PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY
Portrait photography is one of the most popular branches of photography. It is one of the reasons why it is still so popular. Researchers found that the most pleasant thing to look at is oneself. So people tend to like their portraits and have this kind of photography.
But time is flowing and the rules and techniques which are used today differ from the ones which were used ten years ago. The compositional trends changed as well, while the basics remained the same.
As a photographer with substantial experience I can say that portrait photography is one of the most difficult but exciting kinds of photography in general. Here, the photographer should implement lots of skill and professionalism to get good shots. A lot of newcomers think that portrait photography is an easy and fast way to get a lot of clients, but it does not work like that. In my opinion it is more difficult to get a good portrait shot than any other one, but it makes the work exciting, at least for me.
I always say that I am an easygoing person, open to new suggestions and following the trends. But there is one thing I do not change no matter what, and this is my initial approach to photography in general. This becomes critical when it comes to work with people. I have established some rules which I follow, and the most important one is creating pictures without this air of artificial joy which you can often see in other portraits. Everything is nice, and beautiful, but it does not seem true. So I set my goal to help my clients to relax, so I can avoid the tension in their posture.
If you look through my portfolio you will see that my models all have something in common – they are relaxed and they do look happy. Looking at them, it is not difficult to believe that they enjoyed the process. This is also my second approach – make people enjoy what is happening. I do understand that not everyone can feel relaxed in front of the camera, however sometimes people do not know what to expect or even treat the session as something needed, but not interesting. Yes, these cases also exist, believe it or not. So I always try to make sessions as simple and friendly as possible.
My third approach is being an easygoing person. While working, I establish connection with my client through frequent communication. The success of portrait photography depends a lot on the connection between the model and the photographer. The reason is clear – if you are not working with a professional model, 99% of people do not know how they look better in front of the camera or how to pose naturally. So the better connection there is, the better we understand each other, giving us higher chances to get good shots.
My approach to portrait photo sessions
When you want to order a portrait photo session there are some things you should consider. I always provide a short set of recommendations and tips for my clients, so here they are.
Always get in touch in advance. Even though it does not seem like a big deal, believe me, half an hour of fruitful talks even over the phone regarding the client’s wishes and preferences can do a lot. First of all, it gives me a sense of direction of where to move, what to prepare and how to conduct and rule the whole process. However, if you give me at least some hints of what you expect from the session and what result you want to get, I can do my job better following your demands. As a result, you get a positive experience of working with a photographer, while I get a loyal and happy customer. I think it is a win-win strategy.
If you are about to order portrait photography, I would advise you to do some preparation. The first and foremost advice from me would be to have a good night’s rest the night before the session. It is obvious, I know, but we live in a world where we are forced to sacrifice sleep for some reasons. A restful sleep during the night can make a huge difference during the session the day after. As a photographer, I can say from experience that the better my client rests the night before, the better shots we get. The reason is simple – skin tone changes slightly when we do not sleep the needed amount of hours and the camera captures it.
Pick the place. Technically for me as a photographer, there are two kinds of sessions – with artificial light and with natural light. It requires different equipment, so I would prefer to know in advance what we are about to do. However, the portrait photo session in the studio has its own specifics which should be taken into account. I can work either in the studio or in the location you pick. There's no problem at all. Each of the options have advantages which I will use to get the best shots and provide you with a good experience.
What you should know before
As I said in the beginning, I am an easygoing person, who is open to everything new including short trips for work if needed. As a rule, I do portrait photography in Washington DC, but can move to the locations listed below:
Washington DC
Northern Virginia
NOVA
DMV area
Loudoun County
Fairfax County
Virginia
Leesburg
Reston
Great Falls
Fairfax
Tysons
Tyson Corner
Falls Church
McLean
Frederick
Arlington
Herndon
Chantilly
Alexandria
Sterling
Middleburg
Purcellville
If you have looked through my portfolio and see me as your photographer or simply feel that my approach is what you personally need, just contact me and we will discuss all your questions and concerns. I will be glad to travel a bit in case we decide to work together and come up with some decision regarding your upcoming photo session.
I am active on social media, so you can contact me not just over the phone or email, but there as well. You can find the links below, by the way. I always reply to messages whenever I have free time. So in case you have any questions, you can write to me and I will answer all the questions you have regarding cooperation and portrait sessions.
