Camera Sony DSLR-A700
Exposure 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture f/1.4
Focal Length 85 mm
ISO Speed 800
Exposure Bias 0 EV

jonlee : Thanks!

empty-ball : When shooting portraits it's mostly trial and error. It would be easier if you have an idea of what kinda picture you want before clicking the shutter.

If you want a full face shot only then get close and make sure the face fill the frame and the eyes are in the upper one third of the frame (general rules of third). If you want a full body shot then make sure you get everything in.

Things to consider :

1. Background. Choose a decent background for your shot.
2. Eye contact or no eye contact. Sometimes no eye contact also nice.
3. Tilt or no tilt. Up to you but like I said it's mostly trial and error.
4. Lighting. How and where you want the light to hit on your subject.

Hope this helps.

here's a sample of my unskilled picture...


The Look by NinjaKlickZ, on Flickr

most importantly, try to have eye contact with the subject. having a strong eye contact gives the image more substance. shots without eye contact lacks intimacy with the subject. its the same with pet's portraiture as well. it is also important to have the focus on the eyes decently sharp. of course, the sharper the better (but do not photoshop the sharpness in, it WILL look fake)

apart from that, be careful not to crop into the model's ears, or other body parts unless for specific framing purposes. try not to 'cut' away a model's arm at the joints (elbows, wrists, knees and ankle), it will leave the image looking as though you're taking a picture of an amputee - not at all flattering. try not to leave too much negative space around the subject as well. crop in tight to fill the shot with your subject. it will make your model  the main subject instead of the cluttered background, no matter how 'bokeh-ed' or creamy it is..

start with the above 1st.

further down the road, you'll need to learn about lighting - on how not to overblow the highlights or drowning the shadows. also on, directional lighting vs soft lighting vs backlighting.

deeper into portrait shooting, there is keylight, hair light and backlight..

start with the basics 1st. start slow, and learn the foundations, then only build your skills on a strong foundation and understanding of how to utilize light to work for you, instead of having light restricting on what you can do. ask "with this light, what can i do to incorporate it into my image" instead of, "this is bad light, i can't take a good image with this light"
   

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Added on March 1, 2011, 4:10 pm

Y U NO like wide lenses?

understand how is 'bokeh' generated. set up the situation so that it will easily be recreated. easiest way is to have a far away background.
when you're near to your subject, you dont really have to use flash. is there any nearby source of light you can use? move the subject around so that the light falls on the subject's face, that way, you dont have to use flash and spoil your image. experiment more, then you will know what can and cannot be done 

do share your pics and maybe we can troubleshoot your problem...my pic was taken using natural light with my 50mm...here's another sample of BG bokeh...

empty-ball : Just my 2 cents.

1st pic
- lighting issue. You need to get more light onto your subject's face.
- cropping. Like what lwliam said - try not to crop out hands/limbs or legs that look like they were amputated. Her hand is cut off right about the wrist. Makes for a not-so-nice look. You could also move the subject more to the left side of the frame so that her arm on the right side will not be half cropped and her buttocks can be whole again.

2nd pic
- a bit soft. How's your shutter speed? Where did you focus on? Did you recompose?

empty-ball : Just my 2 cents.

1st pic
- lighting issue. You need to get more light onto your subject's face.
- cropping. Like what lwliam said - try not to crop out hands/limbs or legs that look like they were amputated. Her hand is cut off right about the wrist. Makes for a not-so-nice look. You could also move the subject more to the left side of the frame so that her arm on the right side will not be half cropped and her buttocks can be whole again.

2nd pic
- a bit soft. How's your shutter speed? Where did you focus on? Did you recompose?

iso3200 already 1/4sec, if u set iso800 will be 1sec shutter already, i think its a good move to use iso3200, else u will need to use your pop up flash at rear-sync mode to include the ambient light into the shot.

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Added on March 1, 2011, 6:56 pmemptyball, thats why, u in serious need for a TT session, when are u dropping by KL? Tell us in advance, we'll try to arrange one for u. Else, try ask northern alpha legion see if they can arrange a TT or not..

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Added on March 1, 2011, 6:57 pmcassplayer, do post more

iso3200 already 1/4sec, if u set iso800 will be 1sec shutter already, i think its a good move to use iso3200, else u will need to use your pop up flash at rear-sync mode to include the ambient light into the shot.

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Added on March 1, 2011, 6:56 pmemptyball, thats why, u in serious need for a TT session, when are u dropping by KL? Tell us in advance, we'll try to arrange one for u. Else, try ask northern alpha legion see if they can arrange a TT or not..

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Added on March 1, 2011, 6:57 pmcassplayer, do post more

on your alpha, there's typically 3 flash mode.

Normal, fill-flash
rear-sync
and WL mode (wireless)

normal mode is as usual. A blast of light to light up your subject, normally leaves the background all dark and lifeless. Rear-sync, the blast of light will be at the end of the shutter click opposed to the nromal mode where its at the beginning. Rear-sync mode will tell your camera by default to use a setting which will let in more background ambient light into your pic, making it looks more 'alive' rather than a black background.

WL mode is used to trigger a wireless flash held off-camera. More on that in the future when u have ur own f42/f58 flash

TT have multiple versions, all leading to one final outcome: poisoned kao kao knowledge gained..

TT session: Teh Tarik session, Technology Transfer session or Self-poison session..

empty-ball, u have facebook account? I'd like to add you there..

TT usually at a coffee shop or kedai mamak. usually you will have to pay for your own drinks & meal. but you do have the option of paying for whoever you want.... 

u tell us la when u coming KL, we plan one lor.. Dun tell me tmr u coming, then u tell us now, of coz hard la like that, at least 2-3 days in advance, best if 1 week before, to find more kaki and poisonous gears to come out to play...

put it like this, if u lazy to fiddle with settings next time, u can safely leave it at rear-sync.. It will be fine..

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Added on March 1, 2011, 7:38 pmand oh, have u read through the manual that came long with the camera? Its pretty informative actually..

http://www.digital-photography-school.com/...slow-sync-flash

go read it here

*ieR go stalk william FB see if he adds anyone suspicious*

so, the KL - Alpha Convention TT, which day good? caturday? so who going? the list macam hilang dah...

12 march 2011, KLCC 8:00pm. should be in the foodcourt.

1. ieR - will bring calibration tool.
2. chiahau
3. william
4. kysham
5. albnok?
6. cjlai
7. zstan
8. ?

you will need a tripod if shoot in dark conditions...go get one if you don't have

wawawa..empty ball....spam yeah? what did you asked? i think i miss everything previously ><

emptyball u better come, its a hard chance to meet sifu like kysham all the way sabah!

First pic very noisy eh? You using a55? a55 got noise problem? I only know my old a380 @ ISO 3200 = Unviewable.
Second pic not sharp, Like got abit of handshake.