Creating Character Portraits: Tips from 7 Virtual Photographers
We asked 7 of your favourite virtual photographers to share tips and tricks about creating character portraits and here’s what they had to share…
Creating character portraits can be tricky as it can be easy. Truth is, you might be able to take character photos but taking portraits that stand out requires certain skills and practice. We reached out to 7 amazing VP artists on Picashot and they shared their tips and tricks on taking character portraits. So, here’s to hoping that you learn one or two things from them to excel in your portraits in the coming year!
— @Kulma
Use simple backgrounds to focus the viewer’s attention on the subject. Keep experimenting with new lighting set-ups and settings. Take inspiration from other portrait photographers. Don't be afraid to use different styles of lighting and understand the tools you're using. There's probably more advice I can give, but these are only the things I can think of right now. I hope it helps people, though.
— @Dash
I think that the best thing about character portraits is their simplicity. There are no bad portraits of characters! Which means you can learn through trial and error. If you're thinking about taking a shot which conveys a specific emotion, you can time it just right to capture the character's facial expressions, and use tools to add another layer of complexity to the shot, whether by using DoF or filters! The environment also plays a key part in what can turn a good shot into something great and unique. I think my advice would be to use the in-game environments to your advantage. For example, lighting in a particular set piece. You can use the natural source of light and position your character so that it covers the character completely or casts shadows at an angle which adds another dynamic. You can also use in-game lighting tools to adjust or improve!
— @carrotscaptures
Personally, I'd say experiment with angles. Don't just stick with a face-on angle, try from the back of the head or top down. Something a different angle and change the lighting and the whole vibe of a portrait that could enhance it!
— @Toko
A piece of advice is I’ll give is that you should be able to convey the details and characteristics of the characters and I'm not just talking about physical aspects, but also about the character traits and attitudes of the characters in the game. You can achieve this by conveying emotions in the portraits using color, light and shadow techniques. I do this and it helps a lot.
— @seeing_the_v
That's a tough question.... I guess a good portrait for me starts with the right lighting (not to mention the right subject obviously ) once you have good lighting, it's easy going from there.
— @Spartan_gamer
Lighting is very important when taking a portrait!
— @Caiquevp
The background is very important! I always like to use a black background or a blur - always with good lighting on the character - so the attention is always on the character!
Do you have additional tips?
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