Human Skills for Portrait Photography

Taking great portraits is as much about people skills as technical ability, or using the latest and greatest photographic equipment. Of course, refining your technical skills and knowledge can expand the range of your abilities, and using superior gear can indeed increase your advantage. But unless you can first see through your subject's eyes, understand her as a unique person, and then establish a rapport with her in order to unveil and accentuate her best qualities, your portraits will remain at their best. mediocre. Some lessons learned throughout my journey as a photographer may help those who choose to follow

• If using a tripod

compose your portrait, then just step sideways and forward from the camera. Do not look through the viewfinder when capturing the image of your subject. This allows you to first make eye contact with your subject, then direct them into the mood, expression, posture, and gaze angle you are aiming for. When your subject interacts with your camera, the result can be a cold or lifeless rendering, but when you engage your subject through eye contact, expression, gestures, and words, the result can be a warm and candid reflection. , charged with mood or emotion.

• If you're not using a tripod

you should really work harder to maintain constant interaction with your subject. Many photographers tend to keep their eyes on the camera's viewfinder, but this leads to your subject interacting more with the front glass of your lens than with you. Again, you don't want the sterile, lifeless rendering that most often comes when the camera is used to isolate your photographer from your subject. Interaction with an inanimate object (your camera) can never substitute for interaction with another human being (you) when your goal is to capture the essence of your subject and reflect on the attitude and l emotion she was feeling at that moment.

Human Skills for Portrait Photography

•  Allow your subject to be herself

A little girl dressed in fairy wings for a special image is very cute, and I guess there is a place in this world for cute. But, contrast that with the little girl who just loves to dance. You put her in her everyday clothes, hold her in front of a plain background, put on her favorite music and say, "Can you show me how to dance to this song?" You should have no trouble capturing expressions timeless there. Now imagine a guy in jeans and a T-shirt whose true lifelong passion is sailing.

You dress him in a tailored suit; pose it formally against a low-key backdrop, seated in a Chippendale chair, and use classic loop lighting. What will people say about this portrait years later? "Who was that guy, a group leader?" But suppose you photographed that same guy in his favorite t-shirt and blue jeans, at the helm of his beloved sailboat, on a beautiful late afternoon- noon, when the boat arrived? What will people say about this portrait years later? "That was Charlie, doing what he loved the most! It was a glory day." The point is, "honest." Fantasy may be cute, but your subject being herself, years later will be much more meaningful.

•  Allow Your Subject's Expression to Be Honest

A genuinely felt frown or grimace can be more interesting than a forced smile. I try never to put my subject down and say, "Ok, now smile for me." If you want your subject to smile, tell a joke, put on a face, or maybe just smile at her and she'll smile at you. People generally tend to reflect in their face what they see in yours, but in my experience, that's not always the case. Nevertheless, interaction with your subject matter is key. That being said, the next time you have a tough subject ask him to tell you a joke and bring a smile if that's the phrase you're after. If you're a professional, you know that smiles sell, but if you're an amateur, you have no pressure to sell, so make your portraits interesting. Not everyone is smiling.

• Direct your portraits

Take control of the composition of your portraits! Don't be afraid to say or show about yourself whatever you want. Sometimes showing is the best. I often find that demonstrating a pose I have in mind works better than trying to direct my subject through words alone. If you are photographing a group, your life will be easier if you organize and pose the adults first. Then work your way from the oldest (or more mature and settled) to the youngest child. The point to remember is that, as a photographer, you should take charge of the shot. The success or failure of the portrait will be your responsibility, so take charge.

Engage your subject in building and building rapport with her, taking your photos to the next level. Make your portraits more meaningful by keeping them honest and natural. We all know that a fantastic photo can be cute, and a formally posed portrait can be graceful and dignified if that's your subject's personality. But, a portrait faithful to the subject is always more meaningful. Allow your subject to be herself, and never force an expression. Learn how to take charge and direct your portraits and you will go far in your journey as a photographer. Practice your people skills with every portrait you take. People skills are the prerequisite for everything else if you want to take great portraits. Have a nice day and happy clicking!