As an amateur, you may never be interested in architectural photography or macro photography, not even documentary photography, but I’m sure at some point you’re going to fall into portraiture and end up chasing portraits that tell stories. Why it’s so simple; apparently this is the simplest branch?because in general, as sociable beings we are, we always have an unsuspecting person who intends to pose for us?. And why, well, quotes For many reasons:
Start by convincing yourself that we all have something to say. Toujours. Remember that a story does not speak of beautiful patterns or a perfect night light, or even the perfect framing according to all the rules of composition. A story must touch us, call us, convince us. Fortunately, there are many ways to tell stories in a portrait. See.
- Know what you mean.
- What you mean by that person.
- What do you mean by her?How did you make you feel that?Can you try to get to know her one way or another before taking the picture?Do you want to talk about your work?.
All these questions will determine the decisions you make later, from framing, light, foreground or posture, so it’s highly recommended that before shooting, you know what you want to convey with your image.
Knowing what you want to achieve doesn’t mean you can’t mix spontaneity with preparation, even in the middle of a prepared session the magic of a wonderful spontaneous laugh can arise through one of your good jokes, or a frown due to one. of the bad guys?
There is no one-size-kind recipe for good portraits that tell stories, are you the one who should be comfortable with your own way of working, if you prefer to get carried away in the middle of a free environment where you?Model? It develops completely as Please, it is valid If, on the contrary, you prefer to master all aspects of the portrait, from the technique to the pose or expressions of your protagonist, it is also perfectly valid.
In any case, don’t be afraid to direct your scene and move freely and unhurriedly whenever the situation allows.
Always related to the story we want to express about this person, the attitude he shows is fundamental to the idea that we want to convey.
Attitude is transmitted through many variables such as arm position, hand gestures, look, smile, frown, direct look at the camera or an empty look. . . Everything tells us something, everything transmits different things to us.
Mastering nonverbal language in portraiture is as fundamental as the alphabet for learning to read or write, so if you wanted more, I recommend this article on nonverbal language in portrait photography.
Or where to place our subject in the frame, how and why he determines how we perceive and understand portraiture. You can express crushing, freedom, loneliness or innocence simply by the way you place your protagonist in the picture. Let’s look at some ways to do it. Get it:
Everything around our protagonist, although we often make the mistake of forgetting him, has and provides information. For better or worse, the first important decision on the background is: Do I want to include it in my image, if so, why?And if not, what can I do to prevent it?
Form part or not, pay attention to their color and texture, not all backgrounds are appropriate or transmit the same, gray stones are not the same as a wall painted bright red.
You can tell a story from start to finish in one image or you can do it in several, it’s a matter of taste or even a decision you’ll see on the go during your photography career.
Unique images give? More freedom? At the same time in theme, processing or composition, while series obviously start from the same freedom, but then it is recommended that they have a similar visual line so that, as viewers, we perceive them as part of a series. , and not as solitary photographs placed side by side.
Not only will they help you break the ice and get spontaneous images, when that’s what you want, but they can also help you tell your story.
And you don’t have to have a studio or a professional model, just your grandfather cooking his specialty in the kitchen, or with your cousin driving a tractor, or your mother painting oil with her hands full of paint and lost between her canvases. The most everyday, believe it or not, is usually what brings you the best images, the ones you know best and the ones you know best.
So you know, you have no excuse not to immediately practice your portraits loaded with personal stories and if you liked it don’t forget to share it on all or part of the social networks we offer: Facebook, Twitter or Google. Thank you so much for reading us !?