Portrait Photography Techniques Flashcards
6 cards from real Photography practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Portrait Photography Techniques flashcards as text
Which focal length is widely considered the most flattering for portrait photography because it minimizes facial distortion?
Answer: 85mm
An 85mm lens produces a natural perspective that avoids the distortion caused by wider lenses while keeping a comfortable working distance from the subject.
In portrait photography, where should the focus point be placed to ensure the sharpest, most engaging image?
Answer: The nearest eye to the camera
Focusing on the nearest eye ensures the most important feature of a portrait is tack-sharp, even when shooting at a wide aperture.
What is 'Rembrandt lighting' in portrait photography?
Answer: A small triangle of light on the shadow side of the face
Rembrandt lighting is identified by a small, inverted triangle of light on the cheek of the shadowed side, named after the painter who frequently used it.
What does 'catchlight' refer to in portrait photography?
Answer: The specular reflection of a light source visible in the subject's eyes
Catchlights are small reflections of the light source in the subject's eyes that add life and sparkle to a portrait.
Which aperture setting produces the shallowest depth of field and the most prominent background blur (bokeh) in a portrait?
Answer: f/1.8
A very wide aperture like f/1.8 limits the depth of field dramatically, rendering the background as a smooth blur that isolates the subject.
What is 'short lighting' (also called narrow lighting) in portrait photography?
Answer: Lighting the side of the face that is turned away from the camera
Short lighting illuminates the smaller, far side of the face, which tends to narrow facial features and add dimension.