A Beginners Guide to Taking Portraits of Elderly Clients: Part 2 – Lighting and Posing
Learn about lighting and posing techniques to enhance your photos of elderly subjects in part two of our series on photographing older clients. Lighting older clients uses most of the same lighting principles as lighting younger clients, but there are a few extra tricks that will ensure a stress-free and flattering shoot.
Lighting practicalities
This means you won’t have access to a full studio setup and will have to make do with whatever space you have.
Lost in space
If you’re shooting in a nursing or retirement home, you’ll probably need permission from the village manager; there’s a lot of protection around older residents, so a stranger showing up unannounced and taking photos is unlikely to be welcomed.
Flash versus continuous lighting
Strobes are more portable and powerful than most affordable continuous lights, and they can be quite disorienting for older clients, especially those with dementia. Advances in chip-on-board LED technology also eliminate the need for heavy and expensive HMI lights.
Soft versus hard light
When photographing elderly people, contrast is your enemy because it accentuates their wrinkles; instead, use soft, highly diffused light sources like softboxes and umbrellas to create a flattering image of your client’s face.
Lighting setups
We’ll look at two classic lighting setups that aim to create a flattering portrait in different lighting conditions. Portraits are one of the most popular mediums for portrait taking, but not all will work with older clients due to wrinkles, sagging, and posture issues.
3-point lighting
Short lighting is more flattering for an elderly subject than broad lighting, which can add width to a skinnier face but emphasizes wrinkles.
Clamshell lighting
The clamshell is a simple setup that can be accomplished with just one key light and a reflector for fill. Exposing correctly and positioning your client beautifully will create an0introspective0shot, which when combined with good posing can provide a great option for taking a square-on image of an older person.
Glasses and reflections
Managing glasses always requires a bit of compromise to bring your client’s eyes back into the image, and the three best options are: Tilt Down, Lensless Glasses, or Raising Your Lights.
Managing baldness
Lowering your light height and removing your rim lights can help to reduce the shine on their head, as a bald head acts as a large reflective surface and creates a hot spot. Find alternate ways to separate your subject from the background.
Exposing hair
The rim light is a bald head’s worst enemy, but it also wreaks havoc on grey hair, so be careful not to overexpose grey hair or you’ll blow out the highlights.
How do you take pictures of someone flattering?
How to Photograph People u2013 10 Proven Techniques for Better Photos!
- Use a Longer Lens.
- Use a Wide Angle to Include the Environment.
- Talk.
- Show the Goods.
- Don’t be Afraid to Give Direction.
Why are old people better to photography with portraits?
The striking images offer a candid view into the private lives of her subjects and a powerful reminder that age truly is just a number. When compared to the young, senior citizens are less likely to have their pictures taken and have their stories told.
How do you light old people?
When it comes to older clients, fill light is your best friend.
- Short lighting (left) is more flattering for an elderly subject than broad lighting (right). Placing the lights higher, as you would with a younger client, can create shadows that highlight wrinkles and crow’s feet.
What kind of pictures do old people like?
What do older people really want from visual art?
- Look for paintings that are calming and peaceful u2013 this was repeatedly mentioned as a reason for liking a painting.
- Pictures of places elicited the strongest responses: mountains, sea, clouds, and the setting sun.
How do you get someone to take a good picture of you?
Tips for Taking Better People Photographs
- The rule of spacing is extremely important u2013 and thankfully, it’s one of the easiest concepts to convey to others.
- Look. At.
- Have a reference photo.
- Just take a bunch of photos.
- Make it fun!
- Give them some direction.
How can I look better in photos?
15 Ways To Never Look Bad In Another Photo
- Know your angles. The first step to taking a great picture is to know your angles.
- Make sure the light is behind the camera.
- Don’t stand directly under the light.
- Use a natural filter.
- Get on the grid.
- Prop it up and back it up.
- Take multiples.
How do older men take pictures?
Photographing Men: Some Basic Guidelines
- Things closer to the camera appear larger
- if you want to emphasize something, keep it close to the camera.
- Things further away from the camera appear smaller.
- A longer lens flattens depth.
- Things pointed directly at the camera appear shorter.
What age is called old age?
Old age has a dual definition: it is the last stage in an individual’s life processes, and it is an age group or generation comprised of a segment of a population’s oldest members. For statistical and public administrative purposes, however, old age is frequently defined as 60 or 65 years of age or older.
Is Pinterest for old people?
Why Doesn’t Pinterest Appeal to Seniors? It’s possible that Pinterest will catch on in the long run, but for now, we believe it’s a no for seniors, as only 26% of people over 65 who are online use social networking sites.
How do I look when old?
Make me appear to be older!
- Download FaceApp for iPhone or Android.
- Select a photo from your camera roll or take a new one from the app.
- Scroll to the right and tap Age.
- Original, Young, Young 2, and Old are your age options.
- Tap Apply.