Portraits

Portraits are in essence photography stew. They combine all the elements of every other aspect of photography and mix together to create a potentially beautiful outcome. Whether it's using the rule of thirds to keep your subject out of the center weighted section of the frame to increase interest in the photo. Or using compositional skills such as angles and lines to direct attention to the subject.  The ideals of depth of field also play a huge role in making a beautiful portrait shot.  Use a shallow depth of field, this blurs the background and provides a beautiful backdrop to put all of the attention on the person you are photographing. Another aspect that we didn't cover a ton in this class, but than is vital to any good portrait shot is lighting. It is what will set the framework for the photo. Will you use shadows to convey a sense of gloom or dread? Will you use the golden hour of the day to provide a picturesque glowing backdrop that will show innocence  and vibrancy? 

All of these things are factored in before the model subject ever steps into frame. Now that they are preparing to take that step though, what other factors should you worry about? Firstly is their wardrobe. Does it match the vibe you were aiming for? Does it provide contrast to the background and the skin tones of the subject? Ultimately is it an attractive outfit that will further the photo? Or will it hinder you by forcing you to work around clashing colors or unattractive seams.   From there is the makeup or grooming of the subject. You want their appearance to match the portrait shot. If you are looking to convey hardwork, and long hours perhaps you have your subject covered in a bit of grime, maybe you see their dirtied face from the perspective of only their eyes.  On the flip side maybe they are looking for something in the way of a headshot, or a glamour shot.  Is their make up properly done ie. Do they not look like a clown?  Is their hair kept? Will it block their eyes during the shoot? Finally at the end of all these steps comes the actual posing.

Body language can tell as much about a person as any set of words. Do you want the subject to be stand offish, alluring? Vivacious? All of these are accomplished through proper posing. As a general rule of thumb try to avoid shots from straight ahead. Even if their head is pointed right at you have their shoulders a bit off kilter to provide a focus point and some form of lines to lead the viewer to the desired focal point.  Lastly is the placement of hands. Our eyes are a scene into our soul, it’s true. But our hands can tell so much. Whether gently nestled under the chin, or sturdily tucked into our pockets, they control every aspect of our body language. Be aware of this when photographing people. Lazy arms and hands can ruin an otherwise beautiful shot.