Photo Basics by Westcott

Lighting Tips & Techniques by Erin Manning

Whether it's for social networking, a business website, or online dating, we all need a good portrait of ourselves. Now, thanks to technology, it's possible to capture a professional-looking portrait in the comfort of your own home.

Quick Tips: Taking Good Portraits

	Tip 1: Look for a catch light in the eyes. This reflection of light in the eyes makes your subject come alive in the image.

	Tip 2: Create a more visually compelling image by using the "rule of thirds." Visually divide your scene into thirds and place something of interest at one or more of the intersections.

	Tip 3: Give yourself room to zoom for a flattering perspective. If you want to fill the frame with your subject's face, don't use the wide-angle setting and move in close. Instead, stand back and give yourself room to zoom in with your telephoto lens to fill the frame.

These tips are provided by Erin Manning, a professional photographer, teacher and television personality. Television viewers know Erin best as the digital photography expert and host of DIY Network's Telly-award-winning TV series The Whole Picture. She has also appeared as the techno-lifestyle guru on Enable Your Home and is author of Portrait and Candid Photography, published by Wiley. She helps people understand photography and technology by translating technical mumbo-jumbo into everyday words and by facilitating their learning with a clear, friendly teaching style.

Home Studio Lighting Kit
Erin is the host of the Educational DVD in the new Photo Basics Home Studio LIghting Kit. Learn more.

Book: Portrait and Candid Photography
Taking great "people pictures" isn't a matter of luck. The secret is in observing your subjects and connecting with them, and then using your camera to its best advantage. Here's how to work with lighting, location, angle, composition, physical characteristics, environment, and a host of other variables, including the unique challenges of photographing babies, group activities, and action. Buy it now.

To learn more, visit Erin's website.

The Beauty of Natural Light

Natural light can be beautiful, especially early in the morning and late in the afternoon, but you can't rely on it. If you're using an on-camera flash the results are often unflattering and difficult to control. That's why it's best to use a constant, flattering light source to achieve consistent results. I discovered that a lot of people want professional-looking pictures without spending a lot of money, and they're intimidated by the technology and price of professional lighting kits. So I teamed up with Photo Basics to offer a safe, simple, "cool to the touch" daylight balanced lighting kit that makes you look good!

Before and After using Fluorescent Studio Lighting

I took a picture of Karla on That Morning Show on E! Look at the results I achieved in the "After" photograph, just by using one of the Home Studio Lights. Learn more about the Home Studio Lighting Kit.

Quality and Direction of Light

The quality and direction of light can make or break a photograph. Notice where the shadows are falling upon your subject and it's easy to identify which direction the light is coming from.


Top Light Top light is just like a sunny day at high noon - not attractive. Overhead light creates under-eye shadows.	Front Light Front light is considered beauty light, because it minimizes wrinkles and bumps. The shadow under my subject's nose indicates the light is placed in front of the face and above the eye line.	Side Light Side light creates dimension and texture in your image. Sidelight is found outside in the early morning or late afternoon when the sun is low in the sky.