| How do you take portraits which stand out from all | | | | That's when I decided to learn what I can about how |
| the same ol', same ol' and will be remembered as | | | | to be a more open communicator. I started greeting |
| really great depictions of the subjects? That's a | | | | my clients warmly, and I now open up conversations |
| question I've been asking myself over and over, and | | | | immediately. Before the actual shoot, I usually build |
| I've found some answers. | | | | such a connection that when they go in front of the |
| The first thing I found - working on a human level. | | | | camera, they are not disturbed by it any more. |
| It's so easy to get stuck in the techniques and | | | | I also tell them to really express who they are using |
| technologies stage of becoming a professional | | | | only their face. This is a good exercise to give to |
| photographer, especially when you've got that geeky | | | | them. If their face, which is the most important part |
| side in you. I used to think that if I know my camera | | | | of a shoot, really is not working well in the frame, tell |
| and all the techniques better than anyone else, I will | | | | them to try a different emotion and really make a |
| take outstanding portrait photos. | | | | conscious effort to exaggerate it and show that |
| Turns out, I was wrong. I mean, I could take really | | | | emotion. |
| good-looking portrait photos and people liked them, | | | | The second part which usually goes wrong is their |
| but more often than not, I felt I always missed the | | | | hands. Give them something to do with their hands, |
| mark and fell short a little bit. I couldn't quite capture | | | | somewhere to put them, something that looks like it |
| people in a way that really showed their uniqueness | | | | has a purpose. That should fix a large part of your |
| and their personality. | | | | photos. |