Every photographer makes mistakes, especially at the beginning of the career. Making mistakes is totally normal, this is how you learn and become better. However, it is much wiser to learn from other people’s errors. So, let’s discuss the most common problems that portrait photographers face, how to avoid them, and how to fix them using a free portrait editing software – PhotoDiva.
Poor Composition
Did you leave too much empty space above your model’s head? Simply crop it in the free portrait editor and redirect the focus to the main object. And keep in mind the rule of thirds – break your image into nine squares and align the object along the sides of the central square. If you are having troubles mastering this rule at first, don’t worry, crop the image in accordance with this rule and you will get the perfect composition.
Distracting Background
Choosing a suitable background is never easy since it’s quite difficult to predict how it would look on the photo later. Is it too blurry? Too busy? Too saturated? Whichever the reason, create the perfect image by applying the Clone Stamp tool. Mark a part of the picture you would like to “clone” and drag it to the part you want to disappear, this way you will get rid of every unwanted object. To smooth things out, use the Healing Brush and polish the small imperfections. Finally, try out the Background Change tool to replace the undesirable image altogether.
The Object is Too Blurry
Some aspiring photographers go too far with the aperture and use the widest setting to blur out the background. However, it may lead to unwanted results – your model is also blurred and out of focus. In this case, use the Sharpening tool – make the object sharper and the background blurrier using just one tool.
Unflattering Lighting
Good lighting is crucial for any kind of photography, especially for the close-up portraits. Too much will overexpose your model and make his or her skin look too unnatural, while not enough light will hide your object in the darkness. Next to purchasing the right equipment to set the perfect light – reflectors, flashguns, and the right camera – use the perks of the free portrait software to create any look you want. For the romantic atmosphere, use a filter with warm tones, for the edgy image apply the Purple glare and for an old-timey photo, give a try to the vintage effect.
Makeup Went Wrong
During the long hours of the photoshoot, your model’s makeup might get smeared. But no worries, it is all fixable in the post-processing! Try the makeup tool to add some pinkish hue to the cheeks, highlight the lips with a bright lipstick, and make the eyes pop with some nice eyeshadows. Play with different tones to create real beauty and emphasize the best features as well as hide the small imperfections.
As an aspiring photographer, you will make mistakes and face issues, however, with great tips from experts and the perfect portrait photo editor, you will learn from your errors and become a professional portrait photographer. Good luck!
I would like to take better photographs, even without being a professional. However, I find these tips to be very helpful.