Are you passionate about portrait photography, want to expand your photography portfolio, or just want to know more about the different types of portrait photos in general?
Then this article was written with people like you in mind!
A standard posed
In a standard portrait, the subject is completely aware of the camera, intentionally including light,
environment and eye contact.
We have nice eye contact, sweet smiles and a comfortably composed frame in the images.
Traditional portraits usually come to mind when thinking about the portrait genre.
This type of image has been around for a long time.
But it remains popular because the mix of posing and studio lighting is flattering.
An anonymous / environmental portrait
In this scenario, the subject may not be aware of the camera.
Not asking for eye contact, and intentionally looking for details and the relationship
between the environment and the subject.
With portraits like these, what matters is the environment and the shape of the subject
What I like about this type of portrait is the narration between the subjects
and the elements that surround them.
As the viewer you are exploring the light, colors, shapes – and then
there just happens to be the subject in the frame too.
The primary focus is the subject, but you also want to take in everything else in the frame.
While the location is essential, environmental portraits can still use posing techniques.
It is not as informal as lifestyle photography.
The photographer sets up a pose and lighting, like in the case of traditional portraits. The posing, lighting, person, and background work together in an environmental portrait image.
A creative portrait
With a strong direct gaze to the viewer, the creative portraits are usually shot at a wide aperture, drawing all attention to the subject only.
The creative portrait, usually taken towards the end of our time together, has produced
the purest in the subject opening up to me and showing who they are.
They have strong eye contact with the photographer, but feel differently
with these images than do compared to the posed portraits that are taken at the beginning of the time.
This is most likely due to the fact they are now comfortable with the photographer, the camera
and are just more relaxed with the situation.
The goal is to always have the subject feel comfortable and relaxed but you can see
a significant difference in not only the expressions, but the softness in their eyes.
Not always big smiles on their faces – most of the time an impish grin.
Creative elements and details you may want to include in a portrait may be:
– Foreground
– Background
– Texture
– Movement
– Light
If it’s windy out, let the hair blow around and in front of their faces.
Find something to shoot through for depth.
This is a time where you can explain what you are trying to create.
Even if the shot doesn’t turn out, you may capture something even better as you both laugh about it.
Taken to: Kristin Dokoza
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