CREATE UNIQUE PORTRAITS BY SHOOTING THROUGH GLASS

Looking for something unusual and quirky to try with your camera? Glass portraits are, as the name suggests, portraits shot through glass, giving your subject a unique look.

- Jo Plumridge

But how do you go about creating them? In this Masterclass, I'll teach you all you need to know to create impressive glass portraits. Let's get started...

But how do you go about creating them? In this Masterclass, I'll teach you all you need to know to create impressive glass portraits. Let's get started...

TYPES OF GLASS

You can shoot glass portraits through many different types of glass but, if you're just starting out, consider a shower or glass door or buy a sheet of plexiglass and shoot through that.

I also like the effect that shooting with textured glass can give, as it gives a slight distortion and interesting patterns to a shot.

Bigger panes of glass obviously give more options for angles and styling but as long as the glass covers your subject's face, you'll be able to achieve a good photograph.

CAMERA GEAR AND OTHER PROPS

Equipment wise, there's no need to treat shooting through glass any differently than a normal portrait shoot when it comes to your camera and lens. Ideally, you'll want an interchangeable lens camera and a portrait lens.

My personal favorite is an 85mm lens, which gives the perfect crop along with beautiful bokeh. But if you're shooting in a very cramped space, a 50mm lens might be easier to work with. Obviously, these are the focal lengths on full frame cameras so adjust accordingly for the crop factor on your camera. Of course, you can also use a zoom lens but unless you've invested in a very expensive zoom, your lens is likely to have a variable f-stop range that won't give you as much bokeh. I'd recommend using a lens hood as well to block out unwanted light and cut down on glare.