The Essence of the Best Portrait Photography
People love to take selfies nowadays! A portrait is a captured likeness of the subject, in this case, a person, especially their face. Portrait photography, however, has a deeper connotation than that, being understood as a superior quality image capturing the individual's physical likeness, their character on a digital or film camera's sensor. I see portrait photography as your story told by Photographer, so it really has to do a lot with the training, experience, education and artistic abilities of the Storyteller.
Character revelation is the focus of portrait photography. At least one element of the subject must be shown in the photo. Elements may include the subject's attitude, personality, unique mannerisms, and any other traits or features that shape the very unique nature of the person. The portrait photograph tells the viewer something that suggests the subject's individuality.
It is oftentimes that a viewer expresses agreeableness that the Portrait Photographer really captured the subject's likeness, which may be referred to as their exact physical likeness. However, what one is consciously saying about them is that the photo reveals something that is very identifiable of the character of the subject. Portrait photography, therefore, is not mere capturing of the image likeness but arresting the true character deeply formed in the subject; a task that can be challenging as photographers can have subjects they have never known in their life.
So, how do professional portrait photographers capture these character traits?
Each individual has unique characteristics, traits, attitudes, and features. However, not all people are the same when it comes to expressing them. There are just some who can easily convey their individual character or trait with immediate transparency. Others, on the other hand, have difficulty in doing the same.
For the portrait photographer, it would be easier to deal with the former type. But for the latter, it will take more work and proficiency to study the true essence of the subject otherwise it can be hard transporting this essence into the portrait.
Having said that portrait photography isn't only about taking shots but rather it involves studying one's character, like observing for signals displaying the subject's mannerisms, expressions, body language, and even reactions. It will take a lot of skill and understanding for the photographer to do that, but such is required to reveal the true character of the subject.
Engaging you in a conversation is one way of doing it.
Finding common ground for a topic can begin the studying of a person's likeness. It can be any subject, so long as you are cooperating and opening up. Creating rapport is also another aspect of starting a portrait photoshoot with a conversation. It easily makes you more comfortable in front of the camera and therefore produces more natural-looking portrait photographs as a result.
Duncan Avenue Photography Studio specializes in revealing your story through professional yet artistic and creative portrait photography all around the Hudson Valley area including Orange, Rockland, Dutchess, Ulster, Putnam, Westchester, Greene, Rensselaer, Columbia, Saratoga, and Albany Counties.
Your World-Class Lifestyle/Fashion/Portrait Photographer and Art Director Maxwell Alexander is Chief Design Officer at Duncan Avenue Group and holds a Master of Arts Degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the School of Visual Arts in New York City. Max has more than a decade of experience in branding and marketing for Fortune 500 Companies and Global Non-Profit Organizations. He knows a great deal about the importance of art direction and amazing portrait photography that tells a story and reflects one's personality and he will be happy to help to tell your story as well.
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The Best Portrait Photography: What Clothes To Wear
When thinking about portrait photography, it is often a common concern for people to be worried about what to wear during the photo session. Though may seem a trivial matter, what clothes you wear during portrait photography can impact significantly as the photos come out. If you want to have the best looking yet most natural portraits, be sure to talk to me about what to bring and have options on the set.
Be comfortable.
It is often the biggest challenge for the portrait photographer to make their subject relaxed and more at ease when photo sessions begin, so what clothes you wear is one of the key factors in helping you to feel more confident and come across more natural. If you are content and happy with what you wear, then chances are I can capture your portrait photos that way.
Your style and clothes you wear in your portrait tell who you are.
Even though most of us don't agree with the idea of judging a person by the clothes they wear, it is definitely a concern in portrait photography. The outward appearance talks first, and it is difficult to correct that since all the viewer can see in the portrait is a still image.
You can wear your funky style or show your serious side, it all depends on your goals for the portrait photographs we are going to produce, so make sure to let me know what you will be using your portraits for.
Plain, Unobtrusive Dark Clothes
Plain or dark clothes can be a good choice for the subject to be shot for portrait photography. This is not only because dark and plainclothes tend to make the person wearing them look slimmer but they allow the focus to be on the image of the person's face. This is important in a portrait photograph; after all, you would want the viewer to see the facial expression and reaction first before the other entire details in the portrait.
Unobtrusive plain clothes have a good effect on the totality and background of the portrait as they allow the focus to be directed on the subject itself; therefore, easily demonstrating the true character likeness of the person.
This cannot be easily achieved with clothes that have crazy patterns, wild and bright colors, dots, lines, and overly elaborate designs as they can draw the focus out the primary subject consequently defeating then the true purpose of portrait photography. Of course, if this is a lifestyle photoshoot, then there is so much more to be captured in each shot, so the clothing could differ.
Pants, Long Sleeves, and Collars
For men, collars are a great detail that their clothes must have. Collars are amazingly a way to frame the face up which can be flattering when captured in a portrait. Also, long sleeves are much preferred than short sleeves, as pants are than shorts.