Need help to make "timeless" portrait photo's

[koraks]

I hope to take one picture that is good enough without having to post process it.

Are you shooting slide film? In that case I can sort of see what you mean, although I'd personally not see a very solid advantage to it in 2026.
If you're shooting negative (B&W or color), then IMO the whole 'no post processing' is inherently nonsensical. There's always processing being done to get from the negative to a viewable positive. How much processing is involved is really a matter of taste. But I understand the desire/ambition to get as much of it done 'in camera'. Nothing wrong with that, but IMHO also nothing wrong with just considering the original negative (or digital file) as an intermediate step in the process. Anything goes! It's liberating.

I also have a digital DSLR camera. Maybe I'll take some pictures with it to see what the best composition and settings will be.

Especially if you're working with strobes it can help to use a digital camera the way you'd use Polaroid in the old days to verify correct lighting ratios etc. before committing the image on film. I've done the same in the past but mostly when recording on large format film.

 

[runswithsizzers]

"timeless"?

To me, that could mean either:
- a photo which lacks clues such as fashion, hair style, and cultural artifacts that would identify the time frame of the photo
or
- a photo which has enduring appeal over time regardless of any clues about the era in which the photo is made

@Analogski -- the portrait will be of your wife, and your child-to-be, so it is inescapable that the photo will have a different significance for you than for anyone else. Is the purpose of the portrait to document this event in your life as a personal memento? Or are you more interested in trying to create a portrait with universal appeal for a wider audience? Of course, there is no reason the portrait cannot simultaneously accomplish both goals, but it is something to think about.

 

[minhnk1990]

It's a great lens for portraits when you nail focus. Very shallow depth of field so you may want to practice with it for a while. The helicoid can be pretty stiff to turn if it's old. I've taken some portraits I've loved with it, but I've messed up more than I've gotten right. The Volna-3 80mm f/2.8 lens also works great for portraits and is easier. It has a nice glow wide open.

A 35mm lens is smaller and easier to use. Sometimes people want less detail in a portrait so the smaller format can be an advantage. It will also have more depth of field, making errors in focus less critical. Plus, you get more tries to take a good picture. This can go a long way. I don't find 85mm a very long focal length, I think it would be fine for including more of the body. 135mm would be more of a problem.

For B&W, if outdoor, I would shoot under the shade of trees (but not deep forest shade) and use a 100 speed film with not too high contrast. Green or yellow filters can help with skin tones. Acros would be a good choice, many others would work too including Kentmere 100. You ideally want some mix of directional and softbox light, a sunny f/11 with clouds only partially blocking the sun can be ideal. If full f/16 sun, go in the shade. If completely overcast, you might look into ways to add a little bit of directional light, but not too much.

For color, don't be afraid to overexpose Portra 160 to 100 or even 50 if necessary. A cross screen filter will lower contrast a little, as will many other kinds of filters.

Sonnar 180mm on a Kiev 6C (cropped to 6x4.5) and Provia 100F, shade under tree lighting

View attachment 419098

Volna-3 on a Mamiya 645 with yellow filter and Shanghai GP3, shade under tree again

View attachment 419099

Canon FD 135mm f/2.5 on Canon F-1 with Delta 100 (had to shout at this distance, not recommended) overcast conditions

View attachment 419100

Canon T90 with Jupiter-9 85mm f/2 on Kodak Ektachrome E100 (sunny conditions but made sure sun was behind her)

View attachment 419103

All of these were shot wide open.

Thank you so much!

 

[k.hendrik]

".....Also, all tips are welcome!....."

"To make a prairie it takes a clover and one bee,
One clover, and a bee.
And revery.
The revery alone will do,
If bees are few."

& good luck with shooting the last weeks of the praegnancy !