Portrait photography: What is a successful portrait?

Good portrait photos are windows in the personality, feelings and stories of the models. The art of portrait photography combines technical subtleties, creative vision and emotional intelligence. The perfect pose, the balance of light and shadow or the story conveyed by the composition are crucial for this photography genre.

This guide gives important portrait photography tips that help both beginners and experienced photographers bring their motifs to life. We also rely on the expert opinions of experienced portrait photographers such as Christian Anderl (Instagram: @Christiananderl), Marc Ludwig von FotoTV (IG: @fototv.de) and Dennis Wolf von PhotoArt (YouTube: @enniswolfphotoart).

The entry into portrait photography

The entry into portrait photography can appear challenging, but with the right knowledge, equipment and the right people, it becomes an enriching experience.

A solid foundation in photography is important in order to be able to concentrate on the portrait and the person in front of the camera during the shooting instead of being distracted by the technology. It is impossible to comprehensively cover all facets of portrait photography in a magazine article; It is a lifelong learning in technology, light design and psychology.

The latter accounts for a large part of portrait photography - good photographic technology alone is not enough. With practical tips, however, the first step can be made easier to find out whether this genre corresponds to your own interests.

The YT Video by Christian Anderl offers a good start to the topic:

Equipment & equipment: the right tools

Basic considerations for photo equipment

One of the basic questions that every photographer should face on the way to portrait photography is: What equipment do I need?

The answers to this are as diverse as the people you interview. Some will vehemently claim that a fixed focal length lens with more than 70 mm, at least three flashes, various light formers, reflectors as well as an assistant and ideally a professional studio are absolutely necessary.

But in photography there is rarely only a "right" view. Every opinion is understandable from the perspective of the respective respondent. Certainly all of these aids can enrich portrait photography - and also many other accessories. But the crucial question remains: Is all of this necessary to create a successful portrait?

Not at all! In fact, you can immediately work with the equipment that is available to you. Some of the most impressive portraits in the history of photography were created with minimal equipment.

Which camera buy?

Objective and their meaning in portrait photography

The situation can make itself a little more complicated if you only have a Fishye or super wide-angle lens. For the beginning, however, a standard or kit lens on your camera are sufficient in most cases.

If you have a certain budget or have already invested in other lenses, it is worth acquiring a bright lens . The larger the aperture, the soft the background and the more clearly the motif stands out. Longer focal lengths are also important for portrait photography. If you want to absorb faces without distortion if possible, you should consider focal lengths of more than 70 mm. One of Christian Anderl's preferred lenses is, for example, the 85 mm/1.2 from Canon.

But shorter focal lengths also have their charm in portrait photography. Therefore, there is no clear answer to the question: short or long focal length?

However, this does not mean that you cannot effectively use 35 mm or 24 mm for portraits. It is crucial that they are consciously and specifically. If the result of the photo corresponds to your desired effect and you use the technology in a targeted manner, this can lead to excellent results.

Useful accessories for portrait photography

As a portrait photographer, you should optimally prepared for all lighting conditions . For this reason, the following three utensils can be a helpful part of their basic equipment:

Light knife

A light knife or exposure meter is now integrated into almost every camera, but there are also external manual exposure meters. This captures the brightness of the motif and determines the required exposure, i.e. the aperture number and the exposure time. So you are able to always adapt the settings of your camera to the lighting conditions of the area.

reflector

The reflector is a useful utensil if certain areas of the face or body are not insufficiently illuminated. Reflectors specifically direct the light into these low -light areas. So you can put your model in an optimal light, even if the natural light or the lighting in the studio is not sufficient.

Diffuser

Use the diffuser if you want to make the light appear softer. Direct sunlight has a very small light surface and creates hard shadows. Therefore, it is advisable to take pictures in cloudy weather or in the early morning and in the evening. However, if there are no clouds, a diffuser represents an excellent alternative to artificially enlarge the light surface.

Basics for camera settings

Many photographers start using automatic settings for their recordings. These can be very helpful because they give you time to establish a connection with the motif and concentrate on the lighting. But if you want to improve, you should learn to adapt the following settings manually.

• Focus : If you manually adjust the focus, you have control over the sharpness level. In the case of portraits, it is advisable to depict your eyes sharply. By the way: If you want to record all areas of an image in detail, you often use Focus stacking . However, this is not optimal for a person's portrait, since the model for this technology has to stand still.

• ISO : The ISO value should be adapted to the time of day and the brightness of the environment. As a rule, most photographers work with ISO values ​​between 400 and 800 if they take pictures outdoors. Keep in mind that the ISO value also has an impact on your aperture and the shutter speed.

