The key to a great silhouette is a great photo. What makes a great silhouette photo?
Here are some tips:
- Use a solid color background. Whenever possible, have your subject in front of a solid color background. If your subject has light skin, use a dark
background. If your subject has dark skin, use a light colored background. Try to eliminate shadows by changing lighting direction and turning the flash off.
- Spaces are good. Use spaces between body limbs whenever possible. Spaces between limbs help give the silhouette
definition. Limbs flat against the body with be part of the body mass. Just a half inch of
space helps a great deal.
- Keep hair styles to a minimum. When possible have space between a pony tail and the back of the neck. Keep hair simple and crisp. Curly
hair does not look as curly in a silhouette, it only has wavy edges.
- Get a true profile. Only take a picture when you are parallel to your subject. If you are higher looking down, or at an angle, chins merge into shoulders. If you are to the right or left you will not have a true profile. (We realize this is not always possible, we can work with many kinds of photos.)
- Capture your entire subject in your photo. We can't add feet to an image that does not have them. There is no
problem with extra space around your subject.
- Take lots of pictures. The more shots you take, the more likely you captured a winner. Remember, you are free to send us several pictures and let us help you decide which one will make the best silhouette.
- Higher resolution pictures create better silhouettes. Adjust your camera to the maximum picture size (resolution) in order to create a larger more detailed photo.
- Be you! The more natural you are the more natural your silhouette will look.
This is a great photo. Notice how it is a true profile and her hair has clear lines. There is also some space between her hair and neck to give the silhouette more definition. Her shoulder was also included. This photo will make a great silhouette.
This is a good photo with a true profile and clean lines. Notice how they put a light in front of her to eliminate shadows. The only problem with this photo is her shoulder is missing.
This is a great head shot but unfortunately his body is twisted and his right shoulder partly overlaps under his chin. Notice how it looks as a silhouette.
This is a great group photo. Notice how their faces are true profiles and there are spaces between their chins and shoulders. Most of their limbs also have some space separating them from their bodies. This photo will make a great silhouette.
This is a good example of having body limbs overlapping. Although a darling photo, as a silhouette, it is harder to see where the limbs are.
This is a great photo. Notice how both the baby and the father have true profiles. There is also a tiny space between the baby's legs that adds dimension. The only way to improve this photo would be to have a solid colored background. This photo makes a great silhouette.
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