PRO SECRETS for SHARP PORTRAITS! Aperture, Shutter Speed & ISO 

Ahhh I love when you post educational material. Everything seems to be so gear focused on all my channels lately.

Good video. When I shoot wedding parties or groups I have each person about a quarter step closer going away from the center. Reason for that is to try and keep each subject the same distance from the lens. That way I'm able to use a wider aperture and have better DOF for background blur. Much easier to get everyone in focus. Works for me over the years.

F1.4?? I can’t afford that. I’ll give ya f1.8.

I bought your book a few years ago and I am still referring back to it as there is so much information. Its a book that I am recommending to every beginner and to most advanced photographers as well.

Thank you, you all are one of my favorite RU-vid channels

Tony is a natural bobblehead doll. Another hidden talent.

Can't stop smiling when you are together. Love watching when you are working together, such a beautiful couple and I learn alot... I haven't used my Nikon 750 for a number of years and now I am panicked because I need to take great photos at our son's University Graduation.... Some of his friends cannot afford their parents there nor a photographer... so I am hoping to give them some joy by photographing them on the grounds. They are amazing young men and women and our son is so happy we can go and attend and take some photos. I feel silly feeling so nervous as I was in the R&D group of people who worked on the first digital Fujix Camera in 1994 which launched in Chicago after spending time in Fuji Japan earlier that year as an application & color specialist. I helped calibrate our algorithm for the North American market. The total camera weighed 35-lbs and I was at 110 lbs! Now I'm trying to muster up enough guts and info for a graduation photo shoot! How funny is that. Cheers to all grads 2024 and their loving well-meaning parents. Wish me luck! Thanks again for your wonderful work.

It' not just at f5.6 that Tony looks sharp, he's always looking sharp!

Tony out here looking suave AF!

Tony's wiggle makes him look like a Thunderbirds puppet lol

Hi Chelsea, in studio with flash the shutter speed is not from the camera so much but from the flash. Take a picture without flash and if it is all black then the light is from the flash only. That means the flashing time ist what normally is the shutter speed. Scaling down the flash decreases the flashing time in many cases but it depends on the flash system. If the flash has a row of power units inside it may not. Scaling down an on camera flash to it's minimum can mean a flashing time of something like 1/20000 of a second, really short. Remember: The permanent light of studio flashes is dimmed down to zero when you take a picture. In a studio for photos the apperture is used to get pictures brighter or darker as well as the control on the flash and of course the distance flash to object. Light diminishes in the square: Double distance means only a quarter of light. Greetings from Meissen, Germany. I love everything you do.

Tony out focus looks like Colonel Sanders. Can’t unsee it 🙈

New to photography, I was shooting birds outside my office window. The images were never quite tack sharp when zooming in. After 3 weeks of futzing around and watching RU-vid videos, I finally realized I should probably open the window rather than shoot through the glass. Zooms were still not tack sharp. I finally got a measuring tape and realized the birds in the tree where closer than the minimal focal distance for my telephoto lens. Who'da thought. Things are going much better now...

When Chelsea's teaching from behind the cam 🙌

Wow! It is possible to recognise a contact lens in Tony's eye. Indeed sharp portrait :)

Can you do the 60mp with the kit lens Vs the 24mp with the pro lens? This should support your last point in to what to upgrade when you upgrade: Body or lens first?

2:42 - Damn, shots fired

Love love the outtakes at the end. You two are so entertaining and educational. So Fun together!

LOL 3:36 - Chelsea - "Help me"

I had to watch this twice, just because of Tony's wiggle lol. Love it 👌

Excellent video. Very funny together in a good way you two very good watching both of you totally honest and casual. Tony moved like a bobble head doll jiglling his head also funny. That is what love is being casual and accepting with each other. I've been doing nighttime street photo shoots no flash and ISO 6400 and F4 and 1/25 second of slower or faster depending on the street lights around.

Tony coming into focus from the back is the stuff of nightmares.

Thanks. Im happy with the SDP. also downloaded the updated version

Love this vid. You manage to combine educational with inclusive warmth in your very special interaction. It’s a feelgood mov in xmas times - thank you! 💜

That "lean in" tip is gold. Thanks.

Great to refresh on the essentials!

