Anyone who is known to enjoy the pastime of photography will, one day, be asked
to take somebody’s photo - and by that, they don’t mean a passport picture, they
mean a portrait that can be hung on the wall as a veritable family heirloom.
Portrait of Twiggy by Cecil
Beaton.
There are enormous differences between pictures and
portraits. The two styles of resulting photographs are poles apart. You see,
‘portraits’ comes from the word ‘portray’ and means to make a likeness of.
Portraiture is even described as the ‘art’ of making that likeness, and that is
where the difference comes.
We have all got, or have seen, passport photographs. These
are the archetypal picture. They show what your face looks like. Nothing more,
nothing less, and all against a blue background, with the sitter square on to
the camera.
However, when you have a portrait taken, the photograph
should do more than just show what your face looks like, but also give some
inkling as to what you are like. Sort of ‘value-added’ if you will. I describe
it as making a likeness of the ‘person’. Somehow you have to get the personality
into the picture, and that way you have a real portrait.
It is for this reason alone that you cannot walk into a
suburban photo studio and get your “portrait” taken. At best you will get an
adequately lit picture of yourself. You will not get a portrait.
For the photographer to understand the sitter takes time in
getting to know the sitter. Likes and dislikes, hobbies, anxieties, a wife or
mother - a whole thumbnail sketch of the person, and then and only then, should
the sitter get in front of the camera.
So let’s make you, the weekend photographer, into a portrait
photographer. To portray the person, you first need to know how the sitters
perceive themselves. People who consider themselves to be happy, spontaneous
people should be photographed laughing, head back, open mouthed, smiling,
tossing the hair around - you get the concept, I’m sure. More studious people
should be shown in that manner. A book as a prop is a great idea to convey the
mood and make the sitter feel relaxed. Having already found out a little of the
sitter’s likes and dislikes, you can also add some props, and have the subject
begin to relate to them, like the book in the studious portrait. This also helps
them to relax.
I have mentioned before in this column that the first rule
with all sitters is to get your subject to relax. If your favorite lady is
sitting rigidly staring at the camera as Thai people seem to do, I can guarantee
that the end result will not be pleasing to either the sitter or the
photographer. When making a portrait of Thai people in particular, it is even
more important to get them relaxed and happy, as they do tend to “stand to
attention” with arms held straight at their sides, looking as if they are on
army parade.
The pose to avoid at all costs is the subject straight on to
the camera. This is unfortunately the commonest pose - but it is the most
un-glamorous pose, especially as far as women are concerned. That is why it is
used in passports!
Here’s what to do to get over this problem. Start by sitting
your lady in a chair, and then turn it 45 degrees away from the straight ahead
position. Now ask her to slowly turn her head and look at the end of your
camera’s lens. Look through your viewfinder - see? It looks better already. Now
ask her to gently raise the shoulder closest to the camera and smile. Guess
what? You are starting to get a portrait image.
That basic pose can be modified by turning to the left as
well as to the right, shoulders up or down, open mouthed smile or shy grin. Each
shot will have a different look. Try to get the subject relaxed by talking to
them, cracking jokes or anything that will get them to relax. From there you try
to get the personality of the sitter to come through.
Have a go at portrait photography this weekend.
