What are the main features of portrait photography?

[JackyRock]

HI Friends,
I Am Jack from u.k.
If a photographer wants to be an expert portrait photographer what he or she must learn?

pls reply

[zona5101]

this is huge...like asking what do i need to know to be a ferrarri mechanic...

from a very high level:
* GAPP {Generall accepted photographic principles)
* lighting
* posing
* camera operation
* communication/"people skills"
* business and salesmanship
* development of a personal photographic style

And in reviewing this list it is clear why I struggle so much

[Benji]

Originally Posted by JackyRock

HI Friends,
I Am Jack from u.k.
If a photographer wants to be an expert portrait photographer what he or she must learn?

pls reply

Wow! The list is nearly endless. Here is my perspective after 28 years as a professional portrait photographer. First the camera must be as second nature to you as your right hand is. You cannot be fumbling with camera controls and gadgets and tripods and moving lights and doing "test" firings and grey card readings if you expect the client to feel any confidence in your abilities. Get in get the shot and move on to the next series of poses.

You MUST be able to look at your subject and determine what her "problems" are in the first 30 seconds after meeting her. Problems like is she short, tall, fat, skinny, large breasts, small breasts, oily skin, scars, lost of zits, big nose, crooked nose, crooked teeth, discolored teeth, flat or ugly hair, full face, non-photogenic clothing, bad attitude, scared, overly beautiful and knows it, physical deformities, one eye larger than the other, low self esteem etc, etc. then you must overcome all of them. If she is fat, it is up to you to slenderize her. If she is a "plain Jane" you must make her look beautiful. If she has low self esteem it is up to you to build her up with flattery but not not make her feel like she is being lied to. A degree in psychology would be helpful!

You MUST be a "people person." If you have a bad attitude word spreads quickly not to got to you to be photpgraphed. If you like the "sneak peek perks" pro photographers get like glances down the front of her blouse or up her skirt or down the back of her pants, resist the urge. These girls are not stupid they know what you are doing and they will inform their friends that you are a pervert and to go elsewhere.

You MUST be able to pose her to flatter her, light her to flatter her, and make her feel at ease all in about 20 to 30 seconds. Any longer than that and the flow of the session dies and it will be hard to get it charged back up again. Then you should show her the image on the back of the camera to boost her moral and once she sees how beautiful she is she will put ALL her trust in your photographic abilities on the spot.

Lastly you need to present the images in a professional manner, EVERY shot must be as perfect as possible and priced so you make a nice tidy profit. NOTHING will kill a business and a dream quicker than losing money with each session. According to the IRS most photographers need five years under their belts before that begin to make a profit in a portrait studio.

Benji

P.S. This is ONLY a start. I could go on for hours.

[JackyRock]

thnks for a reply my friends ,