{"id":37250,"date":"2017-09-19T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-09-19T18:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/?p=37250"},"modified":"2022-06-20T15:08:58","modified_gmt":"2022-06-20T19:08:58","slug":"capturing-magic-finding-inspiration-for-captivating-portraits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/capturing-magic-finding-inspiration-for-captivating-portraits\/","title":{"rendered":"Capturing Magic: Finding Inspiration For Captivating Portraits"},"content":{"rendered":"

Portraiture has been around for many centuries. Before the digital age and even before the age of film, portraits had been created through other mediums such as paintings and sculptures. A portrait is a treasure that people keep around for a lifetime. A great portrait embodies the essence of the person and tells his or her story without saying a word. How can you make your portraits stand out from the rest? Getting creative. Doing something different. But then, where do you find the inspiration for such types of portraits?<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Here I created an artist set to get the look of interrupting an artist at work.<\/em><\/p>\n

Model: Shoko Fujita<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The idea for a portrait can revolve around many different things, such as an overall theme, maybe a piece of clothing, a location, a prop or the person you are photographing – among many other things. You can generate ideas for a portrait through music, art, books and more. It becomes easier to find inspiration the more you become aware of your surroundings and most importantly, familiar with your subject. <\/span><\/p>\n

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What\u2019s the Purpose of the Portrait?<\/b><\/h3>\n

The first thing you should think about when deciding how to tackle capturing a portrait of someone is: what is the purpose of the portrait? A portrait might be a senior portrait for a teenager getting ready to graduate high school in the next year, an individual\u2019s portrait, a couple\u2019s portrait, family portraits or even glamour or boudoir portraits.<\/span><\/p>\n

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A senior portrait.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Determining the purpose of the portrait can help guide you toward the characteristics your client might be looking for in their portrait such as a couple\u2019s portrait might want to display their love for one another, a senior portrait might symbolize hope for a bright future and for a boudoir portrait, the idea is \u201csexy\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Glamour portrait in my hallway.<\/em><\/p>\n

Model: Sietzka Wiersma<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Below are several characteristics that you may find can help jog some creativity into your portraiture.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Background Choice<\/b><\/h3>\n

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Outdoors. <\/b>Shooting a portrait outdoors offers an infinite number of possibilities for backgrounds. Find out your client\u2019s favorite area of town and meet them there for the shoot. If they like the beach, shoot at the beach. Are they avid hikers? Strap on your hiking boots and let them guide you to their favorite spot and photograph them in that environment. If they\u2019re unsure of an outdoor location, it\u2019s up to you to scout out an interesting backdrop.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

We shot this portrait outdoors in my neighborhood.<\/em><\/p>\n

Model: Bonnie Byrnes<\/em><\/p>\n

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In a studio setting. <\/b>Many portrait photographers opt to shoot in a studio so that they can better control the light. You have options for backgrounds in the studio such as seamless paper, canvas, muslin or you can even build a set. Below I used a Savage Mocha seamless paper<\/a> background along with dramatic lighting.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Background choice in the studio against Savage Mocha seamless paper.<\/em><\/p>\n

Model\/Actress: Celeste Smith<\/em><\/p>\n

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Work Your Angles<\/b><\/h3>\n

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Shoot From Above.<\/b> Savage Floor Drops<\/a> can make for an interesting background when you shoot your subject from above. Having materials around such as fur and silk also add texture and sheen to the image. In the image below, I also added pillows and lit tea candles as well as a guitar to create an \u201cAt Home With the Musician\u201d type of portrait.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Get on a ladder and shoot from above.<\/em><\/p>\n

Model: Daria Komarkova<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Give your subject space to look into.<\/b> As a good rule of thumb, when shooting a portrait, especially \u201clandscape-oriented\u201d (horizontally), frame your subject on one side of the image or the other (use The Rule of Thirds as a guide) and make sure that he or she has space to stare into. When you have a subject facing outside the frame closest to him or her, the image generally evokes a bit of tension within the viewer.<\/span><\/p>\n

