Portrait photography advice?

[fmw]

My advice is always the same. Posed studio shots are, frankly, boring. Photograph your friend doing what he does. The best portraits don't look like portraits.

yup. so boring. guess i should have just gotten a few snaps of him running around the yard, or in front of the fence.

DSC_1247 by pixmedic, on Flickr

its ok. I get that different people have different tastes, but it just seems counter productive to comment on a thread specifically asking about posed studio shots and tell the OP
not to do them. Its kinda like going on a thread asking about film developing and telling the OP to just shoot digital. The best portraits are ones that embrace what the client wants.

Dad specifically asked for studio shots, and this shot in particular was all his idea. Considering he paid $400 for the family set, I figured it was probably best to give him what he wanted.

I stand by what I said. They are boring. The portrait above is boring. Any photographer has to deliver what the client wants but that doesn't necessarily make great images.

 

[fmw]

My advice is always the same. Posed studio shots are, frankly, boring. Photograph your friend doing what he does. The best portraits don't look like portraits.

Just as a point of order, that is opinion, NOT advice.

No, it is advice.

 

[pixmedic]

My advice is always the same. Posed studio shots are, frankly, boring. Photograph your friend doing what he does. The best portraits don't look like portraits.

yup. so boring. guess i should have just gotten a few snaps of him running around the yard, or in front of the fence.

DSC_1247 by pixmedic, on Flickr

its ok. I get that different people have different tastes, but it just seems counter productive to comment on a thread specifically asking about posed studio shots and tell the OP
not to do them. Its kinda like going on a thread asking about film developing and telling the OP to just shoot digital. The best portraits are ones that embrace what the client wants.

Dad specifically asked for studio shots, and this shot in particular was all his idea. Considering he paid $400 for the family set, I figured it was probably best to give him what he wanted.

I stand by what I said. They are boring. The portrait above is boring. Any photographer has to deliver what the client wants but that doesn't necessarily make great images.

Must remind you of your avatar I guess

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

 

[fmw]

My advice is always the same. Posed studio shots are, frankly, boring. Photograph your friend doing what he does. The best portraits don't look like portraits.

yup. so boring. guess i should have just gotten a few snaps of him running around the yard, or in front of the fence.

DSC_1247 by pixmedic, on Flickr

its ok. I get that different people have different tastes, but it just seems counter productive to comment on a thread specifically asking about posed studio shots and tell the OP
not to do them. Its kinda like going on a thread asking about film developing and telling the OP to just shoot digital. The best portraits are ones that embrace what the client wants.

Dad specifically asked for studio shots, and this shot in particular was all his idea. Considering he paid $400 for the family set, I figured it was probably best to give him what he wanted.

I stand by what I said. They are boring. The portrait above is boring. Any photographer has to deliver what the client wants but that doesn't necessarily make great images.

Must remind you of your avatar I guess

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

Why is that? The large format studio camera you see there was for commercial product photography. My favorite camera for portraits was the Mamiya RZ67. I shot some posed studio portraits in my day but I didn't like any of them. The clients liked them but so it goes. I loved capturing people doing what they do. That practice makes better portraits every time.

If I were to make a portrait today I would use a DSLR. What does a camera have to do with what I said?

 

[pixmedic]

My advice is always the same. Posed studio shots are, frankly, boring. Photograph your friend doing what he does. The best portraits don't look like portraits.

yup. so boring. guess i should have just gotten a few snaps of him running around the yard, or in front of the fence.

DSC_1247 by pixmedic, on Flickr

its ok. I get that different people have different tastes, but it just seems counter productive to comment on a thread specifically asking about posed studio shots and tell the OP
not to do them. Its kinda like going on a thread asking about film developing and telling the OP to just shoot digital. The best portraits are ones that embrace what the client wants.

Dad specifically asked for studio shots, and this shot in particular was all his idea. Considering he paid $400 for the family set, I figured it was probably best to give him what he wanted.

I stand by what I said. They are boring. The portrait above is boring. Any photographer has to deliver what the client wants but that doesn't necessarily make great images.

Must remind you of your avatar I guess

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

Why is that? The large format studio camera you see there was for commercial product photography. My favorite camera for portraits was the Mamiya RZ67. I shot some posed studio portraits in my day but I didn't like any of them. The clients liked them but so it goes. I loved capturing people doing what they do. That practice makes better portraits every time.

If I were to make a portrait today I would use a DSLR. What does a camera have to do with what I said?

i just figured that since your avatar was a boring portrait, my boring portrait got you feeling a little nostalgic, that's all. nothing to do with the camera.

your opinion on what makes a better portrait is duly noted. kinda narrow minded though. I suppose if your clients dont care about posing, or lighting, or any kind of setup at all, then running around taking random pictures of people doing things might be desirable. I never cared for it. always felt lazy to me. it used to be called photojournalism back in the day, but now I think its been re-dubbed "lifestyle" photography. personally, "I" call it, "didn't bother to learn lighting or posing" photography. just my opinion though, don't want anyone to think im stating it as a fact.
I suppose the lighting portion isn't entirely accurate, seeing as how the forum has some amazing natural light photographers...but again, the magic is in the posing.

 

[Derrel]

Here's the result of my lighting experiments. Please ignore my own ugly mug in the shot and the background, which is just my curtains. but it should let you see the lighting at least

Selfie by wee_pete, on Flickr

Looks alright to me. Perhaps a tad too much negative clarity on the skin for a male's portrait? I might burn down the ear camera right, just a bit...a little bit too much fill on the shadow side, IMHO. Overall the degree of shadowing from the lighting set-up creates a lot of dimensional clues for the shape of the face.

