Lighting key in indoor portraits

When it comes to indoor portraits, we should have one major goal: to take a flattering picture of our subject. That's easily accomplished, no matter what kind of camera you use, be it a $10 single-use camera or a $4,000 digital camera.

Here are a few basic guidelines for indoor portraits that will result in pictures that will please you and your subject.

First, you want to make sure the subject feels relaxed. One way to do that is to constantly talk to your subject about things that interest him or her. Remember that in portraiture, silence is deadly. So keep talking, from the moment you take out your camera until you stop shooting.

Next, consider your lighting options. Keep in mind that soft lighting is more flattering than harsh lighting. Harsh lighting is the type of lighting you'll get with an on-camera flash. It shows blemishes and wrinkles, and it can make a subject's skin look shiny.

Soft lighting can be achieved inside by using any of the following techniques. One method is to position your subject by a window, draped by a translucent curtain, on a sunny day. If you do that, you'll probably need ISO 400 or 800 speed film or an equivalent digital ISO setting to take a handheld picture, and your subject will need to stay relatively still.

If your camera has a built-in flash, you can get softer flash pictures by placing a small piece of tissue paper over the flash. That reduces the flash output, so your maximum flash range will be reduced.

SLR (single-lens-reflex) and ZLR (zoom-lens-reflex) cameras accept accessory flash units. If you get a flash unit with a swivel head, you can bounce the light off the ceiling for a softer effect. Just keep in mind that the color of the ceiling will be "bounced" back onto your subject. Therefore, if the ceiling is not white, your subject may be off-color.

Portable, lightweight and continuous lighting systems (as opposed to strobe systems) are available from professional camera stores. Because the light is continuous, you can see lighting effects as you move the light around. I use a system that consists of a tungsten light in a "soft box," which is mounted on a stand with casters. The system folds into a bag the size of a golf bag.

There are other techniques for getting a soft and flattering portraits -- one low-tech and one high-tech.

Basic makeup, available at cosmetic counters, can make a big difference in a portrait. When I take a portrait, I sometimes apply "anti-shine" cream to my subject's face. It reduces facial glare and hot spots. Makeup powder is also good for smoothing a subject's complexion.

The high-tech solution is to retouch a picture in the digital darkroom. Most imaging programs let you easily remove blemishes. One program, Adobe Photoshop, has a feature called the "Healing Brush" that quickly allows "healing" blemishes. Some programs also offer a digital blur filter that softens a picture.

Summing up: Keep your subject interested and keep your portraits soft.

Rick Sammon is the author of 21 books about photography and marine conservation.