always focus on the one nearer to you.

• Improper Use of Light: Harsh light can create unflattering shadows and make the subject squint. Opt for soft, diffused light for a more flattering look.
• Poor direction of light: Aim to position people close together (try to avoid rows far apart) so you can work with f/5.6 or f/8. Focus about halfway into the group (midway between the front of the person in front, and the back of the person behind).

• Bad Cropping: Avoid cutting off the subject’s limbs or cropping at joints. Always strive to include the entire body part or crop deliberately.
• Blur from camera shake: Make sure you use a shutter speed that is fast enough to freeze the image and not get camera shake if you are hand holding. Ideally, use a tripod if you can.

• Improper Posing: Certain poses, such as crossing arms or tilting the head forward, can create a heavy or unnatural look. Instead, focus on posing that emphasizes the natural lines and curves of the body.
• Unflattering angles: Be mindful of the angle from which you shoot your subjects. Shooting directly above someone’s head can result in a less engaging photo, while shooting from below might cause double chins. Try experimenting with different perspectives until you find what works best for each individual.
• Failing to edit effectively: Post-processing plays a crucial role in bringing out the best in your photographs. Adjustments such as white balance correction, exposure adjustment, and selective editing can greatly enhance your final product. However, don’t go overboard with edits—the goal should be to preserve authenticity and realism.

• Tips for Emotional Impact

By avoiding these mistakes, you can capture more emotionally compelling photos. For example, using the rule of thirds and proper composition can create a sense of balance and intrigue in the image. Additionally, using soft, diffused light and proper posing can help evoke emotions such as warmth, intimacy, and natural beauty in the photographs.

In conclusion, by being mindful of these common mistakes and following the tips to avoid them, you can elevate your people’s photography and create images that are not only technically sound but also emotionally impactful.

FAQ:

What is one of the biggest mistakes beginner photographers make?

One of the most common mistakes is not getting the focus right. Always double check that your subject is in sharp focus before taking the shot.

How can I avoid blurry photos?

Use a faster shutter speed, a tripod or your camera’s image stabilization to prevent camera shake. Also, hold the camera steady and use a slight squeeze of the shutter button.

Why are my images underexposed or overexposed?

This is likely due to incorrect exposure settings. Learn to use your camera’s light meter or shoot in semi-automatic modes until you understand exposure better.

What causes harsh shadows in my photos?

Direct, overhead sunlight or on-camera flash can create harsh, unflattering shadows. Try shooting in open shade or use a diffuser or reflector.

Why is the background in my images distracting?

Pay close attention to your backgrounds and shooting angles. An uncluttered, simple background can really make your subject stand out more.

How can I avoid red-eye when using flash?

Red-eye is caused by the flash light reflecting in the subject’s eyes. Turn on your red-eye reduction setting, use an external flash, or have subjects look slightly away.

Why are parts of my images blurred unintentionally?

You may be using too wide of an aperture, creating a shallow depth of field. Use a smaller aperture to keep the full scene in focus when needed.

How can I avoid blurry panning shots of moving subjects?

You likely don’t have a fast enough shutter speed set to freeze the motion. Boost your shutter speed and keep practicing your panning technique.

Why do my images look dull or washed out?

Your camera may be set to a flat color profile or picture style. Increase contrast, vibrance and saturation in editing. Consider shooting in RAW.

What causes those dark semi-circles when I photograph bright skies?

This vignetting effect is caused by light being blocked by the lens/camera body. Use the proper hood or fix it in post-processing.