5 Composition Tips for Better Portraits

[@photoshoott2022]

Great composition suggestions, shooting outside is always fun, we love it, natural light and at times compensated by a light source on or off the camera, but also getting that shot with composition that will make our object stand out as well. Thanks for great advice to the audience Julia. Happy shooting.

[@TheFamedwarrior72]

One of the points you brought up which really helped me was having the model stand a few meters from the solid-ish background to get some depth of field. Also, I liked the point of considering the colors of the outfit to the background. Appreciate it

[@Cruise-hair-why-care]

Love your videos, you gave me some great ideas. Your model is amazing at posing, obviously a professional. What I wouldn’t give to have someone with that talent for every shoot. Your combined talents made the photos turn out amazing. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.

[@StillWinding]

I’m so impressed by your situational awareness.

[@jacktorrence5282]

I love how your photos have so much class. Lovely session!

[@kadeclaiborne]

Hi Julia What about a video on in-camera composition techniques when you know you’ll probably be cropping for social media? (Like 4x5 for insta or 5x7 for prints, etc.)

[@westonsmith4572]

Great video. Thank you for posting. I feel this video is also a very useful tutorial for model posing. Cheers from Canada

[@juliatrotti]

Thank you! Adelaide is a natural in front of the camera.

[@kevkevdellarocco8681]

@@juliatrotti I was just thinking the same. She matched your cadence so naturally and seemed relaxed - She just flowed through the shoot like it was nothing with tons of unique poses that all worked! It's great that there's talent on both ends of the camera! Coaching the subject can be one of the hardest parts of portraiture, especially when done for families and professional marketing for career professionals etc. Clearly communicating directions while also trying to help your talent feel relaxed or "at ease" is a learning experience. It's unique to the person and the situation. Perhaps this could be an upcoming video topic? I see you've done a content piece on posing tips. I think it was the second main point of not coaching too much where you touch on this issue. A video of its own that deals specifically with word tracks, things to say and do, body language, how to get people to break the ice a bit if they're nervous, details about what's too much info for directing your client. I bet you have some indispensable insights and experience to share here. The vast majority of freelancers and independent photogs who do portraits are out here photographing people with zero to minimal modeling experience and are trying to nail a series of unique photos that meet client expectations within the course of an hour or two. It's common that I don't start getting good photos until the very end of the shoot when the client has relaxed a bit and we're flowing together. Tips I've picked up the hard way: revisit compositions you loved from earlier in the shoot if this happens to you! Focus on positive affirmation and positive guidance when providing direction! Don't be afraid to do something silly! Subtly mirror your clients body language and communication style if they're feeling tense as it can help them feel as though they're around someone similar to them, and thus less alone and on the spot. Maybe some of the models can share feedback of things they learned early on that helped them when they felt tense on camera. If you make a follow up video about on-set tips and tricks for coaching inexperienced talent, it'll be a banger.

[@Dustyphoto915]

Like. Play. Enjoy. Thanks Julia!

[@juliatrotti]

Thank you, I appreciate it!

[@LadyJaneG]

the stairs with the railing and green vine were my favs!!! But all good Julia!

[@juliatrotti]

Thank you!

[@dennishumbla5431]

Love the ones on the staircase, moody tones

[@juliatrotti]

Thank you!

[@The_Michael_Massey]

Thanks Julia for all you do, you are a gem!

[@AlexC-xj6ys]

Thaaaank you so much! This is my favorite type of video - tips about composition!) Very useful

[@juliatrotti]

So glad you liked it!

[@madduarte3991]

I’m so happy that i found you!!!! Thanks for this

[@juliatrotti]

So glad you liked it!

[@gerritm.8102]

Great video ! Love your content. One question : how do you get the video from your camera while your taking photos ?

[@feydanmedia]

Love these tips, thanks for sharing. Really helpful for new photographers

[@juliatrotti]

Glad it was helpful!

[@JosefFoti]

Thank you for another great video with portrait tips. Now as you are a wedding photographer as well, could you perhaps make a few videos about wedding photography? As I plan to focus more on weddings in the future, I would appreciate some tips from you. Do you use the typical combination of 35+85 mm for couple sessions? 🙂

[@andy.photoandfilm]

35+85mm is a super versatile killer kombo ;)

[@juliatrotti]

Thank you so much! And yes 35+85 are my main 2 lenses for couple sessions and wedding in general. I use a 135mm prime a lot for weddings too!

[@jigarmaru8605]

Was waiting for your video… you are inspiring 😇❤️

[@juliatrotti]

Hope you enjoyed it!