• Exposure time : You should learn this setting thoroughly. Portrait photography is about presenting everything as realistically as possible. Over- or underexposure can make it difficult to correct the image in post-processing. Some portrait photographers recommend investing in an exposure meter.
• Tidal setting : If you want to highlight the eyes of a model, you should adjust the aperture opening. Portrait photographers recommend f2.8 to withdraw the person from the background and put their eyes to the foreground. A low depth of field is an excellent starting point. Everything about the eyes of the model will appear blurred. However, if the background is important for the story of the photo, choose a higher depth of field to bring it back into its own.
• Closure time : Make sure you choose a sufficiently fast shutter speed (for example from 1/125S) to prevent motion blur. You can also use longer shutter speeds for static motifs.
• White balance : the white balance ensures the correct color temperature. Set it manually or use the automatic setting to achieve natural skin tones.

Portrait composition and image design

The effect of a photo, especially for portraits, depends significantly on the image design and image structure (composition). It refers to the arrangement of the motifs within the frame. Our brain tends to focus interesting motifs in the middle, which means that inexperienced photographers automatically place their motifs centrally.

A classic technology to overcome this automatism is the third rule . An imaginary grille divides the picture into nine equal parts, and the motif is placed along these lines or at their intersections. A slightly extraordinary motif creates visual interest without disturbing the overall balance.

Leading lines - such as paths, arms or even light patterns - can of course steer the viewer's gaze to the model and enrich the visual narrative with an additional context. This technology ensures balanced, aesthetically appealing and dynamic compositions.

Another effective tip for portrait photography is to position the motif to the edge of the picture . This unconventional placement irritates the brain and arouses its curiosity, which gives the photo more attention. To try this out yourself, you should take pictures of your motif in the middle and once on the edge and observe the differences in the effect.

Also use natural or architectural elements such as door frames, windows or tree branches to create frame within the photo This technique leads the viewer's eye directly on the face of the model and gives the pictures more depth and creativity.

Negative space also be used to increase the effect of a portrait. The conscious isolation of the motif emphasizes its presence and works particularly well in minimalist and monochrome recordings. This technique is often used in genres and abstract photography , Fine art and narrative photography. Cut the image in the post -processing to optimize the frame.

Adjust the focus to highlight the main motif. If necessary, change the background and remove disturbing objects or distractions.

Capture real emotions

A real emotion that appeals to the viewer is the heart of every photos - regardless of style and genre. A forced smile or a stiff facial expressions can even ruin the technically perfect picture. A natural, sincere expression, on the other hand, can make a simple recording captivating and expressive.

Start your model feels comfortable. A relaxed conversation or a gentle guide during the session helps to reduce nervousness and enables the person to show their unique personality without fear. You can ask your model to remember a funny memory to create a real laugh, or a nostalgic moment to create a thoughtful mood. This creates an authentic emotional connection that is reflected in the pictures and invites the viewer to become part of the narrative.

A subtle smile, a quiet look or even a thoughtful expression can tell a powerful story. Pay special attention to the eyes of your model - often carry most of the emotion. Emphasize the most important elements in post -processing with subtle portrait . However, remember that overworked images appear artificial and unnatural.

Adjustments should be made in a targeted and careful way. Keep the natural skin structure and "perfect imperfections" such as birthmarks or freckles. A plastic -like look can destroy the overall impression in seconds. Make sure that your model's natural beauty is highlighted - not overlaid.

The eyes are the window to the soul. "

This timeless saying applies in a special way to photography. Our brain is able to perceive even the smallest nuances in the eyes, which is why they are of crucial importance in portrait shots.

The experienced photographer Guido Karp has earned an excellent reputation in the art of portrait and developed a variety of valuable tips to make the eyes of his models shine. A remarkable trick that has proven itself is to simply ask the model to stretch your tongue out. This small, playful element not only relaxes the face, but also leads to amusing moments, which then reflect in the eyes and ultimately make their portrait photos appear alive and expressive.

Light and lighting on portrait photos

The right lighting is crucial for successful portraits, especially to avoid disturbing shadows. These arise from the natural light, which usually comes from above. Reflectors are a simple and effective solution, even made of materials such as cardboard or styrofoam to lighten shadows and make the eyes appear more lively.

The use of reflectors can convince with great influence on the image quality - a film with FotoTV experts shows their use in detail. In addition, folding reflectors can be a practical and inexpensive option for ambitious photographers.

Correctly set light determines the mood, emphasizes the best characteristics and strengthens the story told. Natural light is particularly advantageous due to its softness and versatility. The light of the gold hour (shortly after sunrise and before sunset) gives your model a warm and flattering rays. When you work indoors, position your model near a window to avoid hard shadows.

Artificial lighting offers creative control, stability and consistency. It is particularly suitable for interior shots. A single light source, such as a soft box or an unleashed flash, can create dramatic contrasts or imitate natural light to achieve a balanced exposure.

