Portrait, to me, are incredibly important. They stand as a bookmark in time either illustrating an achievement or notable event. When it comes to executive portraits, it’s more of a note of seniority. Preparing before a shoot and asking all the right questions really comes into play here. One question that really helps me understand a client need is where will the photo be used. I was informed that it would be used for a website initially but probed a bit. I would find out that most of the executives do a bit of speaking. With the right answers, I know we will not only deliverer tight headshots, but half poses as well. I’ve worked with designers before, and they all appreciate a bit of negative space.
Photographing people is what makes up most of my work. Getting to know someone with very little lead time is a skill. Not one that I’ve perfected but I do try to improve from one client to the next. One of the most important goals when doing a session is to get my client comfortable. I can’t really give tips here, but I’ll I can offer up is to be genuine. Be yourself and have a game plan. It’s completely possible to drive a conversation while directing your client to get the most natural expression and visually pleasing pose.
Portrait work has been a part of your work since the beginning. Your client will not always open up to you from the beginning. You will have to do some work here as well, unless they are either a dancer or done theatre. Believe me, I’ve lucked out where some clients have taken charge of the shoots before.
