Influence the connection
to human subjects
shoot
engaging
portraits
Portrait photography presents some unique
challenges in terms of composition. Most
notably, the proportions of the human form
are innately recognisable to viewers, and any
distortion introduced by the chosen lens or
perspective is instantly visible, potentially
spoiling the shot from the start. Secondly,
the aim of a portrait image is to portray an
aspect that is not literal or physical – it is to
capture character or personality. These can
prove to be elusive concepts that are difficult
to define, and since a photo’s ability to confer
character is heavily influenced by context, the
importance of intelligent composition is clear.
“Being able to capture the mood is the
key to a good portrait photograph,” says
portrait expert Mercedes Castillo Sánchez
(mcs.photography). “It is fundamental to
communicate openly with the model and
make him/her relaxed and comfortable.”
Poor framing decisions can cause the
viewer to disconnect with the subject. An
image that is too widely framed, for example,
can generate the impression of observing
the subject from a distance, which may be
effective in some circumstances but in others
will reduce intimacy and subject-viewer
engagement. “The distance the photographer
chooses to be from their subject will affect the
feeling and overall impact a photo possesses,”
says Castillo Sánchez. The subject’s gaze
is also significant – where they are looking
within the frame will strongly control where
the viewer concentrates their attention. If this
leads them outside of the frame too quickly,
content in the image may be missed.
This tendency for the audience to become
emotionally invested in human subjects can
have other secondary effects, which are
often poorly recognised by inexperienced
photographers. Body language plays a vital
role in human communication, so how this
is captured can alter the perceived meaning
of the image. Since we have taken a single
moment out of context, the position of the
subject can miscommunicate their apparent
intentions, changing the tone of the shot. Eye
contact and position in the frame, stance and
portrayed elevation should all be considered
and can be controlled via camera angle.While many portrait images benefit from
some environmental context, even if this is
a seamless background to suggest a studio
setting, in other circumstances filling the
frame with the subject’s face can produce
a stronger shot. use a zoom lens of around
200mm to provide flattering compression,
and arrange the eyes according to the rule of
thirds or golden ratio. it is acceptable to cut
out the top of the subject’s head, but avoid
placing the chin too close to or extending
beyond the bottom of the frame.fill the frame
Focus attention on the face of your
subject by eliminating peripheral detailBy zooming in tightly, Mercedes Castillo
sánchez has focussed attention closely on her
subject’s eyes, with the face neatly framed by
the richly coloured fabricTechniques
Influencetheconnection
tohumansubjects
shoot
engaging
portraits
Portraitphotographypresents some unique
challengesintermsof composition. Most
notably,theproportions of the human form
areinnatelyrecognisable to viewers, and any
distortionintroducedby the chosen lens or
perspectiveisinstantly visible, potentially
spoilingtheshotfrom the start. Secondly,
theaimofaportraitimage is to portray an
aspectthatisnotliteral or physical – it is to
capturecharacterorpersonality. These can
provetobeelusiveconcepts that are difficult
todefine,andsinceaphoto’s ability to confer
characterisheavilyinfluenced by context, the
importanceofintelligent composition is clear.
“Beingabletocapture the mood is the
keytoagoodportraitphotograph,” says
portraitexpertMercedes Castillo Sánchez
(mcs.photography).“It is fundamental to
communicateopenlywith the model and
makehim/herrelaxed and comfortable.”
Poorframingdecisions can cause the
viewertodisconnectwith the subject. An
imagethatistoowidely framed, for example,
cangeneratetheimpression of observing
thesubjectfromadistance, which may be
effectiveinsomecircumstances but in others
willreduceintimacyand subject-viewer
engagement.“Thedistance the photographer
choosestobefromtheir subject will affect the
feelingandoverallimpact a photo possesses,”
saysCastilloSánchez. The subject’s gaze
isalsosignificant–where they are looking
withintheframewillstrongly control where
theviewerconcentrates their attention. If this
leadsthemoutsideof the frame too quickly,
contentintheimagemay be missed.
Thistendencyforthe audience to become
emotionallyinvestedin human subjects can
haveothersecondary effects, which are
oftenpoorlyrecognised by inexperienced
photographers.Bodylanguage plays a vital
roleinhumancommunication, so how this
iscapturedcanalterthe perceived meaning
oftheimage.Sincewe have taken a single
momentoutofcontext, the position of the
subjectcanmiscommunicate their apparent
intentions,changingthe tone of the shot. Eye
contactandpositionin the frame, stance and
portrayedelevationshould all be considered
andcanbecontrolledvia camera angle.Whilemanyportraitimagesbenefitfrom
someenvironmentalcontext,evenifthisis
aseamlessbackgroundtosuggestastudio
setting,inothercircumstancesfillingthe
framewiththesubject’sfacecanproduce
astrongershot.useazoomlensofaround
200mmtoprovideflatteringcompression,
andarrangetheeyesaccordingtotheruleof
thirdsorgoldenratio.itisacceptabletocut
outthetopofthesubject’shead,butavoid
placingthechintooclosetoorextending
beyondthebottomoftheframe.fill the frame
Focus attention on the face of your
subject by eliminating peripheral detailByzoomingintightly,MercedesCastillo
sánchez has focussed attention closely on her
subject’s eyes, with the face neatly framed by
the richly coloured fabricTechniques