Emotive Portraiture
By Emily O'Donnell
25 May 2008
Ten tips for great portraiture.
1. Make sure your model is comfortable. I have seen many portrait shoots where the subject appears awkward and unsure of themselves. Even actors can be uncomfortable in front of the camera. Talk to them, make jokes, get them to smile and be as natural as possible, you will see a difference. I often have actors recite me a monologue because once they are in the mindset of acting, they forget themselves and become someone else.
2. The eyes are key but not the priority. Focusing for the eyes is always a good idea, it adds depth and power to your photo. However if the rest of the photo is boring then you will get a boring shot. It is essential to balance your composition.
3. Get creative. So many portrait shoots are the same, a model in a natural setting unsure of what to do with themselves or against a blank wall floating in space. Be unorthodox in your approach, shoot against the norm and you will get better results.
4. Determine which is better suited for your shoot, black and white or color. Many people I know feel they look best in black and white portraiture and as a long time film photographer, I tend to lean towards black and white for serious portraiture. It enhances the form and you are not as distracted by color. If you are shooting with color, make sure it fits the mood you are going for.
5. Props can be effective if used correctly. Get to know your model, what are their interests and hobbies? What is their culture? Even a subtle prop can be used to enhance texture and impact. For a nude shoot, I draped a beaded veil over the body and created a contrast between the texture of the light and of the beads. For another shoot, I draped a lace veil over my subject to create a curtain between us and enhance the texture of the folds. Never underestimate the power of a simple piece of cloth.
6. Tell a story. This is the golden rule for all photography but with portraiture I feel it is even more important. You don't want your portraits to be lost in the masses of typical people shots. By creating characters or stories you can portray something different to your viewers.
7. Push the limits. Make a statement with your work about culture or the human spirit.
8. Make sure your nudes are tasteful. There is a fine line between artistic nude and pornography. Nudes don't always have to be about displaying the genitalia and my nudes rarely even show those bits. I find it more beautiful to focus on the curves and texture of the form or the subtle sexuality of a bit of skin as opposed to a gratuitous breast shot.
9. Explore new surroundings. Portraiture is not limited to a studio space. Get outside and into nature or in a room in the subject's home where the feel most comfortable. Talk to your model and find out where they feel most at home and try shooting there.
10. When there is no one else around, shoot yourself. Self portraiture is a tricky practice and one that is often overlooked in portraiture. However I find it is most difficult to shoot yourself than anyone else. You are essentially shooting blind with a self timer or a remote and a tripod. You are not looking through the viewfinder, instead you are looking back into your own lens and composing yourself for the shot. This can be very tricky but once perfected, using yourself as a model can be a great help to your work. As photographers, we tend to have a natural abhorrence of the camera turned upon us and this is a great way to overcome that aversion. When you are shooting yourself, you are completely in control of your model and you may be able to get shots that would not otherwise be possible.
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