Portrait of the artist as a young yarn
We always enjoy seeing photos of your knits – but we love seeing them modelled by a smiling hand-knit enthusiast! Whether you're taking pictures of your children, yourself or even a toy, the principles of portrait photography remain the same.
"The better the picture, the better your knitting will look," says Pete – and the better your model will look, too, we reckon. "Miriam's a reluctant model, so I’ve used Alan Dart’s brilliant scarecrow as a less fidgety subject."
Perfect Portraits
The first question to ask yourself is: what is the main subject of this photo? When you’re taking a standard, passport-photo style portrait, it’s pretty obvious: the photo will be of a face, shown clearly, maybe even smiling. If you’re trying to show off a hand knit or capture the essence of someone’s character it can be a little more complicated.
To make things simple, concentrate on one detail at a time. For example, if you’re particularly proud of the lace panels on a cardigan, or love your mum’s hands, then play around with the shots while concentrating on that detail. Don’t be afraid to try unusual angles or to crop out bits of the body and face. You don’t have to get the whole person in the frame every time – or even their face! Look for interesting shapes or isolate a particular feature – a photo of the whole family’s feet, ready for an ordinary day, provides an unusual snapshot of a moment – or a chance to show off your hand knit socks!
Photos of Them
Lighting is critical. Harsh light makes dark shadows that flatter no-one. “Overcast daylight is ideal,” says Pete “and it’s amazing the difference a reflector makes. I wrapped a tray in tinfoil and held it at about 45 degrees to the scarecrow’s face for the second shot.” As you can see, a reflector bounces light back on the face, lifting shadows and softening wrinkles. “Rope in an assistant or get the model to hold the tray,” suggests Pete. “Just make sure it doesn’t creep into the shot.”
Photos of Them
- Don’t be afraid to try unusual angles.
- Look out for distracting elements in the background. A plain sheet hung over a bookcase or door creates a simple, clean backdrop.
- Step back and zoom in. It compresses the picture and is easier on the subject. Less in-your-face – literally!
- Keep it fun, both for you and for your model. Play about with different angles, have them pose different ways or add props.
- Getting in close with a wide angle can give some fun shots by exaggerating features.
- Be sharp eyed. If you’ve got the model’s eyes in shot, make sure they’re sharp, even if they’re not the key element.
- Use the portrait setting. Most cameras have a portrait setting (normally a face symbol) that will set a wide aperture to throw the backgound out of focus.
Photos of You
- Find out if your camera has a timer – it’s a lot easier than taking photos in the mirror, or at arm’s length!
- Put the camera in different places. Do you get a better shot if you put the camera on a high shelf and look up, or a low one and look down?
- Think about what else you’re wearing. We all want to show our latest knit off as soon as we finish it, but take a moment to show it in its best light. Imagine you’re one of our models, and take a few minutes to get ready for your shoot.
- Take lots of shots. If you can, set the camera to take a stream of shots and then pick the best one.
- Check the photos on the computer before you tidy up so it’s easy to have another go if you need to.
- Take your time. You want to look happy and relaxed, so make sure you plan your photo session for a quiet moment.
