I am a freelance photographer, consultant, and photographic
educator based in Atlanta, Georgia. For over twenty-five years, I have specialized
in photographing people on location.
My portraits have varied as widely as inmates in prison,
neo-Nazi skinheads, Mormons at sacred sites in upstate New York, CEOs,
janitors, patrons of rural pubs in Wales, workers in ethnic restaurants in
suburban Atlanta, professional dominatrices, African American rodeo cowboys,
and homeless LGBTQ youth.
What connects all of this varied work is my genuine interest
in people's stories and thoughts. I want to know why they do what they do and how
they feel about their lives. I’m naturally a very curious person, and sincerely
want to learn as much as I can about
anyone I meet.
Photography has proven to be the perfect tool to indulge my
curiosity. Having a camera gives me permission to ask questions that in other
circumstances might be considered too personal or rude. It’s my skills at talking, not photography, that allow me
to go into virtually any environment and come out with a strong portrait.
As an educator, students often ask me how I create portraits
in which my subjects appear relaxed and comfortable even if we are strangers. After
contemplating my process, I have put together a guide of what to consider when
photographing portraits:
1.
In the beginning, keep your photography as
simple as possible. This might mean shooting with the available light or with a
simple one light setup. Make sure you’re completely familiar with your equipment.
Don’t use that new, borrowed or rented camera with controls that could confuse
you. At first you need to be able to concentrate on your relationship with your
subject and not let the photography get in the way.
2.
Consider scouting your location in advance. This
can allow you to avoid struggling with the situation in front of you and
distracting you from the communication with your subject. If this isn’t
possible, then keep it simple.
3.
Do research on your subject(s). This will
prepare you to have a few questions and will hopefully provide you with
information that you’ll want to learn more about. You don’t need to know
everything about them, just enough to give you the basis for a conversation.
4.
If possible, pre-light the scene so the person
doesn’t have to sit around waiting for you to wrestle with your gear. When I
was shooting regularly for major magazines, I arrived at locations a minimum of
two hours early to figure out where I was going to shoot and how I was going to
light. If this isn’t possible, again, keep it simple.
5.
Build trust with your subject, even if you only
have a few minutes, by showing genuine interest in them and engaging in
conversation.
6.
Keep the conversation focused on them and ask open-ended questions: “How do feel
about. . .?” “Tell me about. . .” “What was it like when. . .?” “How do you go
about. . .?” Almost everyone responds to someone who expresses a genuine
interest in who they are and what they think. Make sure you’re that person for
anyone who has taken the time to sit in front of you and your camera.
7.
Keep part of your mind on the visual conditions
of the person and the location. Use the conversation to get clues to how to
tell their story visually. Is there one corner of the room that will make for a
more dynamic composition? Is there a specific prop I should use in the image?
While paying attention to our conversation, I’m also letting my eyes do visual
reconnaissance. After all, making a great picture is why I’m there.
Great photography is still possible even if you aren’t able
to follow all of these guidelines. Everything in this article is intended as
starting points, not rules. Whether you’re new to photography or just new to
portraiture, you’ll discover what works for you and how you can make the best
pictures possible. The most important thing to discover is how to make your pictures--not
mine or anyone else’s-- yours. That’s where the joy of the craft comes from!
This was very helpful....I will put this into practice...Thanks Professor
ReplyDeleteGreat advice. Asking open ended questions is a perfect way to keep things moving and not awkward. Fantastic tip!
ReplyDelete