Portrait Photography

A portrait is a representation of a person, where the focus is on a person's face depicting their expression or mood. The photographer must realize the photo is about the subject. In order to portray the subject in an appealing and accurate manner you must make them comfortable. The more comfortable the subject is the less posed the shot will look. If the subject is doing something that they enjoy the photographer can capture some natural shots and candid expressions.

To emphasize your subject, use shallow depth of field to keep your subject in focus and your background out of focus. The photo must be composed well, this will draw the viewer’s eyes to the right places and an interesting setting will also make the portrait more interesting.

Make sure there is good lighting, either natural or artificial light. Creating a silhouette of the subject can create emotion and make the portrait photograph more powerful. Lighting is essential to a well-shot portrait.

Always consider the colors that are within the shot. If the photo is taken in color, try to choose a color that compliments the subject. A darker background will provide contrast and help the subject stand out.

The straight-on shot of a person is the typical portrait pose, but to make your photos more unique, try different angles. You could get below or above the subject or try turning the camera in a different direction than straight on. Being creative can turn into something very interesting.

In a portrait, eye contact can create a connection between the subject and the viewer and can enhance the portrait. There are several ways to capture the subject’s eyes that can leave a lasting impression on the viewer. First, having the subject look off camera. If the subject focuses on something outside of the frame it can intrigue the viewer because they imagine what the subject is looking at. Next, looking within the frame, where the subject is looking at something or someone within the frame. The viewer now has a second point of interest and this creates a relationship between the subjects.

Using a prop to enhance a photo can be tricky. If the prop adds a story, while not taking too much emphasis away from the subject, it can be beneficial. 

Learning to take a good portrait is essential to any photographer. Capturing the best moment requires some persistence and skill, but the learning the basics isn't too difficult and can improve the quality of your portraits. 

Composition and Framing

The manner in which an image is composed can change the look and feel of a photo. A basic principle behind photography is the rule of thirds principle. To create the rule of thirds, visualize breaking down an image down into thirds (horizontally and vertically) so that there are 9 portions. With this grid, the rule of thirds now singles out four important parts of the image that you should think about placing points of interest in as you frame your photo. The idea is that, if you put the points of interest in the intersecting lines that your photo becomes more balanced and will be more enjoyable to view. Avoid placing the subject in the center of the photograph. Placing the subject to the side is more interesting. Using the rule of thirds in composition is essential to creating a successful photograph.

                                                                      Rule of Thirds

When taking a photo of a person be mindful of the background and try to avoid lines and objects coming out of the subject’s head, because they can be very distracting to the viewer. The background needs to compliment the subject and not compete with it.

Controlling the depth of field can also enhance the composition. Depth of field is the term used to describe what is inside the focused area of your image and what is left outside of the focused area. Depth of field can be broken into two parts, small and large. Small depth of field means that a small portion of the picture is in focus, with some parts being blurred. Large depth of field means a large portion of the picture is in focus, including things up front and in the background of the picture.

                                                             Large Depth of Field 

Small Depth of Field

Framing the subject of the photo with an object surrounding them can be very visually pleasing. Use the objects around you and try to, if possible, incorporate them into the photo. Using an archway to frame someone standing beneath it can help draw the viewer’s attention to the subject of the photo.

Finding a line that leads the viewer’s eye is something that can create a powerful photograph. Lines are all around; you just have to be looking for them. Natural lines can strengthen the photo by leading the viewer's eyes to the subject. Different types of lines can evoke different emotions. Diagonal lines can add energy and curved lines can add beauty. While, the use of a road or path as a leading line adds depth and dimension.

Leading Lines

Effective framing and composition can change the impact of your photo. These elements are essential to understand when composing a photograph. 

Photojournalism

Photography allows you to capture moments of time that cannot be reproduced. It is essential to a journalist, because a visually appealing photo can draw a reader to a story and can give viewers a better understanding of the story. Photos give appeal to a story, when words are simply not enough. Due to these reasons there is a need for knowledgeable photographers in the news sector. “Photography, as a powerful medium of expression and communications, offers an infinite variety of perception, interpretation and execution,” Ansel Adams.

In order to create a picture that resonates in the viewers mind, there are several things the photographer must consider before taking a picture. Many factors combine to make up a powerful photograph, so the photographer must be aware of these elements. First, point of view, or the angle from which the photo is shot, is an important component to any picture. The point of view can vary depending on the subject, but it should always portray the subject in an appealing fashion. Every decision the photographer makes about the point of view will change how the viewer sees the photo.

         Below the Subject Point of view                   Eye Level with the Subject Point of View 



The subject of the photograph needs to stand out from the background, because this allows viewers to see what is important in the picture. Before taking the picture be sure and frame the subject very carefully. Looking through the viewfinder of your camera can help frame the subject more accurately. Elimination of distracting elements will eliminate distracting elements and make the photo visually stronger. When shooting, avoid placing the subject in the center of the photograph, this divides the photo into thirds, and is not visually pleasing. 

                                                                      Rule of thirds

Lighting can make or break your photo. Always use lighting that enhances your photo. Early morning and afternoon is usually the best time to shoot pictures with the appropriate lighting. Afternoon light is too bright and creates harsh shadows on the subject. 

Afternoon Lighting 

This overview describes the main qualities of a powerful photograph. Knowing how to capture a memorable and well shot  photograph can enhance a story and draw readers to a story, thus is very valuable to journalists. The best way to learn and understand these qualities is to get out and practice.