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a lot of negative space on one side gives them space to look into.<\/em><\/p>\n

Model: Maria Iodice<\/em><\/p>\n

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Shooting Orientation.<\/b> I generally ignore the idea that portraits should be \u201cportrait-oriented\u201d (vertical). I generally shoot a portrait both portrait-oriented and landscape oriented (horizontal) for variations.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Vertical orientation example.<\/em><\/p>\n

Model: Sietzka Wiersma<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Remember the best way to shoot landscape-oriented people photos is to give your subject space to look into by placing them on one side of the image or the other with their face facing into the image center.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Horizontal orientation example.<\/em><\/p>\n

Model: Sietzka Wiersma<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tight Shots<\/b><\/h3>\n

When I shoot, I generally have my subject hold for 2-3 shots and capture the same photo a few different ways, such as full body, \u00be shot, waist up, headshot and a tight shot. Tight shots can be an interesting choice to create a unique portrait. It especially comes in handy if your subject has a receding hairline or a double chin.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Tight shot of a friend.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Play With Light & Shadow<\/b><\/h3>\n

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Mixing Multiple Light Sources.<\/b> I remember I was once told that mixing different types of lighting could be tricky or disastrous. I did an experiment once in outdoor shade next to a building doorway where there was a combination of ambient daylight, my speedlight and a tungsten bulb in the doorway and came up with the portrait below. Don\u2019t ever be afraid to experiment and create things someone else told you that you couldn\u2019t.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Here I blended ambient light, the tungsten bulb light in the doorway to the right and my speedlight to get this shot.<\/em><\/p>\n

Model: Andy Mizerek<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Use Shadows.<\/b> Whether it\u2019s shadows created from mini-blinds indoors or from trees outdoors, or even shadows you create with studio lighting, shadows can transform such a humdrum image into something very extraordinary.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

I used a tree to break up harsh lighting and got some interesting shadow patterns.<\/em><\/p>\n

Model: Daria Komarkova<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Create Silhouettes.<\/b> A portrait doesn\u2019t necessarily need to capture all the details of a subject. Sometimes just a silhouette outline of your subject can make for a creative portrait too.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Silhouettes can make for interesting portraits.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Go High-Key or Low-Key.<\/b> High key portraits evoke a feeling of lightness, innocence and purity. The key to creating a high key portrait is a lot of light, while still managing to maintain a true black point.<\/span><\/p>\n

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A high key portrait always has a light and pure feel to it.<\/em><\/p>\n

Model: Kathryn Hopkins<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Low-key portraits are a good choice for music and athletic portraits or any type of portrait where you want to create a lot of drama as the images are very dark and the light is very focused on a particular part of a subject such as their face, hands or maybe even just a baby\u2019s feet. In the image below I added a rim light to create a separation between my subject and the background to add dimension.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Low-key lighting can add drama.<\/em><\/p>\n

Model: Baron Jackson<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Use window light whenever possible.<\/b> Many photographers are a fan of natural light and prefer daylight studios to just any ole studio. There\u2019s just a quality of softness about light that comes through a window, which can serve as a little bit of a diffuser itself. Window light can be recreated artificially, but there\u2019s just something striking about natural window light.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Window light makes for a beautiful dramatic portrait.<\/em><\/p>\n

Model: Bonnie Byrnes<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Add Movement<\/b><\/h3>\n

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Spin, Spin, Spin.<\/b> I recently wrote an article on getting more creative with your self-portraits and experimented with spinning and shooting with a slow shutter. I managed to create the image below on the second try. Here you can see my face in profile and full face. Just a unique \u201cspin\u201d to a portrait.<\/span><\/p>\n