Experiment with the direction and intensity of light. "

Side light emphasizes textures and gives the picture drama, while frontal light smoothes the facial features and ensures a softer look. Fine tunes in highlights, shadows and colors in post -processing to ensure that the final portrait photo conveys exactly the desired mood.

Light formers are also essential tools in photography that enable them to modulate the light in a targeted manner. Soft boxes , umbrellas and beauty discoes help to sprinkle the light soft or more precisely, which means that you can optimally design the shadows in the image. Through the intelligent use of these light formers, they create atmospheric portraits with subtle shades.

classic light setups such as Rembrandt, butterfly or split light for most purposes These proven light configurations offer you the opportunity to implement various moods and effects in your portraits. Integrate these techniques into your photography and give your pictures a special depth and character.

The background

The background in portrait photography can play an as important role as the motif itself. Often the importance of the background is neglected when photographing the person, although it has a major impact on the image effect. A calm, darkened background does not distract the viewer's gaze from the motif and strengthens its expressiveness.

In order to achieve this effect, special backgrounds such as paper rolls or fabrics can be used. Inspirational examples come from renowned photographers like Annie Leibovitz . If there is no way for an artificial background, there are also more natural options such as bushes or dark -colored walls to create appealing portraits.

Posing techniques

Let your model feel comfortable and confident while ensuring that the pose advantageously emphasizes the individual characteristics. Place on simple gestures and a relaxed body language. Adjustments should be subtle so that the pose remains interesting, but still authentic. Even slight weight shift or an inclined head can achieve a big effect.

Simple movements are recommended for the hands - let the model put them loosely on the lap, hold an object or put in the pocket. Promote natural movements to capture spontaneity. Your model can take a few steps forward, look over your shoulder or interact with the surroundings. This ensures a relaxed atmosphere at the shoot and gives the pictures more depth and context.

Correcting a slightly bent posture or adjusting the position of the arms and shoulders with a photo editing program can improve symmetry and balance. The smoothing of uneven clothing or the slight correction of the head angle can also optimize the pose without losing its naturalness.

Communication with the model - the focus on people

In order to create convincing portrait photos, it is crucial to build a trusting relationship with your model. Choose a person whose charisma fascinates you and who has your very own story.

Accident, physiotherapy, business challenges, dog died, ... An essence of these strokes of fate can be found in Christian Anderl's self -portrait. And yet you want to summarize it with a completely different word: confidence

Authentic and deeply abandoning portrait shots require that you connect to the model before shooting and make a dialogue to make the model relax. The place where the shoot takes place should convey a feeling of well -being to the person; Only then can she present herself.

Avoid forced poses or artificial smile - a relaxed environment promotes honest emotions and spontaneous forms of expression. Take enough time to interact and get to know your model.

Patience is the key to create authentic and expressive portraits.

Image processing in portrait photography

Essential processing techniques

Image processing is a crucial step to exploit the full potential of your portrait shots. Start with basic adjustments such as brightness, contrast, saturation and sharpness to create a visual attraction.

Adobe Photoshop , Lightroom or Capture One ideal for these basic processing steps However, these professional tools also require a certain training period. Aperty is faster . The advanced photo editor with AI support, which is also used by professionals, reduces the processing time and nevertheless achieves impressive, high-quality portraits.

Retouching and skin smoothing

In portrait photography, it is common to retouch smaller impurities or bumps on the skin. It is important to make sure that the skin does not look unnaturally smooth. Use tools such as the stamp tool or the repair brush in Adobe Photoshop to precisely carry out your retouching work.

Do not overdo it with the skin smoothing - the goal is to achieve an authentic and timeless result.

Color correction and adjustment

The right coloring plays a central role in the effect of a portrait. Correct any color stitches and adjust the color temperature to keep natural skin tones. Use the color correction tools of your image editing software to specifically influence individual colors.

You can also experiment with different color look and styles to create a specific mood or atmosphere in your picture.

Creative effects and filters

With creative effects and filters you can give your portraits an individual touch. For example, work with vignettes to focus on your model, or add a subtle film grain effect to create a nostalgic mood. However, be economical in dealing with effects and filters - the goal is to avoid an overloaded appearance.

Always remember: Image processing should support the quality and effect of your portrait without distracting from the main motif.

Final words

Portrait photography is the art of well thought -out posing, the skillful handling of light and attention to detail. Experiment with various techniques, try new perspectives and focus on capturing the unique essence of your model.

Practice continuously and develop creative approaches. The right balance from preparation, intuition and post -processing makes your visual stories extraordinary.

Joachim Rodriguez y Romero

Owner and managing director of Kunstplaza. Publicist, editor and passionate blogger in the field of art, design and creativity since 2011. Successful conclusion in web design as part of a university degree (2008). Further development of creativity techniques through courses in free drawing, expression painting and theatre/acting. Profound knowledge of the art market through many years of journalistic research and numerous collaborations with actors/institutions from art and culture.

www.kunstplaza.de/