tripod for portraits?

ongakublue · Jul 28, 2016

hi everyone,

i am curious. how many of you use a tripod when taking portrait shots? in and/or out of studio

i have always avoided it but i see some folks do it

TheFlyingCamera · Jul 28, 2016

Depends on the camera. If I'm using something small like a 35mm or digital, then hand-held is probably the way to go. In medium format, if I'm using my Rolleiflex, probably not, but if I'm using the RB67, probably yes. Anything bigger than medium format of course requires a tripod.

MattKing · Jul 28, 2016

I do when I can.

Some of the best portraits happen when you have direct eye contact with your subject - without a camera in between. Having a camera on a tripod makes that possible.

This photographer was pretty good with portraits:

frank · Jul 28, 2016

Agree with Scott that it depends on the camera.

Would also add that it depends on the lighting. In controlled studio setting with flash (and low ambient light), the short duration negates any camera movement so a tripod isn't as necessary.

Also depends on the type/style of portrait and the working method a photographer is comfortable with.

Matt, that's a very young Karsch. I'm more used to seeing pics of him when older.

bdial · Jul 28, 2016

The photo of Karsch is a good illustration of one way a tripod can be useful regardless of the camera size. If you have a controlled set up, then a stationary camera lets you concentrate on the subject, and interact with him/her without the camera in the way.
Doesn't work very well if the situation is dynamic though.

Alan Gales · Jul 28, 2016

ongakublue said:
hi everyone,

i am curious. how many of you use a tripod when taking portrait shots? in and/or out of studio

i have always avoided it but i see some folks do it

Why would you avoid it? Many of the greatest portraits ever taken were taken using a tripod.

Camera size and weight of course can require the use of a tripod like when shooting my 8x10 but the big thing for me is what kind of portrait I am taking. For staged, static shots like when I use my studio strobes or shoot a group shot outdoors I prefer a tripod. For candids or street shooting or sometimes just convenience I won't.

Slixtiesix · Jul 28, 2016

I like doing portraits with a tripod. It gives me more confidence in the results (sharpness) and more freedom to concentrate on composing and focusing.

tedr1 · Jul 28, 2016

Looking down? Looking up? Looking at the same level? What sort of lighting? Do you compose with the camera to your eye, or looking into the ground glass screen, or looking down into a mirror? These choices have a profound effect on the relative positions of the subject and the camera lens, and a profound effect on the appearance of the portrait. The tripod is a necessary tool for the portrait photographer when the concept evolves beyond the candid snapshot. Having said that, some professional photographers, having studio space and sophisticated flash lighting, worked hand-held medium-format, but those resources are uncommon for the amateur. Experiment

Alan Gales · Jul 28, 2016

tedr1 said:
Having said that, some professional photographers, having studio space and sophisticated flash lighting, worked hand-held medium-format, but those resources are uncommon for the amateur. Experiment

Thanks to digital bringing prices down, I own Novation studio strobes. The older versions will fry digital cameras unless you use a slave. They work great for 35mm or medium format film portraiture. They sell for dirt cheap on Ebay and Craigslist. A typical set will come in a case with a power block, 2, 3 or 4 strobes, and umbrellas with stands. The umbrellas are nice in that you can shoot through them or reflect off of them. I purchased barn doors for mine too for when I want that old Hollywood look.

You do need room to use them. I've shot portraits in smallish living rooms with the Novatrons. I position my strobes as close as I can get to my subject without them being in the photo.

frank · Jul 28, 2016

I have a few mono bloc flash units, with umbrellas, stands and a canvas backdrop. It opens up new portrait possibilities. That said, you can do a lot with just natural light outdoors, and window light.

narsuitus · Jul 29, 2016

ongakublue said:
i am curious. how many of you use a tripod when taking portrait shots? in and/or out of studio

For indoor or outdoor group portraits, I usually use a tripod.

For studio portraits of individuals, I prefer mono stands to tripods.

mdarnton · Jul 29, 2016

I never used a tripod, and I do mean never, until I started shooting large format (5x7 and 8x10 studio portraits). However once I got used to it, now I wouldn't shoot portraits without one. If your face is behind the camera you may feel like you're in touch with the subject, but I don't think you really are. Now the camera isn't between me and the subject, and the results are completely different because the subject is relating to another person, not a camera. Shooting less formally, "candid" type portraits, I think hiding behind the camera is a good thing, though, in that it doesn't draw the subject's attention to you and what you are doing. Years ago in news situations and in classrooms shooting educational stuff I discovered that if I never made eye contact with subjects they would completely ignore me and my camera, and things would move along as if I wasn't there. Eye contact changes everything in the interaction.

BrianShaw · Jul 29, 2016

Most of ten

TheFlyingCamera · Jul 29, 2016

narsuitus said:
For indoor or outdoor group portraits, I usually use a tripod.

For studio portraits of individuals, I prefer mono stands to tripods.

Yes, in the studio where your environment is controlled enough (and hopefully has a flat enough floor) one of those wheeled studio stands is ideal. I know some folks who shoot tiny format (35mm/digital) SLRs on one even. It makes sense especially if you're shooting tethered to a laptop. I have a beast of a studio stand, an INKA (unfortunately in storage as I don't have a studio right now, and I don't have room in the house for an 8' tall aluminum pole with a five foot diameter footprint) that is great when I'm using my really big cameras.

chuck94022 · Jul 31, 2016

I've never managed to successfully tether any of my film cameras, small, medium, or large format, to a laptop.

AgX · Jul 31, 2016

MattKing said:
This photographer was pretty good with portraits.

I guess the kind of suit is as important as camera or tripod.

David A. Goldfarb · Jul 31, 2016

I pretty much always use a tripod for portraits, even 35mm. When I used to shoot actors' headshots in the early 1990s, I realized I preferred not to look through the viewfinder too often, so I could connect more directly with the subject. The camera always had a motor drive, and I'd trigger it with a long electronic release.

ac12 · Aug 10, 2016

One thing about a tripod is that it lets you set the height of the camera.
I've seen too many tall people shooting kids and smaller people while standing up at full height. So they are looking DOWN at the subject. Not always a good perspective.
A tripod lets you get the camera down to a desired subject height, and keep it there.
Yes it constrains you, but then a LOT of photographers did awfully good work with their tripod or dolly mounted cameras.

TheFlyingCamera · Aug 10, 2016

chuck94022 said:
I've never managed to successfully tether any of my film cameras, small, medium, or large format, to a laptop.

I was merely calling attention to one use for a studio stand with a small format camera. I've often shared studio space with digitographers so it's something I've seen regularly.

John Koehrer · Aug 10, 2016

chuck94022 said:
I've never managed to successfully tether any of my film cameras, small, medium, or large format, to a laptop.

I use a retractable leash.

removed account4 · Aug 10, 2016

tripods are good no matter the format when taking portraits.
and sometimes they aren't, it depends the kind of portrait too.
if i am using artifical light i put the tripod ( even dslur or 35mm )
focus and frame, and tether the camera to the key light either on a stand
or handheld ... but some portraits don't need to be that formal
and hand held, quick and dirty works fine, this is for 4x5 too
( graflex slr, and speed graphics make life easy )

tripod for portraits?

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