I am often asked how I manage to photograph a celebrity in a few minutes or what is the best way to shoot a good portrait. So here’s my list of tips for shooting better portraits.
Every year I teach a few portraiture workshops and retreats. Photography students, amateurs and pros participate and do so with all their passion. Inevitably, sooner or later, someone asks me for my advice and tips for shooting better pictures.
At first, I didn’t really like the idea of giving out short, telegraphic photography tips because it’s hard to generalize. For instance, if you shoot for clients, you have to adhere to their needs; if you’re shooting a personal project, it’s different. But now, thinking it over… why not?
- Ask yourself: Why do I want to photograph? What is the aim of my photography? Take all the time you need to answer these questions because you may have more than one answer. (You might also want to check out the article What impact do you want your photographs to have?)
- Be extra accurate in the pre-production phase, but be ready to change everything you had prepared so meticulously (shit happens).
- Master the techniques so you can eventually forget about them and free your mind to concentrate on the rest.
- Techniques can be learned, but technique alone is useless. Your personal style and photographic language need to be developed too. It takes time, so be patient with yourself.
- Look through your lens curiously to see whatever is out there while also observing yourself. Do you feel comfortable? What kind of comfortable? Is the subject triggering something in you? The interaction with your subject could bring up something that you want to face and explore.
- Meet your subject with your heart and develop empathy.
- Ask yourself: Is there anything I can do or say to improve the quality of the relation between me and the subject? Check your attitude; you might want to change that.
- Lead gently, lovingly and firmly, but always lead.
- Try not to have prejudices or expectations (we work quite a lot on this point during the retreats).
- Keep your mind empty and curious at all times. Imagine you are an infant with no memories and no history, seeing the world for the first time.
- Trust your gut feelings. Try to shoot the pictures you feel the urge to shoot, not the ones others want to see. It may take years of trial and error… so what?
- Be present. Composition, lighting and so on are definitely important, but even more important is the quality of your presence as you connect with the subject and shoot.
- Enjoy being flexible and learn how to turn problems into opportunities. Don’t be afraid to venture into uncharted territory if the spirit moves you. Getting out of your comfort zone can be daunting, but also enriching.
- When it comes to composition, seek harmony in the overall impact of your image, and don’t neglect the details. Enjoy observing your subject from different angles.
- Don’t try to “make” a photo: let the photo happen. Create the conditions that seem most appropriate to you. The photo is then the offspring of an encounter between the subject and the photographer through the lens.
- Pursue what excites you the most. Do you like music? Photograph music. Do you like eroticism? Go for it. Nature? Shoot your portrait outdoors and explore nature with your camera.
- Be extremely organized and disciplined in every phase (including scrupulous post-production). But if you are not… make sure you forgive yourself.
- Acknowledge every single person who is helping you out.
- Forget about my tips and do it your own way!