[@RWAquariumPages]

Great video! Love all the tips and will give it a try on my next shoot

[@juliatrotti]

Thanks so much!

[@brettyg76]

Ooh... that last shot with the vine right next to her face... I would’ve edited that (in Luminar) by matching her eye colour with the colour of the vine leaves... that would’ve looked sooo nice.

[@anna_murawski]

Everyday urban locations in Sydney Australia looks completely different to the UK’s urban streets 💔😩🤣 I mean just look at that monstera just growing huge by some concrete stairs!! And is that actually a vining plant growing around the bannister! So unfair 😂

[@juliatrotti]

Haha yeah some suburbs in Sydney have a very jungle look to them. I’ve shot in the UK and in Poland before and you can still find some cool urban spots with shrubs and trees to use. I feel like the first location and the 2nd location have more of a similar feel to what you could find in Europe 😄

[@tr4go]

Great job Julia! Waiting some shots around sunny coast :)

[@juliatrotti]

Thanks, I appreciate it!

[@cybebe6679]

Hi Julia! Pls review Leica Q2 next and give us your thoughts?

[@boomp.reeves1836]

You always make great videos. Thank you 😊 Watching from Alabama , 🇺🇸

[@juliatrotti]

Thank you, I appreciate it!

[@sandeeplalka]

I have been watching a lot of your amazing videos and one question that keeps coming to mind is "you shoot at least 500 images in one location, with one pair of dress and a model. I am sure, you might be picking up only around 20 max for final editing. How do you shortlist your pics out of the large number of pics you shoot on every single shoot?

[@dbenedict357]

I don’t know Julia’s method but for me… it takes a few passes. Eliminate obvious ones (Wrong focus spot, accidental closed eyes.. maybe things in background which may be distracting such as people walking behind.. a car driving behind..etc… ).. then it just comes down to what you like or what you think the client may like. In the beginning I was always hesitant to get rid of photos (to the point I was storing blurred/wrong focus photos too..yuck!) just because I always though “what if I would like to edit it later”. Or “what if I want to use the photo later”.. I can tell you without a doubt I have not gone back in almost 10 years to grab any of those… and as I moved on in my photography skills I got more picky about which ones were “keepers”… so I would say it mostly takes time and experience of actually doing it. Picking is very subjective so it is difficult for me to tell you what you should/should not do and you should go in with the view that if I like photo A but you prefer photo B, that’s OK! Neither of us is wrong when it comes to style of photograph.. or composition of the photograph… I would say that as you do more and more culling you will get a feel for what you like and what you don’t like.. and it becomes much easier to see 10 photos of a similar pose with the same outfit and you just know which of those 10 you like the best… or at a minimum.. you will get to the point where you pick out two and maybe play with a bit of basic editing to make one stand out from the other. It’s just a feel you get with experience is what I have found. So get out there and shoot!! Have some friends come over and try different things out. Hope this helps!

[@Mr_Mumble_PSN]

Some absolutely great tips

[@Tony-bn6sm]

Love your videos... How do you go with privacy issues when filming in front of peoples private homes and using their fences and driveways for your photos... Do you need to ask permission?

[@JeffKurysz]

LOVE this video!! So helpful!! Can I ask -- how do you get video from your camera while your taking photos?

[@gerritm.8102]

I would like to know that too :)

[@stevenisacoolname2]

Thanks for the tips! Much needed pointers.

[@juliatrotti]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed!

[@ElliScott]

I would love a video about composition tips for self portraits!!

[@juliatrotti]

Ooh yes this would be fun!! I should do self portraits outdoors too as all of my self portrait videos have been indoors so far lol

[@lucymariemedina7279]

Thank you for this💙💙💙

[@AnhNguyen-fp6sr]

At 8:30 you said that you want the subject to face "toward the light", but in the next couple of shoots she was actually facing the rocks. Can you explain this? Great video anw!

[@EGWrestling2009]

Hi. Great incisive videos. Can I ask what metering mode u use?

[@DanaMoses-d3m]

I love you!! Thanks

[@Mr_Mumble_PSN]

Liked and subbed love the leading lines

[@anthoniosmith4562]

Awsome video Julia , do you have Capture 1 styles ?

[@PhilipOlsen11]

Brilliant as usual 👍♥️

[@juliatrotti]

Thank you 😄

[@josedosanjos2200]

Very nice post ! Thanks for sharing this.

[@juliatrotti]

Thank you!

