with lookingin otherdirections can helpto mixup the
atmosphere.
Ifphotographing agroupof peoplethereshould alsobe
interaction between the subjectsas well as between the
subjects and the photographer. Some of the stronger
portraitimagestakencanbethosewherethephotographer
has ‘setup’ thescenario and thenasked thesubjectsto
interactwitheachother;quiteoftenthesecancreatesome
wonderful storytelling images full of emotion.
Eyesinaportraitshouldideallyeitherfollowthelineofthe
nose in whatever direction the face is pointing, or be
directedtowardsthecamera.Eyes lookingtoofarto the
sideoftheheadcanevokeemotionssuchasmistrustand
wariness.
Avoidingtoomuchwhiteareaintheeyeisadvisable,asit
can be uncomfortable for the viewer. In some certain
occasions,however,thewhitespacecanbeintentional;for
example,whentakingimagesofchildrenthephotographer
may want to evoke a sense of innocence; this can be
heightened with a wide-eyed expression where a space
underneath the iris is desirable.
Pupilsizeisimportantwhentakingasuccessfulportrait.If
workingwithbrightlightsinastudioorbrightsunlighton
location,thepupils will bevery small and thesubject’s
eyescanlookunattractive.Themostcommonmethodused
torectifythisistoaskthesubjecttoclosetheireyesfora
moment just before the image is taken – some
photographerswillfinditbettertocountdowntowhenthe
eyesareopened–andthistechniquewillallowthepupils
to return to a more regular size.