Advancing Your Portrait Photography Skills | Moving From Amateur To Pro

The importance of skill mastery in whatever you’re venturing into must be balanced if success is to be achieved. The same can be said of portrait photography. This type of photography is one of the most challenging types, as it seeks to capture the tiniest details, such as the subject’s essence, identity, and personality, using the correct posing, background, and lighting.

A portrait photographer should capture the subject’s character in a photo that also appears natural, regardless of the equipment used. Therefore, the portrait photographer must be vastly skilled in this technique to achieve this. Hence, mastering the skills of this demanding aspect of photography is essential.

In this article, we’ll discuss the skills needed in portrait photography and the things needed to build a successful career in portrait photography. Sit tight and move with us as we dive in to expose the hidden secrets of portrait photography and how to advance them.

Mastering Your Portrait Photography Skills with the Fundamentals

There are many elements in portrait photography; while it isn’t easy, it can be achieved if you understand the fundamental skills required. They include:

1. Lighting:

Lighting is responsible for the brightness and darkness of a picture as well as the mood, tone, and atmosphere. The lighting pattern will determine if your subject gets flattered. The types of lighting patterns, including butterfly, Rembrandt split and loop lighting, and lighting styles (short and broad lighting) are essential to a great outcome. Also, getting the right lighting ratio and the quality of light (soft or hard) determines the final outcome of the image. Therefore, study the various patterns, styles, quality, and ratio of light and determine which works in different situations.

2. Composition:

Composition through direction and visual balance helps to portray the story behind your picture. It’s essentially how you use the edges of frames, shapes within the frame, the prominence of the background, the position of subjects within the frame, and even the shape of the frame. This fundamental skill can transform an ordinary scene into something magical.

3. Camera Settings:

Getting the camera setting right can transform a picture into something special. Whether you’re using natural light or flash portrait shooting, you need to be skilled in setting up your camera for the best, most stunning portraits. Usually, setting your camera to manual mode allows you more creative control over your exposure and lets you better control the photo’s outcome for superior results.

To consistently produce stunning photos for your clients, you must master these skills and have them at your fingertips. Here’s a guide for color grading in Lightroom:

4. Use a longer lens:

As most photographers prefer, a lens longer than the standard 50mm allows you to create a less ordinary scene. A lens with a camera range of 80 – 200 mm will enable you to produce a portrait with better image compression while maintaining the image’s pixel. This can also help you achieve other things, such as increasing the bokeh, bringing the background nearer to the subject, and thus, giving you a superior-looking image.

5. Diffuse your light source:

Shooting your portrait under harsh and direct light will not do your picture any good. Therefore, selecting an environment with soft, diffused natural light from an indirect source is best for optimal results. Alternatively, you can use a diffuser such as a white sheet or a soft box to help diffuse the lightning and produce a better effect.

6. Bring your lighting:

If you want the best results and an outstanding portrait, you shouldn’t rely on your camera’s flashlight. An off-camera flash creates the best lighting conditions for enhanced contrast and controlled shadows in your picture, helping you take a stunning portrait photograph that appeals to the eyes.

Also, while natural light can be excellent for outdoor photography, external strobe lighting can dampen the overpowering effect of direct sunlight.

7. Find a different position:

Shooting from various angles adds different perspectives to your photo and makes them stand out. Shots taken at multiple angles or distances around the subject, changing your subject’s pose, or trying a simple shot are all techniques that can be employed to figure out the best angle for the picture.

8. Try props:

Props in your portrait shooting add more dynamism to your photo. Various props can be employed to give your image that unique look. Some examples include shooting through objects in the background such as the trees or buildings, or even the fence in the background. Also, try using a longer lens to help focus on the subject while blurring the objects in front. This adds an exciting aesthetic look to your picture.

Building Your Portfolio for Future Benefits

As a new photographer, it can be tempting to get too busy with other stuff, like getting new clients or engaging existing ones, that you quickly put aside to put together a portfolio for yourself. However, the importance of having a great portfolio must be emphasized. A great portfolio helps you own your work and photography in a way that allows you to succeed in the long term. Below are some of the benefits of having an outstanding portfolio in your portrait photography career

• Your portfolio supports your creative direction
• Your portfolio fosters respect from clients
• Your portfolio shows your view of the world
• Your portfolio grows with your career
• Your portfolio makes your photography visible

Some tips for building a good portfolio that showcases your skill and style include

• Gather your best 20–30 portrait shots into a single folder on your computer. If you have a wide variety of options, classify them as “senior,” “family,” “newborn,” etc. Prioritize high quality over quantity; your images should demonstrate a coherent editing style, a range of poses, and the work you hope to continue producing. 
• Find a portfolio site that provides all the features you need and more, regardless of where you are on your photographic path.
• Choose a template. Not to worry, you can preview the different templates and easily switch between them as you work.
• Put together an online exhibition of your top twenty to thirty chosen images. Some of these will work wonderfully for altering your homepage’s look.
• Make your site unique by selecting one (or more) of your favorite images to showcase at the top of the homepage, writing a welcome message and adding a call to action, connecting your Instagram feed, and making any necessary changes to the site menu.
• Put your spin on the design. Personalize it by changing the font, color scheme, and button styles, among other things.

Some examples of successful portfolios include David Milan’s, Alison Bratnick’s, Niccolo Miranda’s, and many others that have helped create successful careers for the owners.

Developing your Brand

The art of branding also requires its own set of skills to do a good job. This is vital to building your career as a portrait photographer. It doesn’t matter how good you are; if you don’t put yourself out there to communicate your talents, skills, and offers to potential clients, it’s as good as nothing. This is what branding is all about.

Here are some tips for a successful branding

1. Define who you are
2. Have a strong, easily recognizable presence
3. Know your audience
4. Keep it the same and simple
5. Be real
6. Have a strong online presence
7. Invest time in yourself

Some examples of successful photographers and lessons from them include –

1. Ansel Adams: You can take away from his experience the knowledge that you need marketing and production skills to build a successful brand.
2. Yousuf Karsh: You can take a cue from his long-term brand success by avoiding short-term fashion fads in branding. Stick to your photography vision no matter what, and you’ll find success in the end.
3. Robert Kapa: What you can take away from his example is the realization that the people closest to you are just as important as those you help build and maintain your brand as an artist or businessperson.

Networking and Marketing Yourself

Self-promotion is crucial for any photographer, whether they shoot occasionally or full-time. Like branding, network marketing helps put you out there for your potential clients to see. However, marketing puts your brand in the limelight and positions your career for growth. Here are some suggestions for expanding your photography company. 

1. Have a website to gain exposure.
2. Use social media as a marketing tool
3. Create a Google business listing
4. Use ad platforms to promote your photography business
5. Create a network with fellow photographers to help build a connection

Conclusion

If you seek to grow your professional career as a portrait photographer, you must take note of the skills mentioned in this article. Whether you’re just beginning or seeking to become better at it, these skills will help take you from where you are currently to where you desire to be.

As difficult as it may seem, keep developing your photography skills and taking those little steps toward building your professional career in photography. The reward of having a successful photography career is worth more than the pains of achieving it.