 

[weepete]

Thanks guys. I'm not going to be able to take photographs of him at work, it's not allowed. When I was asked to do shots of him I got him to send me a few examples of what he had in mind. The images I got back were all studio shots so as far as I'm concerned that's what I've been asked for and thats what I'm going to do my best to deliver. We may end up doing some outside shots too if time allows and conditions are right but I think I'll do ok with them. He can then pick whatever ones he likes.

 

[pixmedic]

Thanks guys. I'm not going to be able to take photographs of him at work, it's not allowed. When I was asked to do shots of him I got him to send me a few examples of what he had in mind. The images I got back were all studio shots so as far as I'm concerned that's what I've been asked for and thats what I'm going to do my best to deliver. We may end up doing some outside shots too if time allows and conditions are right but I think I'll do ok with them. He can then pick whatever ones he likes.

knock it out the box bro.
studio work is awesome!
its the kind of formal portraiture that families get to hang on their walls, and professionals of all sorts hang in their offices.

 

[weepete]

Here's the result of my lighting experiments. Please ignore my own ugly mug in the shot and the background, which is just my curtains. but it should let you see the lighting at least

We never criticize the models! The photographers on the other hand.... Not bad at all; a nice basic, but effective set-up; my preference is generally for broad lighting (have the key light illuminating the same side of the face as you're photographing) vice short, for men, assuming your mate is of average build, but this works just fine. My only real concern is that if he has darker hair like yours the detail will be lost in the shadow. Moving the key light so that it illuminates the hair a little more and bringing in a reflector til fill chin/neck might work if you don't have another light to dedicate as a hairlight.

Aye, I'm thankful that we don't comment on models! My mate's a big lad 6'2" and broad but he is quite skinny now. He's also bauld so no worries about a hair light with him I'll bear in mind for the future though.

 

[weepete]

.... Well it could be a 'portable studio' shoot?

I'm guessing that the lighting and backdrop will be set up at home. We're just suggesting it could br set up at work.

I like the trial shot from the OP. Nicely lit.

Thanks mate. Unfortunatley shooting at his work is not an option, but thanks for the suggestion.

 

[weepete]

Looks alright to me. Perhaps a tad too much negative clarity on the skin for a male's portrait? I might burn down the ear camera right, just a bit...a little bit too much fill on the shadow side, IMHO. Overall the degree of shadowing from the lighting set-up creates a lot of dimensional clues for the shape of the face.

Thanks mate, yeah it was a quick and dirty edit and I've never had good skin so it's hiding some flaws.

 

[weepete]

knock it out the box bro.
studio work is awesome!
its the kind of formal portraiture that families get to hang on their walls, and professionals of all sorts hang in their offices.

Thanks mate, I'll do my best!

 

[weepete]

A touch too much shadow for the pose. MOO (my opinion only) But a nice start.

Thanks mate, I did have a few that were more front lit and even but I wanted to try for a bit of shadow to learn to use the lights.

 

[tirediron]

He's also bauld so no worries about a hair light with him I'll bear in mind for the future though.

In the trade, we call that a 'dome-light'!

 

[fmw]

You mis

My advice is always the same. Posed studio shots are, frankly, boring. Photograph your friend doing what he does. The best portraits don't look like portraits.

yup. so boring. guess i should have just gotten a few snaps of him running around the yard, or in front of the fence.

DSC_1247 by pixmedic, on Flickr

its ok. I get that different people have different tastes, but it just seems counter productive to comment on a thread specifically asking about posed studio shots and tell the OP
not to do them. Its kinda like going on a thread asking about film developing and telling the OP to just shoot digital. The best portraits are ones that embrace what the client wants.

Dad specifically asked for studio shots, and this shot in particular was all his idea. Considering he paid $400 for the family set, I figured it was probably best to give him what he wanted.

I stand by what I said. They are boring. The portrait above is boring. Any photographer has to deliver what the client wants but that doesn't necessarily make great images.

Must remind you of your avatar I guess

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

Why is that? The large format studio camera you see there was for commercial product photography. My favorite camera for portraits was the Mamiya RZ67. I shot some posed studio portraits in my day but I didn't like any of them. The clients liked them but so it goes. I loved capturing people doing what they do. That practice makes better portraits every time.

If I were to make a portrait today I would use a DSLR. What does a camera have to do with what I said?

i just figured that since your avatar was a boring portrait, my boring portrait got you feeling a little nostalgic, that's all. nothing to do with the camera.

your opinion on what makes a better portrait is duly noted. kinda narrow minded though. I suppose if your clients dont care about posing, or lighting, or any kind of setup at all, then running around taking random pictures of people doing things might be desirable. I never cared for it. always felt lazy to me. it used to be called photojournalism back in the day, but now I think its been re-dubbed "lifestyle" photography. personally, "I" call it, "didn't bother to learn lighting or posing" photography. just my opinion though, don't want anyone to think im stating it as a fact.
I suppose the lighting portion isn't entirely accurate, seeing as how the forum has some amazing natural light photographers...but again, the magic is in the posing.

You missed the point entirely. My avatar was a self portrait doing what I did. That is exactly the message I was trying to convey. Most people would see the self portrait and say "photographer" and you missed that entirely. You should make portraits any way you like. I was simply suggesting a better way.