"I don't photograph the world as it is.
I photograph the world, as I would like it to be."
Monte Zucker

When the great portrait photographer said the above he was referring primarily to photographing people - that was his love and main activity.

In practical terms he meant that the successful portrait photographer doesn't just take the subject 'as is.' Rather, the thoughtful and skilful photographer uses techniques to hide or minimise the subject's imperfections before taking the picture. This will involve working with good quality light, understanding camera position and knowing the best poses for men and women.

The photographer studies the face of his subjects looking for the strong and the week points. When he is ready to photograph he has in mind all the relevant information to enable him to craft an image pleasing to his client.

For example, if the photographer notices that the subject has one eye smaller than the other, he places the subject with the smaller eye closer to the camera to make it less obvious. Most photographers do exactly the opposite. If you think about it, the further away the eye is from the lens the smaller it will be seen, emphasizing the imperfection further.

If the subject has a double chin then the camera is raised a bit to hide it.

If there's a mole on the face, he photographs the face in profile keeping the mole on the hidden side. On the other hand, If the sitter wants to be photographed full face with the mole showing, then the photographer positions the light in such a way that no shadows would be created around the mole. Shadows reveal texture accentuating imperfections.

On the initial meeting with the subject before the photographic session, the photographer must guide the client to take along the right kind of clothing and colour, this is very important. We do not want clothing either to detract or to dominate the portrait. Nothing must be left to chance if we are going to create good portraiture.

Window Lighting

Beautiful portraiture can also be created using non-directional window lighting with the subject sitting close to the window. (See examples)

For good portraiture, it is essential to separate the subject from the background. An inexpensive flash is sufficient to create this separation. If you use window lighting, then you may be able to get enough light on the background without a flash by getting the sitter to be closer to the background.

You need to watch for unwanted shadows created by the main light. Again it all depends on the colour of the background and on the main light.

Materials

What basic materials do portrait students need?

1. Apart from a camera and tripod,
2. a light meter that reads incident light from the flash,
3. a hand held reflector, an inexpensive flash light,
4. an adjustable stand for the flash and a white photographic umbrella to soften the light
5. If the flash is weak in power then place the unit closer to the subject's face.

Monte Zucker had over 50 years experience in wedding and portraiture - to gain such a extraordinary skill and vision requires a lot of practice.

Anyone desiring to achieve higher standards need to become fluent with the basic tools of portraiture:

• studying people's faces,
• learning about the quality of light and its direction.
• How it affects the shape and aesthetics of a portrait.
• Light ratios and how it affects the masculine and feminine portrait.

Then practice, practice until the tools become automatic to you.

For further details and examples go to:

http://www.mountain-light.cfo.uk/portraits1.html