Portrait Portrait photography photography Physical likeness & character Physical likeness & character make a good portraitmake a good portrait

Just about anyone who can Just about anyone who can aim a camera can make a aim a camera can make a portrait. portrait.

You may not have the studio, the equipment and the technical resources that the best portrait photographers have, but you can still produce excellent portraits by following their basic techniques and by understanding what makes a good portrait.

WHAT IS A PORTRAIT? WHAT IS A PORTRAIT?

A portrait is defined as a likeness of a A portrait is defined as a likeness of a person, especially of the person’s face. person, especially of the person’s face. A photographic portrait is understood to be a A photographic portrait is understood to be a

good quality image that not only captures a good quality image that not only captures a person’s person’s physical likeness physical likeness on film, but also on film, but also something of the person’s something of the person’s charactercharacter, , generally in a manner that is attractive and generally in a manner that is attractive and pleasing to the subject. pleasing to the subject.

This is NOT a portrait…This is NOT a portrait…

…or is it?

CHARACTER REVELATION CHARACTER REVELATION

A good portrait will contain A good portrait will contain at least one element that at least one element that reveals the subject’s reveals the subject’s personality, attitude, unique personality, attitude, unique mannerisms or any of the mannerisms or any of the other features or traits that other features or traits that form the individual nature of form the individual nature of the person. the person.

It will tell us something It will tell us something about the subject. about the subject.

HOW DO YOU DISCOVER HOW DO YOU DISCOVER CHARACTER TRAITS? CHARACTER TRAITS?

The portrait photographer must become proficient at The portrait photographer must become proficient at studying people whom he or she doesn’t know in order studying people whom he or she doesn’t know in order to capture their essence. to capture their essence.

This means watching for signals in a subject’s This means watching for signals in a subject’s mannerism, reactions, mannerism, reactions, expressions, body language and , body language and so on, and then judging how best to have the subject’s so on, and then judging how best to have the subject’s character revealed for the camera. character revealed for the camera.

It almost always requires engaging the subject in It almost always requires engaging the subject in conversation, and quickly finding a suitable topic that conversation, and quickly finding a suitable topic that will grab her or his interest and evoke a reaction. will grab her or his interest and evoke a reaction.

Find common ground Find common ground or a topic of or a topic of particular interest to particular interest to your subject, which your subject, which can be a hobby, the can be a hobby, the latest news, a mutual latest news, a mutual acquaintance, or any acquaintance, or any number of topics. number of topics.

This portrait clearly reveals the subject's interest (and the horse's tongue, which may explain his name, "Licker.")

WHEN TO BEGIN TAKING WHEN TO BEGIN TAKING PICTURES PICTURES

Sometimes your best Sometimes your best picture is your first picture, picture is your first picture, and sometimes it’s the last and sometimes it’s the last exposure you make. If the exposure you make. If the subject is in position, subject is in position, relatively-comfortable and relatively-comfortable and you are ready to shoot, you are ready to shoot, there is usually no reason there is usually no reason not to begin right away. not to begin right away.

Subjects do not have to Subjects do not have to smile to make a good smile to make a good portrait. A serious or portrait. A serious or thoughtful expression thoughtful expression can often be more can often be more revealing of character, revealing of character, and a better portrait. and a better portrait.

Keep in mind that it is the Keep in mind that it is the personperson who is emphasized who is emphasized in a portrait in a portrait

Viewers of the portrait Viewers of the portrait should see more than should see more than just a recognizable just a recognizable photograph of photograph of someone. The picture someone. The picture must contain mood, must contain mood, show personality and show personality and character, allowing the character, allowing the viewer to draw viewer to draw conclusions about the conclusions about the person in the portrait. person in the portrait.