35 Rules of Portraits - Good Advice or Outdated?

[aribabybug]

While I was poking around on the internet last night looking for anything new and interesting that related to doing studio portraits, I came across a photographer's website that had posted a lot of interesting information, and which included the 35 Rules of Portraits.


While some of the rules make a lot of sense, and some of them are things I never would have thought of (like making sure that all joints are bent), there's a lot of stuff here that I resist. For example, the idea that as little skin should show as possible. While I completely agree that they eye is more quickly drawn to the face in his example image with no skin showing, I also feel that clothing shows the personality of the subject, and not everyone has a long-sleeved personality. Also, he refers a lot to poses that are appropriate for only certain genders or ages (I'm talking about head tilts here, not anything drastic), and while I agree that a male tilting his head a certain way does make him look a little feminine, I'd rather just put my subject into whatever pose seems best for him/her.

The photographer who posted these rules says himself that once you know the rules, you can break them. I find a lot of these rules to be incredibly helpful, but others seem like they apply to an older style of portraits. He says himself that he breaks a lot of these rules when it comes to senior portraits. I'd like to be a better portrait photographer, and if that means doing things that I resist a little at first, then I guess I'd better get the resisting out of the way.

So, my question is: Which of these rules do YOU follow? Which do you break? Was there anything on the list that surprised you?

[BigVinnie]

Originally Posted by aribabybug

For example, the idea that as little skin should show as possible.

Probably should not point him to Jimmy D's blog (NSFW).

Other than that it is a pretty standard portrait guide. Real similar to what I was taught 30 years ago.

Also boring.

Magazines and websites will help you more. Seek out blogs from photographers who produce work you like and dissect what they are doing. Look at lighting, posing, processing etc...

Learning the basics is good, but don't get trapped by them.

[zona5101]

rules, guideline, eh. Like anything, take what works, leave what doesn't. Benji shoots pretty traditional portraits and some think that they are too stiff and old school. I admire a lot of his work because it is technically well executed.

[SusanH1970]

Benji was a member here until he left in a bit of a hissy fit because a few people told him his style was outdated, un-natural looking and stiff. I personally think his "rules" are ridiculous. He's got a few valid points (such as don't have anyone face the camera dead-straight on, but he also didn't make that one up, lol). I suppose his guide could be a good starting point for someone just starting out who has no clue how to pose people, but to follow it hard and fast? Hell to the no!

[RLucas]

Wow! That has Benji written all over it!

[BigFuzzy]

I'm not going to touch those rules with a 30 year old pole..

Having said that, the thing you need to do is research photographers, find those images that touch you and that you want your style (ie don't copy) to 'feel' like and take the lessons you can from actually looking at the photos. Find what works for you and apply it.

For example, looking at that link, other than the very first one, I'd never ever ever in a million years (ie when they were taken in my opinion)want any of my photos to look like those, and that's the lesson I take from that link.

So yes, some basic rules are necessary, and that link has some of them, but I think it's more important to find what feels right to you, regardless of the rules. That's how I work.. who knows if it works, but it feels right to me!

[aribabybug]

I agree that it's best to find work that you like and find things you can draw from it. I think a lot of Benji's rules are really interesting, but I don't want my pictures to look like his. I have my own (still developing) style. I just didn't want to disregard the rules if they were valid and I could learn from them (and I think I can learn from some of them).

[LeeR]

A warning flag always appears when I see "photography" and "rules" in the same sentence. Great photography is largely intuitive, which means we need to first train and then trust our instincts. Rules, like the rule of thirds, are more like the things we see in our rear view window; they don't show us which way to go, but they can confirm that we are headed in the right direction.
However, I would be careful about ignoring axioms developed over 25 years of practice and a successful business. There is a great deal to be gleaned from his experience. As Isaac Watson so famously said, "If I have seen farther it is by standing on the shoulders of giants."

[kencaleno]

Originally Posted by SusanH1970

Benji was a member here until he left in a bit of a hissy fit because a few people told him his style was outdated, un-natural looking and stiff. I personally think his "rules" are ridiculous. He's got a few valid points (such as don't have anyone face the camera dead-straight on, but he also didn't make that one up, lol). I suppose his guide could be a good starting point for someone just starting out who has no clue how to pose people, but to follow it hard and fast? Hell to the no!

I never got on with Benji,but he is right concerning rules of portraiture-It doesn't matter a rat's ass what you think-If you are going to charge for photography,then you had better learn how to do it right,and Benji's rules are the right way. But some of you are so up yourselves and think you know it all,so just settle down and learn from someone like Benji.

[RLucas]

Originally Posted by kencaleno

I never got on with Benji,but he is right concerning rules of portraiture-It doesn't matter a rat's ass what you think-If you are going to charge for photography,then you had better learn how to do it right,and Benji's rules are the right way. But some of you are so up yourselves and think you know it all,so just settle down and learn from someone like Benji.

Rules and tastes change Ken! Take a look at some well respected sites/blogs of people who do portraiture, and you will see that most, if not all of these "rules" are dated.

Who do you think you are telling people they are "up themselves", when you are one of the main people who are unwilling to learn from anyone else? I think you need to sit back and follow some of your own advice!

Have a nice day!