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A slow shutter offers a nice motion shot.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Blowing confetti\/glitter.<\/b> You\u2019ve see the images. A girl with a party hat (or not) blowing confetti toward the camera lens. It\u2019s a nice shot to try to capture for a birthday portrait, but it does take practice and a tripod to capture the confetti in the air prior to its descent.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sports portraits.<\/b> You might be hired to shoot some portraits during a child\u2019s sports game. Anticipation of movement is the key to a sports portrait – that and a fast shutter speed. After the game you can slow down and capture images of the athlete in his or soiled uniform holding the football, catcher\u2019s mitt, baseball bat, or whatnot. It provides much more character than a stark, sterile, clean uniform. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Dancing portraits.<\/b> A photographer can capture beautiful portraits of ballet dancers who are  quick, agile and can hold a pose for a pretty long time. I actually added movement into the image below by shooting the dancer through a piece of Plexiglas wrapped in Saran wrap.<\/span><\/p>\n

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I shot through saran wrap on Plexiglas here to create a sense of movement.<\/em><\/p>\n

Model\/dancer: Shoko Fujita<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reflections<\/b><\/h3>\n

A different way to approach shooting a subject is through the use of a mirror. If you can find a room with a full length mirror on one side, this can make for a stunning image – especially the more dramatic the wardrobe they are wearing. No mirror wall? A stand-up mirror can also work to capture a person in a just little bit of a different way than just a \u201csmile and say cheese\u201d portrait.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Use of a mirror for this portrait.<\/em><\/p>\n

Model: Colleen Rose Careri<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Composites & Double Exposure<\/b><\/h3>\n

 <\/p>\n

Composites. <\/b>A composite, if done right, can add a new dimension to a portrait. I\u2019m not an expert with Adobe Photoshop, nor do I have the patience to spend hours and hours to do outrageously amazing composites, but taking your subject and placing them on a different background can sometimes make the image more interesting.<\/span><\/p>\n

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A composite example created from a studio shot on white seamless and an image borrowed from Google.<\/em><\/p>\n

Model: Shoko Fujita<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Double Exposure Images. <\/b>A double exposure image is another process that can take a little bit of time but can fun and can literally share your subject with something they like. I\u2019m a huge fan of sunflowers so we created the double exposure of me in a sunflower field. The sun just happened to be in a perfect spot to generate an even deeper meaning to the portrait.<\/span><\/p>\n

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This is a double exposure self-portrait among my favorite flower.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Introduce Props<\/b><\/h3>\n

 <\/p>\n

Flowers and foliage.<\/b> Whether you add flowers to your client\u2019s hair or put flowers in their hands (which can also help to relax your subject by giving them something to do with their hands\u2026!), adding a client\u2019s favorite flower to their portrait not only adds an additional piece of beauty into the image but it also adds yet another hint to the viewer as to the subject\u2019s likes and preferences. Beyond the example below, the self-portrait above also showcases this.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Giving my subject flowers gave her something to do with her hands too.<\/em><\/p>\n

Model: Larissa Byrd<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Food.<\/b> Yes food\u2026 but make it fun food! A portrait of a child blowing out candles on a birthday cake makes a nice sentiment. Combining a lollipop or even a piece of fruit into a portrait can make the portrait a little more fun and interesting. If your subject is holding the object, even better! Giving them something to do with their hands helps to relax them a little in front of the lens as it helps take their attention of the camera and places it on the object they are holding.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Add a lollipop for a twist to the semi-monochromatic image.<\/em><\/p>\n

Model: Bonnie Byrnes<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Materials and Lace.<\/b> Exaggeration is okay not only in fashion, but portraiture too. In the image below I draped a piece of beautiful jade lace over my client\u2019s hair and gave her a bouquet of black calla lilies to create a little bit of a darker portrait. Adding various materials or lace to a portrait set whether it\u2019s on your subject or they are laying on it, adds a nice touch to the final result.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Here the props were the lace made into a veil and the black calla lillies.<\/em><\/p>\n

Model: Shoko Fujita<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Incorporate Accessories<\/b><\/h3>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hats.<\/b> Hats can be a fun addition to a portrait depending on what they are wearing and your subject\u2019s personality.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