You two are the GOAT's in photography. I bought the book years ago and it definitely upped my game. Tons of valuable content is contained within.

you have to love Tony and Chelsea. Always working hard to educate us. Much love guys.God bless. X

“Never do that” 🤣 I died

good rule of thumb for eliminating camera shake: set the shutter speed to 1/focal length. If you're on a 50mm, set T to 1/50s CAUTION! If you're on a crop sensor camera, you need to calculate with the RELATIVE focal length. 50mm on MFT with a crop factor of 2: set the shutter speed to 1/100s.

Nicely done! Thanks!

Great to see Chelsea "drive" for the first part of the video. We need more of that.

Please read fully if replying: I don't completely agree about some of the points made like a 24MP not being able to give hi level images compared to a 61MP. If a higher Megapixel Camera would be all you need then why are Phone cameras with high Megapixel ratings still not as good as the Sony a9 for instance. Xiaomi has announced a 108MP Phone and it will not resolve like a 24MP Camera with good glass. I do agree the better lens instead of a kit lens can make a difference but then you would have to be specific as to which lens you are talking about. Tethering in studio and checking images on a larger screen is almost a must do in pro level work. Tethering is a bit of a problem and a budget consideration when going outdoors, needing a field monitor but the rear screen of your camera is not a very good guide at all. I own a Hi end 24MP and a high end 42MP camera and there is very little in difference to me and others who have seen my work.

The both of you are so much fun to watch...can't help but learn a thing or two as well!

This is the first Northrup post I've seen where Tony remained silent for more than 3 minutes! He's a "model" of patience. I enjoy your posts and found Tony's drone video on Part107 exam to be the best out there.

2:33 lol that needs to be a meme! Some people should never channel their inner child.

Fiiiiinally, a video with actual tips and tricks after *quite* a while.

I've just been binge watching all these videos like I've found something new on netflix. Thanks guys~!

Excellent video! Tips, pointers, and helpful information. That's why I got married to your channel years ago. The goatee Tony Northrup is who I orginally seen when I found the channel. It gives one a wiser appearance. Lol! Good work again folks.

I bought your book a couple of years ago.... I still reference it. I bought it when I purchased my first drone. I have a Nikon Z6 and a D7500. You have gotten me from step A to step D maybe?? I still have a long way to go.... Thanks a bunch for all you do...

I enjoyed watching your video. Because it is amazingly sharp.

Top stuff Chelsea -- always pick up useful tips despite doing photography for many years. The way yourself and Tony nail the basics is amazing something for everyone at all levels --- RESPECT -- keep up the fantastic work

The perfect video guys! This has it all. Family friendly, upbeat, funny, some tech, method and a real live comparison of kit vs pro gear done by pros. I feel like you made this just for me.

I like how ypu pulled yourself into the focal plain very easy for people to understand whats happening. Good job guys!

Dude just a simple cleaning is the most basic 101. And a valuable lesson do it often.

Great. We'll share this with our group. Thank you, Happy Holidays ;)

Thanks Chelsea and Tony, you made it so easy to understand. Ordering Stunning Digital Photography now, gotta do Amazon. Merry Christmas 🎄🍸

Chelsea "Never do that" Then comes the sorrowful piano music and the close up zoom on poor chastistized Tony... What cinematic drama, I almost cried. Chelsea you got the smarts Tony you got the looks, you two need to be making Netflix or HBO series or movies. Not to say, Chelsea that you don't have "the looks", you do but Tony, he's got the looks for the big screen and the charm of the likes of Leo Dicaprio, Johnny Depp, Brad Pitt and George Clooney.

Whoa Tony's front eye was so sharp I could see his contact lens!

You guys make photography a joy and a laugh!

3:36 "Help me!" *Somebody call 911*

Nice to see Chelsea teaching and Tony being the model

I am Wonder, Mean How can You Guys Work so Wonderful. I am Finding many Answer of My Questions From your Videos. Every Video is Very detailed for Understanding . Keep The Superb Work. Regards

Lovely video! The soft vs. hard light I'm going to browse for next... As for aperture on portrait, I tend to go for 4 or 4.5 - simply because my glass' performs much better compared to F/5.6... But then again, I shoot portrait using the TAMRON 70-200 USD VC AF-C & AF-S single point works equally fine on my D800E (I feel*)

🥰🥰🥰I love the on screen presentation with the both of you🤣🤣🤣🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲

Actually on my tests I have found that wide open aperture with ISO 100 isn't as good as something like F5.6 with ISO 600. Lenses wide open loose sharpness, even L lenses. Most photography tests reveal that F8 is always better than F3.5 If you have a 6D which has really good noise reduction built in, then it's better to go for higher ISO. In fact without cropping, I find that higher ISO looks sharper up to ISO 1000, only noticeable when zoomed in 100% The exception is if you have a prime lens, like a 50mm f1.8 which you want to shoot in mostly for the art style.

