Portraits and Self Portraits

6. Shoot Candidly

Sometimes posed shots can look somewhat…. posed. Some people don’t look good in a posed environment and so switching to a candid type approach can work.Photograph your subject at work, with family or doing something that they love. This will put them more at ease and you can end up getting some special shots with them reacting naturally to the situation that they are in. You might even want to grab a longer zoom lens to take you out of their immediate zone and get really paparazzi with them.I find that this can particularly work when photographing children.

12. Go with a Wide Angle

Shooting with a wide angle lens attached to your camera can help create some memorable shots when you’re doing portrait photography.At very wide focal lengths you can create some wonderful distortion. It might not be the type of shot you take of your wife or girlfriend (unless she’s in a playful mood) but using these focal lengths will enlarge parts of the face or body that are on the edge of the frame more than what is in the centre.It can also give a wide open and dramatic impact when your subject is in an impressive setting.

Predicting Relationships Within the Frame

A great deal of people photography is understanding human nature and being aware of how people usually react in given situations. If someone is sitting in a café he will usually look up when the waiter approaches. People will generally smile when they see a baby or open a present. Crowds rise when a batter smashes a ball that looks like it's headed for the seats. Think about the situation you are photographing and how people are likely to act in it. Then prepare yourself for the moment.

PORTRAIT- I like the darkness of this photo. The eye contact, choice of a child subject, and shading convey emotion. The simple black background helps to make the photo clear. 

SELF-PORTRAIT- I like this photo because it's introspective and has a good color palette. I like how the water appears to be still because of the fast shutter speed. 

ENVIRONMENTAL PORTRAIT- I enjoy the expressiveness of this portrait. The lighting and pose are dramatic.

1. What are the characteristics of an environmental portrait?

An environmental portrait contains an element of the subject's environment that helps to convey something about the subject of the portrait. 

2. What is the difference between an environmental portrait and a casual portrait?

A casual portrait focuses entirely on the subject, while an environmental portrait usually has a background that gives more information about the subject.

3. What will you need to do to get a really good self-portrait?

A self portrait should be taken using a timer function on the camera, and should have me as the main focus.

4.  When you go take these pictures, and you will eventually turn in one of each, a portrait and a self-portrait, describe to me what you would like to do and who you would like to take a portrait of and where you might shoot these images.

I would like to take a picture of my sister, I'll shoot the pictures around the creek where I live. My portrait will be taken in the suburbs near my house.