Portrait photography offers the chance to showcase the essence of people (or even pets), by highlighting their personalities, expressions and emotions in unique, creative ways. To help you get started, we have put together some tips and techniques we think will guide you towards being able to capture stunning portraits.
1. Building a Connection with Your Subject
The most compelling portraits go beyond just physical appearance, they capture the soul and character of the subject as well.
However, in order to achieve this level of intimacy, there needs to be a more personal connection and deeper level of trust between the photographer and the subject.
The easiest way to do this is to begin your portrait sessions by engaging in a casual conversation with your subject.
Building this rapport will not only help you to understand their personality, interests, and comfort zones, but it will also make them feel more at ease and help to bring out a greater layer of authenticity in your portraits.
2. Creating a Comfortable Environment
It’s important to remember that posing for a portrait can, for some, be an incredibly intimidating experience, especially if they aren’t a professional model, so creating a comfortable, stress-free environment for them to be in can really go a long way to ease their worries.
To help put them at ease, start off by making small talk, sharing a light-hearted moment, or even cracking a joke!
Doing this will not only help your subject to relax more and be themselves, it will ultimately make it easier to capture more natural and genuine looking portraits.
3. Introducing Variety in Expressions
A series of portraits that uses the same expression over and over again can become not only monotonous and boring, but also offers very little insight into a subject for the viewer.
As a portrait photographer, it’s your job to bring out a range of expressions from your subject to add more depth to your portraits and make them more engaging
Again, try engaging them in conversation, telling a joke, or even asking them to recall a specific memory to elicit an emotional response.
4. Experimenting with Perspectives
While traditional eye-level shots can be timeless, don’t limit yourself to them! By changing the perspective even slightly, you can dramatically alter the look and feel of the portrait.
Experiment with this by shooting from a high angle looking down or from a low angle looking up, sometimes these unconventional angles can add an element of surprise and really help to make your portraits stand out.
5. Playing with Eye Contact
As we all know, eye contact is a powerful thing, and changing the direction of the subject’s gaze can significantly influence not only the mood, but also the visual impact of the final portrait.
There are several ways you can experiment with this with your subject:
- Looking directly at the camera: creates a direct connection between the subject and the viewer and can be quite powerful.
- Looking off-camera: creates a sense of intrigue and make the viewer wonder what the subject is looking at.
- Looking within the frame: having a subject looking at another object or person within the frame can create a narrative and add another layer of complexity to the final image.
6. Choosing the Right Background
Choosing the right background can be a critical step in the portrait photography process.
Look for a simple, uncluttered background that complements your subject and won’t potentially distract the viewer’s attention.
You can also experiment with textured backdrops or backgrounds that add a layer of context to the subject.
7. Preparing Your Subject for the Shoot
As we know by now, a subject’s comfort and readiness will play a significant role in the outcome of the portrait session, but being prepared yourself will also help put them at ease.
Be ready to guide them through each step of the portrait session, from showing them what to wear, checking for distracting elements in their attire, and to making sure they look their best at all times.
8. Posing Your Subject
Guiding your subject on how to pose can be uncomfortable, even embarrassing experience, especially if you aren’t used to doing it. But it is essential, as it can dramatically alter the mood and message of the portrait.
While you’ll want to ensure that the poses look both natural and comfortable, don’t be afraid to experiment with different poses, from classic to unconventional, to see what works best for your subject.
9. The Power of Lighting
Lighting is another crucial element in portrait photography, that can add depth, create a specific mood, and even enhance the subject’s features.
Don’t be afraid to experiment with different lighting scenarios, from soft, diffused light to dramatic, hard light and everything in-between!
Also, if shooting outdoors, try shooting at different times of the day to take advantage of the varying quality of natural light.
10. Get Creative with Props and Themes
Depending on the type of portrait you are creating, using props can add an element of interest and help in narrating a story.
Start by choosing props that complement both the overall theme of the shoot but that also resonate with the subject’s personality.
Similarly, establishing an overall theme for the shoot can also help to create a cohesive set of portraits.
Final Thoughts
Portrait photography is a beautiful blend of art and technique that can be extremely rewarding for both photographer and subject alike
And we think that with these tips in your arsenal, you’ll be all set to create portraits that not only wow your viewers, but also tell captivating stories.
Image Credits: Woodrow Walden
