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                                                        The Role of Eyes In Creating Beautiful Portraits

The focus in portrait photography should be capturing the unique personality of  the subject. The best practical way to accomplish this is to give emphasis on the eyes of the subject in a portrait photograph.  As the old saying goes, “the eyes are the windows to the soul.”

Why should you target the eyes? A person’s feelings are portrayed in their eyes. In fact, if you take a look at some of the best portrait photos ever taken, you will notice the eyes make the photograph stand out from other ordinary looking photographs. According to Michael Carlson, a well-known Family Photographer in Dallas, human beings are very perceptive in understanding the feelings of a subject in a portrait, simply by reading the eyes of a person.

So now that you understand the eyes of a person speaks volumes about their feelings. As a portrait photographer, you should take advantage of this fact and take steps to emphasize the eyes in the photographs. This article throws light on some tips to implement this.

Capture The Eyes

To achieve an emphasis on the eyes of the subject move in closer and manually focus on the eyes. This is extremely easy when the subject is calm and completely still. By doing this, you will be able to capture the emotions of a person in a more accurate way. The manual focus mode allows you to see more details in the eyes. The more eye detail allows the viewer to interpret the person’s emotions quickly, thus making a connection with the subject through the portrait.

Use Color Contrast To Highlight Eyes

Another effective way to accentuate the eyes is to use color contrast placed strategically close to the eyes. This automatically attracts viewers to this particular region, emphasizing the eyes even more. You can employ color contrast techniques by using colorful makeup close to the eyes or by using accessories like a bright piece of jewelry, a colorful scarf, hat or head dress.

Furthermore, you can also use flattering colors in make-up for the area around the eyes. For example, you can use a bright ‘blue’ color for the eye region and a complimentary color ‘orange’ for the surrounding cheeks. In doing this, the blue eyes will look more bright, in comparison to the rest of the face. Using brighter colors near the eyes will highlight them.

Use The Rule Of Thirds In Placing The Eye

You can highlight the eyes by using the rule of thirds, according to David Wallace, one of the best Family Photographers in Houston. The rule of thirds is commonly used by photographers in composing a photograph. To elaborate, when imaginary lines for a game of tic- tac- toe are drawn on an image, the image is split into nine equal parts. Photographers ensure that the face of the subject occupies the intersection of the top parts, called the ‘thirds’ in a frame. This is said to be the established “focus of attention” for viewers of a photograph. Aim the camera to capture the eyes at the intersection of the ‘thirds’ of an image.

In conclusion, you can use the above tips to call attention to the eyes in a portrait photograph. The feeling communicated through the eyes is essential and a profound way for the viewer to make a connection with the subject in the photo.