PhotoPlus_Issue_128_July_2017

CANONSCHOOL
MAKE CASH with
YOUR canon
In this latest instalment of the series, we reveal all you need
to know to get started as a pro portrait photographer
Peter travers
Canon expert
Peter’s been a passionate
photographer for well over
20 years. He’s worked on
PhotoPlus since the very
first issue, back in 2007,
and has been the magazine’s
editor for the past six years.
Shoot portraits part-time
Portraits are a great way to earn money from your photography – we help you get started
If you enjoy shooting
subjects that talk
back, maybe it’s time
you started making
cash from your portraits.
You don’t need much
equipment if you start by
taking outdoor portraits in
natural light.
Any Canon DSLR will be up
to the job, although the higher
resolution of the latest models
will give you the option of
producing larger prints than
some of the older models.
You also need to think
about your lenses. While a
18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens
that typically comes with
crop-sensor Canons can
produce great results, a
wider-aperture standard
zoom, such as the 17-55mm
f/2.8, will allow you to
achieve shallower depth of
field than the f/5.6 maximum
aperture at the longest
end of most standard zooms.
Another lens worth investing
in is a 50mm f/1.8, as this will
give you even shallower depth
of field and allow you to shoot
in low light without having to
increase the ISO.
Stepping up to full-frame,
again any Canon is capable
of professional results with the
right lens. The high-resolution
models will give the option
of huge prints, but even shots
from an older camera, such as
the original 5D, will print up
Take promoting yourself online – if people can see how good your photos
are, they’ll know that a session with you will be worth the asking price
to A3. When it comes to lenses
the 50mm is a good starting
point, but the focal length is
a little too short for head-andshoulders
shots. An 85mm
f/1.8 gives more flattering
results, or if you can live
with the smaller maximum
aperture, a 24-70mm f/2.8
or 70-200mm f/2.8 are
versatile (if pricey) options.
People skills
Along with your photographic
skills, taking successful
portraits relies on your ability
to get the best from the people
you are shooting. There are
many ways to do this, from
cracking jokes to simply
chatting with the subject to
find out what their interests
are. But the key skill is being
able to put subjects at ease
at the same time as you are
shooting amazing images.
This means that you need to
be completely confident in
your photographic technique,
so you can concentrate on the
person and not have to think
about your composition or
camera settings.
This ability comes naturally
to some, but if your people
skills don’t quite match your
photographic ones then you’ll
need to spend plenty of time
practising this on any willing
subjects (try friends or family)
You don’t need masses of kit if
you’re shooting outside with
available light
if you’re going to make it as a
portrait photographer.
Getting the best out of your
subject is only part of your job,
though. If you’re going it alone
as a portrait photographer
you’ll also need to be able to
sell yourself and your services
before you can get the work
and, depending on your
business model, you may also
need to sell the prints to the
customer after the shoot in
order to make money.
Find a style
From using available light and
wide apertures to give a soft,
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