Portraits - What Makes A Good Portrait A Great Portrait?

Written by Khrishna

What makes a good portrait a great portrait?  The answers will vary from photographer to photographer.  Be that as it may most photographers will say that the eyes must be clearly in focus and that composition is a key factor.  Those answers would be correct and as a professional photographer I have put into practice those technical and compositional techniques.

However, I have learned that as an artist it takes much more to create a portrait. I believe that it is my duty as an artist to capture the essence of the individual.  This can be a challenge for 2 reasons.  First of all most portrait sessions are usually limited to a 1 or  2 hours.   Most people, especially children, will not sit still for more than than a couple of hours for a photo shoot. Therefore, the minute the client sits down to be shot the pressure is on to produce.  The second challenge is that most people that a portrait photographer will shoot are not fashion models or beauty queens.  Nevertheless, everyone has a story and a style unique unto themselves that they are paying be photographed.

 It's hard to capture the essence of someone that you know nothing about and so my approach begins with getting to know a little about the client and pinpointing their personal style and allure.  I have created a simple set of questions that I ask before scheduling the portrait session.  These questions help me get to know the person I'm shooting.  One of the most important questions that I ask the client is how would they like to be perceived in their portrait.  This is important to know because everyone has a certain perception of themselves that they wish others to see.  This portrait perception is how they want to captivate their audience.  I have learned that perceptions can range from a sexy hunk to showing off a new body because they have lost weight. Hence I tailor each session to fit the client and thus their portrait looks like no one else's except there own.  When the client's breath has been taken away and their family and friends are wowed by the finished product I know that I have created a great portrait.

             

Steer clear from the pitfall of trying to make photography magic. When trying to create photography magic the portrait is no longer the essence of that individual but a plastic version of that individual. Always remember that you are a photographer and not a magician. Ultimately the task at hand is to enhance and highlight the beauty of the client and not to try and create something that is not already there. Remembering to accentuate the positive along with down playing the negative will meet and exceed the client's expectations.