Colour in a portrait, explained simply

Warm, cool and the one colour that should lead the frame. Here is how it comes together, step by step.

Practise with purpose

Pick one idea for a week, such as window light or reflections, and photograph only that. Focused practice builds skill much faster than random shooting.

Look before you shoot

Before lifting the camera, notice where the light comes from, how soft it is and what it does to the face in front of you. Those three observations decide more about a photograph than any setting on the camera.

Use the edges of the frame

Check the corners before taking the picture. A bright sign, a stray arm or a bin at the edge can pull the eye away from your subject. A small step to the side often cleans the frame completely.

Distance changes everything

Moving closer simplifies a picture and makes it more intimate; stepping back tells the story of a place. Try both for the same moment and compare: the difference is often surprising.

Shoot in sequences

Instead of one careful frame, take a short sequence as a moment unfolds. The best expression often comes a fraction of a second after the one you planned.

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