How to Take a Better Portrait
Do you ever wonder why some portraits look so amazing and some portraits just don't? How one CEO looks like a shining success and the other top CEO who even has a better career track looks like the temp hired help? It is all about the photo session.
I remember in my days of assisting a great portrait photographer, one of the clients we shot for was Prudential Securities. We shot hundred of portraits of their top analysis and did so for a few years time. The photographer I worked for really developed his skill given this opportunity shooting so many subjects day after day. Sometimes we would be scheduled to shoot for a week straight with a new subject scheduled every fifteen minutes. These analysis are busy people, they got the world economy and markets on their mind. How can you make them relax and focus in on you. How do you get as much as you can from your subject in such short time?
Relaxing and Getting to Know Them
Getting your subject to relax is essential. People are often afraid of getting their picture taken. One analysis said he prefer to go to the dentist and get a root canal. A root canal? Over being photographed? I am sure he was exaggerating. Really he'd rather have Novocaine injections and drilling into his jaw followed by pain for days then to have us peaceful photographers try to make his mug look good? It was a lesson learned and made me be aware of how painful it can be for someone to sit in front of a camera. It was then I really started to work closer with the subjects in order to relax them and make them feel good about themselves.
First, find out about your subject or the subjects company, position, or any general likes to talk about to relax their mind. Having ones photo taken can be a very stressful thing to do, especially if someone has a low self esteem about their looks. Let's be honest, most of us are not model material, we are normal looking people. But inside each of us is a spirit and that is what you have to capture which can be just as beautiful. So how do you capture that spirit and make your portrait stand out amongst the others portrait photographers? Getting your subject to relax and allowing them to connect with you.
Grooming
I usually carry a little styling kit, a comb, face powder, some makeup for women, and a roller to take off any dust off clothing (especially the shoulder area, you be amazed how flaky we all are). This is a great few minutes you can make your subject feel special, feel like talent as opposed to them feeling like they are in the spot light and under the microscope.
A note about powdering your subject. It is best to dust a light powder brushed on every subject, male or female. But be aware of powder over eyelashes, eyebrows and bald heads. Yes you may have to powder his head a bit. There is nothing worse then a hot spot on a bald head. Stay away from eyelashes and eyebrows, you don't want pale dusty eyes.
Take all wallets, pens, cell phones out of pockets so clothing sits flat against the body, not bulging. The camera sees a lot more then the naked eye does. Adjust ties, button jackets, tuck in shirts. Make sure all hair is away from the face especially for women. What we look like daily and what the camera will deliver is two different things.
Making sure your subject looks the best before they step in front of the camera is essential. It gives them confidence before any shooting begins. A compliment, whether it be their shoes or their latest accomplishment makes them feel better too. Remember you are being hired to make them look good and it should start before they sit in front of your lens.
Position
Naturally when one is being photographed, one tends to lift their head up to create a lean line from the neck up. This is the worst thing anyone can do, this creates a smaller head and larger body and your focal point is your neck. Something you do not want. You want a larger head and smaller body so the focus goes to the face.
When sitting, place the subjects legs and hips behind them and have their torso at an angle coming towards the camera. Picture someone interested in a subject you are discussing, their body language would be coming towards you, arms would be relaxed, head would be leaning in to hear more. So why when taking a portrait, you would want your subjects body to be flat, arms crossed and knees forward with torso behind (picture a ordinary sitting position). Have your subject sit on a stool, swing hips behind and shoulders forward.
When standing, shift hips behind shoulder line. This may feel a bit weird but look at a red carpet pose. You don't see Hollywood looking all doubled chinned??? Stand with hips slightly behind your shoulder line, bring the head forward. And Chin down! Bringing the body forward and chin down, this is the line you create for a lean look. This is what gets rid of the double chin. Probably the complete opposite feeling one would think, but it works. Try it. Stand straight up, tilt your head up to create a lean neck. Now, try my Hollywood pose, hips behind, shoulders coming forward and chin down, yes you will feel like you are coming forward to the camera. Look at the difference..... end of that discussion.
You can't expect your subjects to know all this, so you need to be the one to demonstrate to them. Practice on yourself and family.
Breathe!
Get your subject to breathe. After a few frames, the subject usually is concentrating on the camera and lights and photographer, they are focused and forget to let the energy flow around them, they start to hold their breath and this creates a stiff look. Their eyes usually go blank. Have them switch up positions, getting them to move their head, look away, back at camera, chin down, deep breathe.... this is what you can hear in one of my sessions. It's a little work out. Plus it keeps their mind going and lets some fear go. I myself get nervous when I sit in front of a camera. Just cause we are photographers doesn't mean we are models.... it's just as painful for us.
During the shoot, I talk to my subject, get them to chat a little then ask them to look at the camera and no talking (you don't want them to look like they were chewing bubble gum...) after a few frames I may start to talk to them again, to break up the shoot, to get their mind to wonder then just focus on the light and each click.
Another one of my theories to relax your subject.... "shoot now - choose later". Don't worry that you blinked, didn't smile enough or felt that wasn't a good shot. You only need one image. A seasoned photographer usually knows when they got the shot. It's chemistry, it's that split second that you caught that perfect moment cause all it really is, is a moment.
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Sandra Swieder
