Most people who think of Portrait Photography tend to only think there is one or possible only two styles to choose from but just like Wedding Photos there are many. That's the beauty of photography in that it generates creativity and new styles emerge from time to time. Then other photographers adopt them and add their own creativity to them.
If you think about it then there are two categories all portraits fall into and that's the ones we are required to have done like Passports pictures and maybe our school photographs and those which we choose to have done.
Close Ups
Close ups can be of anything but more than likely to be of the face as this often produces the emotion and character of the subject. Different lights and different facial expressions make wonderful close up pictures of interest.
Light can create different moods, for example, if you have a single moveable light in a dull or dark room trained on one side of the subjects face then you can get some great shadowy effects. Even more so if you have the picture in black and white then you can produce some very powerful images.
All of us have either seen or had a traditional head and shoulders close up picture before but the use of lighting an imaginative and creativity way will produce more interesting results so don't be afraid to experiment.
Group (small & Large)
Family Photos are portraits we are probably very familiar with and the trick for the photographer is to demonstrate the bonding aspect of the family. Getting to know something about the individuals is all important to set the right tone and expression.
A good Portrait Photographer will use the personalities of the family to produce a certain image. If you have a bubbly lively family with effervescent characters then it's essential to reflect it by encouraging them away from conventional poses.
Maybe have them lie down on their backs with all their heads touching and have the shot from above or maybe giving each other a piggy-back ride but experimentation is the key.
Some families are and want quite traditional pictures so understanding the hierarchy of the group will dictate the setting and mood of the subjects and how to organize and place them in relation to each other.
Formal
This style instantly conjures up the Headmaster portrait hanging in the school assembly room or the Corporate Photography type images of the CEO or Chairman but again it all depends upon the person's personality. We all give off certain aspects that others pick up about us that need to be captured in a portrait.
However, this style is the one we are most likely to come across in our lives in an involuntary way when renewing our driving license or being put in the company newsletter.
Casual
Location can play a great part in this style and although a studio or home location can produce great casual portraits, it's often the background setting that can enhance the shot. You see this used a lot in men's clothing catalogue shots or by advertising agencies.
Boudoir
This style has recently become very popular and careful lighting and positioning of the subject is essential to not create a sleazy type of image as it is meant to be sensual and seductive.
More often than not the setting is a dimly lit bedroom to create the right atmosphere and tight cropping of the picture can remove distractions and maintain the focus on the sensuality of the lady.
Candid
Look at any modern day Wedding Photos and you will see a great deal of candid or reportage photography being used. Candid Portraits engage the subject when they are least suspecting so you get a great relaxed or emotional picture of those who are normally camera shy
Artistic or Nude
These type of portraits often reflect another side to someone's usual personality that everyone sees on a day to day basis.
They may be what we call "implied nudes" where it appears in the picture that the subject has no clothes on but the key areas are no quite visible with clever positioning of the arms, legs and body along with things like bed covers or props.
Black & White
Every Portrait Photographer or anyone who has taken Wedding Photos or been involved in Fashion Photography has shot at least one black & white picture that they absolutely love. Probably the reason being that the emotion you get from a Black & White Portrait is emotionally more powerful sometimes than anything else you can produce in colour.
The only rule to portrait photography that counts is that you like the results and will view your pictures for many years to come with pride.
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