Portrait photography is a genre that offers endless possibilities for creativity, allowing you to capture the unique qualities of your subject’s face while also telling a story through styling and scene-setting. It is a genre where even minimal equipment makes a difference to direct the light. Collaboration is key, as a portrait shoot brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds. From everyday faces, trained models and styling to make-up pros, the shooting environment can be a busy one.
To create a successful project, it is vital to communicate your vision clearly. A mood board is an essential tool for achieving this vision, as it brings together ideas and goals. Inspiration can be found all around us, whether in our own minds or the world outside. When working on your concept, think about what draws you into an image. Think about the lighting, the set, the pose and the colour scheme you want to follow.
A mood board can be created with printed images of any kind, not just the photographic medium. Icons, posters and even paintings are a great inspiration. This visual aid will help with the flow of the shoot, keep you focused and allow the model and the rest of the team to understand the look you want to convey, which creates a smoother workflow.
As the days get shorter, artificial light is essential for independent shooting. Over the following pages, we will discuss basic light setups and classic techniques, with the input of pro photographer Pete Jobson. With this, you will be able to unlock the full potential of your portraits and adjust settings to fit your vision and inspire your next portrait shoot.
1 Capture character
Choose your focal length for the type of portrait
Esta historia es de la edición Issue 273 de Digital Photographer.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición Issue 273 de Digital Photographer.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
DIVERSIFY YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY
Learn new skills, offer a wider range of services and diversify your business to improve your photography and increase your bookings
Samyang AF 35-150mm f/2-2.8
Paul Burrows reviews this hugely versatile, yet bulky third-party zoom
Nikon Z 70-180mm f/2.8
Matthew Richards tests the final lens in the alternative Z-system trinity
DxO PhotoLab 7
Process your RAW files to perfection using AI-assisted denoising tools, downloadable optics modules and more. George Cairns tries out the latest pro Adobe alternative
Panasonic Lumix G9 II
The Lumix G9 II is Panasonic’s latest Micro Four Thirds flagship, but is this a format we should still care about? Gareth Bevan takes a closer look
Mylio Photos+
George Cairns explores this slick digital asset management app for organising your photos
BETWEEN HIP & HOP
From its humble beginnings, Normski recorded the rise of hip-hop culture as it became a global phenomenon
NIGHT LIGHTS
For the best night-time urban landscape shots, capture twilight images and balance challenging colour, detail and exposure effects in post-processing
DISCOVER 5 EASY PORTRAIT A STYLES
Shining the spotlight on five techniques that will make your portraits stand out
EDITING TECHNIQUES YOU NEED TO KNOW
Explore our collection of essential trending post-processing styles for success in 2024