Portrait Photography
Scroll down for a link that will take you to lighting set-ups for different types of effect.
The portraits on the left are both successful because the photographer was able to "capture" a specific expression that enhances our understanding of each subject's personality.
The young man in the tuxedo is lit very naturally, with one flash bounced off a reflector. (Note that there are no shadows behind him.) The sincere expression embodies a "joy for music", and an approachable personality. In the portrait of the young child, the absence of color directs our eyes to the contemplative, yet confident expression in the boy's face. Notice how his arms lead us upward towards the face, and how the sharp cropping on both sides enforces the composition. The out-of-focus background also enhances our experience of this portrait. Copyright images, Belenna Mesa Lauto |
Documentary & Environmental Portraits
My favorite portraits have always been of people in their environment. The images below are part of a documentary of MOMMAS House, an organization that provides education and shelter to young, single mothers who find themselves with no place to turn. They were originally shot with film.