| Taking great portraits is as much about people skills | | | | beloved sail boat, on a beautiful late afternoon, just |
| as it is about technical ability, or using the latest and | | | | as the boat was coming about? What would be said |
| greatest photographic equipment. Sure, refining your | | | | of this portrait years later? "This was Charlie, doing |
| technical skills and knowledge may expand the extent | | | | what he loved most! That was such a glorious day." |
| of your capabilities, and using superior equipment may | | | | The point is, "keep it honest". Fantasy can be cute, |
| indeed boost your edge. But, unless you can first see | | | | but your subject being herself, years later this will be |
| through your subject's eyes, and understand her as a | | | | much more meaningful. The image galleries at show |
| unique individual, and then build rapport with her so | | | | good examples of allowing the subject to be herself |
| you can unveil and accentuate her finest qualities, | | | | and then capturing elegant but honest portraits of |
| your portraits will remain mediocre at best. Some | | | | her.4. Allow your subject's expression to be honest. |
| lessons learned along my journey as a photographer | | | | A frown or a grimace that is genuinely felt can be |
| may help those who choose to follow.1. If using a | | | | more interesting than a smile that is forced. I try to |
| tripod, compose your portrait and then take one | | | | never just pose my subject and then say, "Okay, |
| step just to the side and forward from the camera. | | | | now smile for me." If you want your subject to smile |
| Do not look through the viewfinder as you capture | | | | then tell a joke, put on a face, or perhaps merely |
| your subject's image. This allows you to make eye | | | | smile at her and she will smile back at you. People |
| contact initially with your subject, and then direct her | | | | generally tend to reflect in their face what they see |
| in mood, expression, position, and the angle of gaze | | | | in yours, but in my experience this is not always so. |
| you are aiming for. When your subject interacts with | | | | Nevertheless, interaction with your subject is the key. |
| your camera, the result can be a cold or lifeless | | | | That being said, the next time you have a difficult |
| rendering, but when you engage your subject | | | | subject ask him to tell you a joke, to bring out a |
| through eye contact, expression, gestures and | | | | smile, if that's the expression you are after. If you |
| words, the result can be a warm and candid | | | | are a professional, you know that smiles sell, but if |
| reflection, charged with mood or emotion.2. If you | | | | you're an amateur, you are under no pressure to sell, |
| are not using a tripod, you really should redouble your | | | | so make your portraits interesting. Not everything in |
| effort to maintain constant interaction with your | | | | the world is to smile about.5. Direct your portraits. |
| subject. Many photographers tend to keep their eyes | | | | Take control of the composition of your portraits! Do |
| in the viewfinder of the camera, but this leads to | | | | not be afraid to tell or show your subject what you |
| your subject interacting more with the front glass in | | | | want. Sometimes showing is best. I often find that |
| your lens than with you. Again, you do not want the | | | | actually demonstrating a pose I have in mind, works |
| sterile and lifeless rendering that most often comes | | | | better than trying to direct my subject through |
| when the camera serves to isolate you the | | | | words alone. If you are photographing a group, your |
| photographer from your subject. Interaction with an | | | | life will be easier, if you arrange and pose the adults |
| inanimate object (your camera) can never be a | | | | first. Then, work your way from oldest (or more |
| substitute for interaction with another human being | | | | mature and settled) to youngest of the children. The |
| (you), when your goal is to capture the essence of | | | | point to remember is, as the photographer, you |
| your subject, and reflect the attitude and emotion | | | | should take charge of the shot. The success or |
| she was feeling at that moment in time.3. Allow your | | | | failure of the portrait will be your responsibility, so |
| subject to be herself. A little girl dressed up in fairy | | | | take charge.Engage your subject to establish and |
| wings for a special picture is very cute, and I | | | | build rapport with her, to take your photos to a |
| suppose there is a place in this world for cute. But, | | | | higher level. Make your portraits more meaningful by |
| contrast this with the little girl who just loves to | | | | keeping them honest, and natural. We all know a |
| dance. You put her in her everyday clothes, stand | | | | fantasy photo can be cute, and a formally posed |
| her in front of a plain backdrop, put on her favorite | | | | portrait can be graceful and dignified, if that is your |
| music and say to her, "can you show me how to | | | | subject's personality. But, a portrait that is true to |
| dance to this song?" You should have no difficulty in | | | | the subject is always more meaningful. Allow your |
| capturing timeless expressions there. Now imagine a | | | | subject to be herself, and never force an expression. |
| jeans and t-shirt kind of guy whose true passion in all | | | | Learn to take charge and direct your portraits and |
| of life is sailing. You dress him up in a tailored suit; | | | | you will move far ahead in your journey as a |
| formally pose him in front of a low key backdrop, | | | | photographer. Practice your people skills with each |
| seated in a Chippendale chair, and use classic loop | | | | portrait you take. People skills are the prerequisite to |
| lighting. What would be said of this portrait years | | | | all else, if you want to take great portraits. Good day |
| later? "Who was this guy, an executive?" But just | | | | and happy clicking!Steve Barnes is a professional |
| suppose, you photographed this same guy in his | | | | portrait photographer and co-owner of Hayley Barnes |
| favorite t-shirt and blue jeans, at the helm of his | | | | Photography in League City, Texas. |