Understanding Portraiture

• Portraiture involves capturing the personality and mood of an individual or group.
• This genre is not just about taking a picture of a face; it includes capturing the essence, character and identity of that person.
• The play with light, angles, and composition can greatly affect the portrayal of the subject.
• Consider factors such as mood, emotions, identity when planning and executing a portrait.

Types of Portraiture

• There are various types of portraiture, such as traditional, environmental, candid and creative.
• Traditional Portraiture generally follows formal poses and is often used for official representations.
• Environmental Portraiture poses the subject in their typical environment which can help in revealing more about them.
• Candid Portraiture captures the spontaneous actions of the subject, usually without their knowledge, to depict the purity of emotions.
• Creative Portraiture allows greater freedom to the photographer to experiment with unconventional lighting, angles or poses.

Techniques in Photographing Portraits

• Lighting plays a crucial part in highlighting certain aspects of the portrait. Soft lighting can create a calm and serene atmosphere, while harsh lighting can produce dramatic effects.
• Aperture in portraiture is key to control focus and depth. A wide aperture is often used to focus on the subject and blur the background.
• Framing your subject in a particular way can help to tell a story or emphasise certain characteristics.
• Angles can greatly influence the perception of your subject. Shooting from below can make the subject seem powerful, while shooting from above can make the subject seem weak or vulnerable.

Analysing Portraiture

• When analysing a portrait, consider the technical terms such as composition, angle, lighting, and focus.
• Discuss the intent of the artist, the reaction of the viewer, and the overall impact of the work.
• Look at the relationship between the subject and their environment. How does this relationship contribute to the narrative or mood of the piece?
• Try to understand the context or era the portrait was taken in. It might reveal a lot about the attitudes, values or social commentary inherent in the work.

Practising Portraiture

• Always seek consent before photographing people, respect their privacy and cultural norms.
• Do lots of practise and experimentation. Everyone is unique and can react differently in front of the camera. Trying different techniques can be beneficial.
• Building rapport with your subject is important. Make them feel comfortable and relaxed for more natural and expressive portraits.
• Try to capture the character of the person – this could be in their home, with objects they love, or representing something about their life or personality.