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How do I make portraits look professional?

I am taking pictures for my FFA chapter officers because the original photographer can't make it. I have never done anything like it before. I have an SLR D-40 camera and usually just photograph nature. All I'm taking is a 55-80 lens and a tripod. Any tips for making the pictures turn out like a professional did them? I don't have any money to buy any expensive new equipment. But any lens caps or what other cheaper smaller things I can probably get without a lot of cash.
I make professional nature shots. Not people ones, just trying to learn; don't be such a snob.
I am doing this shoot as favor. Their photographer can't come and they need someone to take the pictures. I usually take nature shots and I don't know much about portraits, I don't expect my pictures to turn out as good as a professionals would. I just want them to look as good as they can.

Ok, first realize that you are NOT going to get portraits you take to look "professional". Have you ever been in a pro studio? Seen the thousands and thousands of dollars worth of lighting and backdrops? Do you know a pro camera and lens also cost many thousands of dollars... EACH. Then just having the equipment means nothing if you don't know how to use it. That is when skill and training and experience come into play.

Ok... just wanted to get that off my chest. Your question is the same as asking, "How can I cut someone's hair and make it look professional? I have no training as a hairdresser but I have a pair of scissors". Ridiculous huh? So why do people think if they have a consumer camera they can take portraits that will look "professional".

Now, you CAN do some things that will give you a better looking portrait. You made no mention of flash so I assume all you have is the pop up camera flash. Do not use it as your main light source. It will give a horrid, typical amateur snaphot hard light look on the face. Get in some flattering light. Window light is good if you can position your subject so the light softly falls on one side of their face. Have an assistent hold some type of reflector on the opposite side of the face for some fill light. Your camera will likely need to be on a tripod and you will have to use a remote shutter release or the self timer. Probably also doing a mirror lock up would be advisable.

Or go outside and under some shade. Do NOT put your subject directly under midday Sun. While in the shade, meter the ambient light and set your camera to properly expose for that. Be sure your shutter speed is not over 1/200 because you are going to use your flash for fill light. Lower the exposure compensation on the FLASH by -1. This will give a nice, flattering light on your subject while keeping the background properly exposed. Try not to have your subject very near any background element.

Ideally, you need to either do a custom white balance in camera, or shoot a grey card. Then, when you convert the RAW file, you can target the grey card in your converter and obtain a correct whilte balance to apply to the other photos taken under the same conditions.

Those are just some basics that WILL give you better photos, but I hope I have given you some understanding that "professional" portrats look the way they do because they are taken BY A PROFESSIONAL.

steve

Canon E-58U 58mm Snap-On Accessory Lens Cap
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