I added a cowgirl hat to complete this ensemble.<\/em><\/p>\n

Model: Bonnie Byrnes<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Scarves.<\/b> In addition, a scarf can also be a nice addition to a subject\u2019s look in a portrait. In the image below, my subject has an Eastern European background and actually asked me if we could incorporate a scarf into some of her portraits.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Because of her ethnic background, the scarf helps lend to her story.<\/em><\/p>\n

Model: Maria Iodice<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Add Embellishments to Makeup<\/b><\/h3>\n

 <\/p>\n

Feathers.<\/b> While feathers might be a little overboard, they can make for a fun and dramatic portrait if you have a great makeup artist on hand. In the image below, we went with a beautiful peacock theme.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

We created a beautiful peacock theme for this shot.<\/em><\/p>\n

Model: Kathryn Hopkins<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jewels.<\/b> Adding jewels to makeup, especially around the eyes, can really bring out the feature they are near. The colors and sparkle also really stand out.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Adding jewels to her eyes draws your attention to the most important part of the portrait – the windows to the soul.<\/em><\/p>\n

Model: Lizbeth Sawyers<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Various Facial Expressions & Emotions<\/b><\/h3>\n

Rather than a typical, \u201csay cheese\u201d portrait, you may be able to evoke several different emotions in your client and capture them. Teenagers are notorious for being a bit reserved when it comes to professional portraits when it\u2019s not their idea and the parents are the ones demanding them. A serious expression is quite fine though! Try to conjure up different expressions from your client. A sly or coy smile here, a bright cheery smile there, a pensive and thoughtful expression there – it all works!<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

It\u2019s ok to capture a beautiful more serious type of portrait.<\/em><\/p>\n

Model: Chelsea Jackson<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

If your client is a bit of a jokester, even capturing capturing silly facial expressions really captures their essence and shows the viewer their personality.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Sometimes different facial expressions can show a fun side of someone in a portrait.<\/em><\/p>\n

Model: Chelsea Jackson<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Shoot Candids Between the Posed Shots<\/b><\/h3>\n

Of course, capturing candid shots in between the posed shots can also be a huge bonus as you\u2019re capturing unposed, true, expressions of your client when they are being themselves and are caught off-guard. I managed to capture this candid portrait below during a pause between poses. I thought it was a bit calm and serene (almost meditative) and the client loved it.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

I caught this shot between poses.<\/em><\/p>\n

Model: Shoko Fujita<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A Last Word About Gaining Creative Insight…<\/b><\/h3>\n

Finding inspiration and coming up with creative ideas for captivating portraits can be very easy. The more aware you are of your surroundings, the more you will realize that the possibilities for creative ideas are endless. One of the great things I\u2019ve learned over the past few years that has helped my creativity is self-portraits. You learn a lot not only about being in front of the lens, but how to tell your own story.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Self-Portrait.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Save<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Portraiture has been around for many centuries. Before the digital age and even before the age of film, portraits had been created through other mediums such as paintings and sculptures. A portrait is a treasure that people keep around for a lifetime. A great portrait embodies the essence of the person and tells his or […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":178,"featured_media":37249,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10714,10715,17770,17780],"tags":[389,8825,1013,273,15415,15414,12993,11266,14618,702,14867,10926,2565,14830,8895,8704,1186,8861,11162,1171,10904,1224],"class_list":["post-37250","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-features","category-photo-features","category-photography","category-photography-tips","tag-action-389","tag-angles","tag-backgrounds-1013","tag-candid-273","tag-composites","tag-creative-portraits","tag-dawn-m-wayand","tag-double-exposure","tag-high-key-portraits","tag-light-702","tag-light-sources","tag-low-key-lighting","tag-movement-2565","tag-orientation","tag-outdoor-portraits","tag-portraits","tag-posing-1186","tag-props","tag-self-portraits","tag-shadows-1171","tag-studio-portraits","tag-window-light-1224"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nCapturing Magic: Finding Inspiration For Captivating Portraits - Adorama<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Portraiture has been around for many centuries. 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