Since the day I started taking photography seriously, I have said people are not my favorite subjects.  "Landscapes don't talk back" was the catch phrase.  People will critique your work, be unhappy, ask you to remove blemishes where you may find beauty, the list goes on.  We are living in a world where image is everything.  Whether or not I adopt this ideology personally, doesn't shed the responsibility I have as a photographer because, let's face it, when it comes to photography, image IS everything.  So stepping into the realm of portrait photography can be a challenge and one I find a photographer should really be prepared for.  

   I have spent a lot of time studying photographers, like Jerry Ghionis, who understand how to bring out the most in people with poses and coaching.  Not everyone you shoot is going to be a model so it's up to the photographer to make the image.  Thankfully I have good friends who are always willing to jump in front of my camera to help me practice.  And a great wife who can take a small amount of time to assist and help me with lighting and ideas.

   I asked Ali to come be my model so I could practice some of the things I had been studying: the 'squinch', how to accent the jaw-line, and accenting curves.  She,  obviously, agreed and we headed out to a spot I thought would be great for getting some silhouettes in the evening, as well as some reflections and beautiful sunset shots.  We grabbed some outfits and accessories and headed out.  (We didn't change outfits because I just loved how her dress was working)

   One of the things that is always a challenge, with any type of photography, is lighting.  We were working in the late afternoon and evening so the sunlight was more directional, but it still cast harsh shadows and really needs to be managed.   If the subject is back lit, the shadows need to be filled.  If the subject is facing more toward the sun, the light may need to be diffused.  My solution:  5 in 1 reflector.    For all my shots last night, I managed the light with a 42" Impact 5-in-1 reflector.  When the lighting seemed too harsh, I could put her behind the diffuser and get some really nice, soft, even lighting like the photo to the left.  

   You can see how soft the lighting is on Ali.  I had her body toward the sun, but turned her face back toward me.  With the light source at about a 45 degree angle, maybe a little more in this case, we get a very natural look.  The shadows are very soft and her face has shape.  The shadow side of the face is toward me, which can be very flattering for a woman.  And she has a little bit of a squinch going on here.  The main thing i was looking for while making this image was the jaw line.  We really tried to define it by bringing her head toward me and stretching the skin over it slightly.

   This image was more about story than the posing.  We had a very calm day which worked so perfectly for these shots.  The water was very still and I was able to get some of the reflections I wanted.  For this image I really wanted to portray that.  Normally, when shooting portraits, the eyes are key.  We make an emotional connection with people through their eyes.  A photograph where the eyes are not in focus just isn't as appealing as one where they are; if that's where the connection is.  For me, I wanted to take the focus away from the eyes and put it on what she was looking at.  I had her tap the water to create the ripples.  And because she is pointing, the viewers eye is led right to the water.  We naturally look at the face to try to make that connection with they eyes and the arm brings the viewer back down to the water, leading them around the image.   I also wanted to play the red hat against the green background.  They are complimentary colors so they stand out very well against each other.  

This next image is why a good assistant is so important.  Let me say this: I could not have created ANY of these images without my assistant, who happened to be my wife in this case.  She helped carry things, held reflectors and diffusers, she provided music and best of all, she provided the idea for this shot.

  She saw this concrete structure and said, "You should frame her with that!"  Ali hopped in and we started posing.  My wife and I worked together to pose Ali and the three of us created this beautiful image.  We moved her feet and her hips to give her more curve.  We put her hands up to connect her to the scene and we brought her jaw out to define it.  The relaxed, longing look gives this image so much feeling.  It was really the culmination of events last night.  It was so cool to come together like we did, where we all connected to create something beautiful.  So what's the secret?

   The secret is this:  Confidence is key.  One thing that really struck me last night was how important it was to relax, be confident and enjoy yourself.  Not just for the photographer, for the subject and the assistant also.  All evening long we were trying new ideas and when I saw something that struck me, I said it!  "That is gorgeous, Ali!"  "Great job Tia, perfect, right there!"  The positive energy was contagious and it flowed between us.  I would describe a little bit of what I was doing and what I was looking for and then I'd show the difference it made.  When Ali started seeing results, she began seeing herself differently and began feeling beautiful.  That's when things really start flowing.  At one point she said, "It feels uncomfortable, but if it looks good, I'll do it."  To have that trust, and to be able to make someone feel beautiful, in a world that is constantly telling you you aren't good enough, is what being a portrait photographer is all about.  It's about providing an environment that allows someone like Ali to bring out their "inner model".