| Nikon D4, 85mm ƒ/1.8, ISO 100, ƒ/1.8, 1/400 |
Three things for a great portrait
- Expression
- Expression
- Expression
Every time I get ready to do a portrait session, I have butterflies. I get incredibly nervous and anxious.
I believe most seasoned photographers and artists feel the same way. Of course, they may react differently from each other, but there is something scary when your ability to do your best relies not on just you but another person.
Yesterday I photographed Jane, and as always, I started with those butterflies and anxiety, and as time went on, I began to calm down and enjoy our time.
It’s not all about you.
In the case of portraits, it is all about capturing the subject’s best expressions.
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| Nikon D4, 85mm ƒ/1.8, ISO 50, ƒ/2.8, 1/200, 20″x30″ softbox powered by Alienbees B1600 and Vagabond battery pack |
Jane has been one of my favorite subjects for a very long time. She made for such an excellent subject because she was willing to try just about anything, and also she enjoyed giving me a range of expressions.
First the technical
The very first thing I am doing is getting the camera settings and lighting set just right. Also, I am trying to pick a good location for the shooting site.
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| Nikon D4, 85mm ƒ/1.8, ISO 100, ƒ/4, 1/250, 20″x30″ softbox powered by Alienbees B1600 and Vagabond battery pack |
Here is my very first photo of Jane. I noticed what she was wearing when she arrived and noted the color. I thought the dress was similar to the color of the bricks of the Roswell Mill—just a little lighter.
An excellent complementary color to what she was wearing was green. I liked this set but quickly realized it was too busy for my taste. I felt like the setting was competing with Jane too much.
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| Nikon D4, 85mm ƒ/1.8, ISO 50, ƒ/2.8, 1/60, 20″x30″ softbox powered by Alienbees B1600 and Vagabond battery pack |
This photo is one of my favorites from the day. You may ask why I like this so much. Well, I believe a photographer should be able to articulate why they want a specific photograph over another.
This photo, to me, feels like a Dove commercial. Dove brand has done a great deal through the years to define beauty, and having great skin and expression was core to their brand.
Today, the Dove Real Beauty Campaign is for girls and women to understand that their power and beauty do not come from a tube, airbrush, or cream but rather from their personalities and passion.
Authenticity
The key is for the photographer to be authentic with the subject. I listened a lot to Jane and her mother. I heard with my ears and eyes.
“What kind of look are you going for?” was my question, and they had an answer. Jane liked the model’s look from the 60’s Twiggy and Taylor Swift.
While that was the look, I was also interested in capturing her personality. Jane is such a ham and loves to goof around, and I tried to be sure and encourage her to be herself. So here are some other photos from our time:
One thing that helps me capture the best in people is when I am really in tune with their personalities and recognize moments that accentuate them. By the way, I am reminded repeatedly through interviews with major recording artists that most of them get butterflies and anxious just before they step onto the stage. I think those that understand how fragile relationships really are and how much they must work at them will succeed more often than those who plow ahead.