The Art of Portrait Photography

Portrait photography can be indoors in a studio setting or outside in natural light. You can also take full body shots, half body or head anf shoulder shots. It is important to plan your shoot before actually getting into it.

When the location has been decided you should establish what source of lighting is available and from which direction it will be coming, or do you need to provide your own lighting. From there you can determine what camera is best suited, which lenses to bring and what other props are required.

So you have now scoped out the scene, gathered your equipment and are raring to go.

But wait there is something equally as impoerant that is you need to develop a close rapport with your client. It is imperative that you put your client at ease. Find out there likes and dislikes, discuss the procedure and reassure them that everything will be fine.Keep a close watch on their mannerisms and look for their best side and recognise their natural smile

Most clients are nervous at first and usually try to hard, as the shoot procedes they will relax and better shots will be taken.
If you are wondering what to talk about with your clients then the answer is anything that will show you something distinctive for that person. Try to look for different face expressions and eye or mouth movement. When you see something beautiful keep it in mind and later capture it in your portraits. Believe me that studying the subject before making the portrait photography is the biggest secret in this art.

I advice you to always use natural light if it’s possible. Choosing the background is very important. If the picture is to close then the background looses any meaning, if it’s to far then the background will overwhelm the subject. So try not to merge the subject with the background in an indistinguishable shape.

From my perspective portrait photography has it all. You have the subtlety og lighting, angles, poses expressions and character traits that all form part of the storey.

There is nothing more satisfying than to see the amazed reactions of your clients as they come face to face with themselves in a way that they have never seen before For many of us a realistic portrait gives the subject a degree of immortality.