[@benjamindover4337]

I'd like to hear your thoughts on directing the model and maintaining positive vibes while working together.

[@juliatrotti]

I have a few posing tips video, did you watch the last video I posted? The one just before the Mini 3 Pro drone is a video with my general tips on posing and directing your subjects 😊

[@mjphotos]

Nice work. Are you shooting with aperture priority wide open and fixed iso 160 ?..

[@juliatrotti]

Thank you, I always shoot in manual.

[@MohamedKhaled-bh8ko]

Congratulations 500K subscribed lovely

[@juliatrotti]

I can't believe it!!

[@FrancisVersanez]

Thanks for the tips Julia, always very helpful. Btw, what do you use to record the screen?

[@mariswong2774]

Love your videos!

[@juliatrotti]

Thank you so much 🥰

[@RicohGRIIIx]

What's under your camera? Looks like a recorder with antenna without battery :D

[@ThoChe_ManglunKuki]

Love from KUKILAND 🖤

[@TheeMr72k]

Hey Julia, where do you sell your equipment when you are upgrading?

[@juliatrotti]

I've had some luck on facebook marketplace before.

[@TheeMr72k]

@@juliatrotti anything for sale currently?

[@juliatrotti]

@@TheeMr72k nope, not from me at the moment!

[@ConnectFork]

Hi Julia, What do you use to record your screen? Thanks!

[@bydiegopozo]

Accsoon Cineye 2

[@monita411]

Very beautiful 😍

[@juliatrotti]

Thank you!

[@wkfn8554]

only one! GOOD Model

[@nova12332]

how do u film while taking shots? or is that just a feature from that camera?

[@oguzbenice7423]

Excellent.

[@juliatrotti]

Thank you 😊

[@mrskynet000]

Hi everyone!😀

[@SomeOne-qt6wg]

what is that equipment that she has attached underneath the camera? microphone?

[@BrazilPhillyCapoeira]

What is the transmitter on the bottom of your camera in all your videos?

[@shabarishc]

Could you please share the locations used in this video?

[@supernupe]

Julia you are sooooo beautiful 😍

[@wilburyuen]

Thanks for the tips.

[@juliatrotti]

Glad you enjoyed 😄

[@Brick_dont_hit_back]

Eye tracking its doing a job. I need to foucus and recompose 😬

[@Channel-wv4jh]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@masakiejji]

Can you try vivo x80 pro for portrait shoot

[@xXheartsbzXx]

does anyone know what the antenna attachment to her camera is and what does it do?

[@aA-mw4jb]

What filter do you have on the lens?

[@juliatrotti]

UV filter - just to protect it from scratches since my cameras usually hang on my dual camera straps for weddings/photoshoots!

[@adamrosenberg7114]

Does anyone know what is connected to the underneath of her camera? Looks to be some sort of wireless router?

[@NickDelDuca]

acsoon cineeye

[@adamrosenberg7114]

@@NickDelDuca Thank you!

[@abdurrahmanshovon]

❤️

[@SuperBong2010]

Do you use manual mode and Auto ISO?

[@juliatrotti]

I use everything in manual. If you switch my videos to most popular, I have a tutorial about how to shoot in manual mode if you wanted to see :)

[@seriesaddict7524]

Hi 👋 big fan..

[@ezazahamed2604]

You are too much beautiful❤❤

[@hastiiasgrii]

😍😍

[@Ando_Kurohige]

♥️♥️♥️

[@keganleberman]

What time of the day were these shots taken?

[@juliatrotti]

I think it was around 3pm ish during the summer. But it was an overcast day!

[@IQRAAlfurqan]

Portrait tips good for better for best....

[@ceoisbk87]

Lord, a model who knows how to move.

[@NicholasSpeaks]

Why are all the best models in Australia 😩

[@juliatrotti]

I’m super proud that I get to work with some very talented people here! Adelaide is working in Europe at the moment too 😄

[@NicholasSpeaks]

@@juliatrotti In my area of the USA, no models look like this lol but my friends are beautiful so i just use them!

[@koushikpramanik8602]

[@KazuyaMASUDA1982]

👍

[@mjphotos]

In such bright locations you never used the lens hood while other pros insist on using it 100% of the time. What are your thoughts here ? Nice to see very little input from you and it’s just your model working the scene on her own…

[@juliatrotti]

It was actually a very overcast day, so there is no reason to use a lens hood. I usually use lens hoods on sunny days to avoid lens flare. Sometimes I shoot without a lens hood on sunny days too as I WANT the lens flare in my photos :)

[@tireursaucentre]

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