I have been doing some portrait photos lately and watched this video again . Some really great tips. I like the comparison shots.

Great tutorial!!! You guys book is awesome!!! I just bought it last week and about to get i to ch 5. Thanks and you guys are clowns. Keep it up!!

You guys are simply awesome.... Stay blessed !!!

Thank you so much for the tip. That Lean method helped me greatly.

This video is so good to watch. You guys mastered the educational videos on this topic

I love you you Tony and che. U guys are doing great

You guys are awesome. So educational and entertaining videos at the same time.Marvellous. Thank you for being in the photography world...

Awesome fun tutorial. Keep it up! Like the demo that higher MP camera bodies can yield more detail in closeup portraits. Time to save up I think. Until then my trusty Nikon D750 will still do for awhile.

00:54 "low light Tony" looks like Jamie Foxx!

me alegro mucho al verlos, sigan trabajanfo asi. a veces dificil de entender du idioma.

Perfect video, but I wonder what kind of lens and camera you guys used

Very good tutorial for beginners, and I do like that the dude makes video tutorials with his daughter

Great video thank you! It would have been even better if you had listed the lens that was used in the video

Your videos are informative and fun to watch! Getting the Portrait book. Thanks!

such a very beautiful photographer

Nice video and very insightful

How do you two just get better looking through the years. Great video. Thank you.

I love you guys! Your Chanel is awesome!!!! For beginner photography like me!

i wish there was more said about the sweet spot aperture of each lens, in regards to sharpness (the point after which the diffraction shows off); that would be very useful for cropped macro photography in particular.

You guys are great and I always learn a few things from your videos. Thank you.

I use manual mode but have the iso on auto. I will now set iso at 800 and start from the, and see what happens. I think I will improve.

You guys are fantastic

“I’m channeling my inner child!” “Never do that.” Lololol

You are both amazing! Thank you for this and all other videos you share!

even the oldest of tips n tricks sound new when Chelsea explains it.. 😍

Great video. Thanks 🙏🏻😊

I must admit that the info is great. So is the entertainment.

Chelsea I love your explanations, greetings from Chile!

This was so useful! Especially the part where you said that shooting close (Primarily what I shoot) it can focus on the eyelash and eyebrow. Even with a good lens continuous eye can miss the iris. Might be ok for a full body shot that will be going on instagram but for critical focus and having it printed that sometimes isnt enough. I started using dmf focusing that reason but now that I saw this video I will give single point eye af a shot and also the leaning in trick. Thanks so much for putting out this video. Helped a ton

love the ending

I like your books looks great thanks for the tips

Thanks Tony & Chelsea. I just bought an A7III, my first home studio test shoot with a strobe produced very orange/strong tan skin tones in Raws out of camera just like your results here, compared with the video color? I am experimenting, I won't leave WB on Auto next time! I come from Nikon DSLR....

Ooh didn't know that changing to single AF would help. Gonna try that next time. Thanks for le useful info !

Wonderful class 😊

I have to admit that the wiggle Tony section made me laugh out loud. Thanks :)

You guys are looking very innocent ... good souls ... god bless u ... trying to make money by really working hard ... best of luck guys

another great video and very informative - short and sweet ! Love what you guys do !

Very interesting, as a total newbie, you got me to understand alots Thanks you !

5:30 for those who dont understand why he needs to do this. Simply try to focus on a corner of a chair (at your widest aperture) you only get 1 tack sharp focus shot in every few shots. Its because the autofocus area is not pin point but rather an area in the rectangle. I found that by taking multiple photos but refocussing again at the same point in each shot, youll end up with one good one. And this is obviously not a "i can set on tripod, live view, manual focus, and get pin point focus".

I love your photography and you become more beautiful than before.

You guys are simply the best 🙏📸 🙂

Great Video, Always good to hear a refresher on all photography aspects. Keep up the great videos

I just found this video and am a new photographer. This is probably the first video I’ve found that’s palatable and I’m able to apply immediately. What’s in the rest of that book!? Lol Thank you guys

Great video! Very well thought out and presented. Thank you 🙏