I’ve loved portrait photography since I was a kid. I’ve always had a knack for making people feel comfortable enough in front of my camera to capture an interesting picture. But there were a few things that took me a little longer to wrap my head around. Things like professional and creative lighting techniques, how to manually control camera exposure and flash, and dealing with people especially in a professional context.
You might be interested in developing your skills to become a better portrait photographer. But maybe you don’t know exactly where to start. Should you focus on learning the technical aspects of using your camera and learning to light? Should you jump right into flash photography? What about posing, composition, or getting proficient with Lightroom or Photoshop?
There’s a lot to learn and sometimes it can all feel overwhelming. The good news is you don’t have to learn everything at once. Heck, some photographers skip entire skill sets and still manage. But take things one step at a time, and you’ll be on your way to successfully learning everything you need to know to make it in portrait photography.
Here’s a brief overview of some of the technical and soft skills necessary to succeed as a portrait photographer.
Technical Skills
Every portrait photographer requires a solid foundation in the technical aspects of photography. Fortunately, you don’t need to master everything from the outset; photography is a learn-as-you-go endeavor. And the learning never stops, which is a great thing.
- Understanding the Basics: Familiarize yourself with different camera types and master the Exposure Triangle.
- Mastering Composition: Learn techniques like the Rule of Thirds and S Curves.
- Lighting and Flash Photography: Whether you’re using natural light or studio setups, understanding lighting is crucial. Flash photography, in particular, will give you several creative and practical advantages over natural light alone.
- Post-Processing: It’s important to learn software like Lightroom and Photoshop. Will you have to become an expert in retouching, or digital background replacement? No. But it wouldn’t hurt to get acquainted with the techniques so you can understand what’s involved if you outsource that kind of work.
Developing an Eye for Portrait Photography
While you shouldn’t expect to start right off the bat with a distinct personal style, you’ll develop one over time. Before that, you’ll want to gain an appreciation for good portraiture so that you can recognize the difference between a great shot and a snapshot. Here are some ways to achieve that:
- Studying the Greats: Analyze the works of renowned portrait photographers to understand what makes a portrait compelling.
- Continuous Practice: Shoot regularly, seek feedback, and always be open to learning.
- Observe the Trends: Photography is ever-evolving. Stay updated with the latest trends and techniques. But don’t get too caught up in what appears to be the “right” way to create a portrait. It’s very subjective. Learn what you like and take the advice of others as opinionated suggestions.
Soft Skills
Beyond the camera, a portrait photographer needs to connect with their subjects. Be yourself, keep the communication going, and practice empathy. It’s not easy being in front of the lens sometimes.
- Building Rapport: Make your subjects comfortable. This trust will shine through in the final portrait.
- Directing and Posing: Guide your subjects, ensuring their poses look natural and flattering. You don’t have to be a posing expert, but learning a few basic, natural sitting and standing poses will go a long way.
- Problem-Solving: Be ready to adapt when faced with unexpected challenges.
Marketing and Professional Development
To turn your passion into a profession, you need to market yourself effectively. This is just part of the job. Some people really enjoy the business aspects of photography; it’s an artform all its own.
- Building a Portfolio: Showcase your best work online to attract potential clients.
- Networking: Connect with fellow photographers and potential clients. Collaborations can open doors to new opportunities.
- Pricing and Packages: Understand your market and offer packages that provide value.
- Client Relations: A satisfied client can be a gateway to many more. Value their feedback and strive for excellence in every project.
- Learn How to Sell: If you’re not a natural salesperson (many of us aren’t) it’s going to be important to get some training with regard to booking sessions and selling images and packages.
Becoming a portrait photographer is a rewarding journey. With passion, continuous learning, and the ability to creatively come up with solutions, you can find success while making people happy.
If you’d like to learn all about the technical and business skills required for a successful career as a portrait photographer, check out this course.
Learn more about lighting with the Flash Photography for Portraits Course.
