Friday 12 November 2010

Portrait and Portrait Photography

A portrait is a picture or painting that captures the characteristics of the subject in detail. A portrait photographer should be a good observer and should have ability to visualise the mannerism, reactions, expressions, body language in a portrait and the portrait designed by the photographer should be lively which reflects unique characteristics and attitude of the person. It is necessary therefore that the photographer understands the subject as a person, his day to day life, understand his/her culture and make the subject comfortable by building trust with the subject. Portrait photography covers all levels of people but the parameters vary from individual to individual since people belong to the corporate field or to the sports fraternity or entertainment circles. As portrait photography being an important field of study, there are professional and amateur portrait photographers and amateur photographers create good photographs of their children, friends, family during vacation where as professionals specialise in this genre.

More About Portrait Photography In Richmond, Surrey

For good portrait photography, it is ideal to take the subject into your confidence so that the expressions are as natural as possible. The other types include formal portrait and informal or casual portraits, environment portraits which are about people and what they do with their lives and these portraits generally communicate the essence by combining the portraiture with a sense of place, group portraits which is shooting a large group such a family or a school sports team, or the subjects can be your own family such as baby photos or special event photos. Travel portrait photography appeal to the adventurers and the seekers among us and is quite popular; it involves extensive research of the location including a study of the native culture and language, focusing shots on love, family, and culture, not to mention the places to see and things to eat. If you are seriously interested in professional portrait photography you may need to invest in a good camera, lens, equipments necessary for taking a good portrait photograph as the important elements for a professional portrait photograph are a controlled background without any distractions such as portable backdrops, backdrops supports and controlled lighting such as portable flash kit that consists of light stands, couple of lights and umbrellas. Lighting is probably the one of the most important factors that help in making a great portrait as lighting gives depth and dimension to the photos and there are several types of lights used such as main light, fill light, hair light and background light.

What In Richmond, Surrey Are Useful Tips To Get Good Portrait Photography?

It’s important to keep the backdrop as subtle as possible while keeping the subject at ease and in conversation; it’s important to observe and empathize. It is normal for the subject to look into the lens of the camera but the photographer can ask him to look elsewhere depending on the nature of photograph that is necessary. It’s imperative that the props be chosen and placed in such a manner as to match the background and also enhance the effect of capturing the subject’s personality and emotional balance. Portraits are generally shot at eye level but the photographer can experiment with different angles and select the one that gives the best results. Candid photographs of the subject at work or among his family members and set in his own environment makes them comfortable.

Selection Of A Portrait Photographer In Richmond, Surrey

The photographer should stay near to your house because there would be quite a number of sessions with him involving the pre shoot meetings, followed by the actual shoot and later the post shoot activities and distance should not lay spoilsport. Run reference checks with past clients about their experiences and desired outcome levels; also ask the photographer to show samples of his work. Observe his past work and see if it matches your requirements in capturing certain aspects of your subject and backdrop. Select a photographer who will permit you to interact with him in choosing the background and the clothing options. Do a survey and confirm that the package you are getting is the best and that the photographer will show you the proofs in advance before finalising.
Portrait photography or portraiture is the capture by means of photography of the likeness of a person or a small group of people (a group portrait), in which the face and expression is predominant. The objective is to display the likeness, personality, and even the mood of the subject. Like other types of portraiture, the focus of the photograph is the person’s face, although the entire body and the background may be included. A portrait is generally not a snapshot, but a composed image of a person in a still position. A portrait often shows a person looking directly at the camera.
Unlike many other photography styles, the subjects of portrait photography are often non-professional models. Family portraits commemorating special occasions, such as graduations or weddings, may be professionally produced or may be vernacular and are most often intended for private viewing rather than for public exhibition.
However, many portraits are created for public display ranging from fine art portraiture, to commercial portraiture such as might be used to illustrate a company’s annual report, to promotional portraiture such a might be found on a book jacket showing the author of the book.

History

Portrait photography has been around since the invention and popularization of the camera. It is a cheaper and often more accessible method than portrait painting, which has been used by distinguished figures before the popularity of the camera.
The relatively low cost of the daguerreotype in the middle of the 19th century led to its popularity for portraiture. Studios sprang up in cities around the world, some producing more than 500 plates a day. The style of these early works reflected the technical challenges associated with 30-second exposure times and the painterly aesthetic of the time. Subjects were generally seated against plain backgrounds and lit with the soft light of an overhead window and whatever else could be reflected with mirrors. As the equipment became more advanced, the ability to capture images with short exposure times gave photographers more creative freedom and thus created new styles of portrait photography.
As photographic techniques developed, photographers took their talents out of the studio and onto battlefields, across oceans and into remote wilderness. William Shew‘s Daguerreotype SaloonRoger Fenton‘s Photographic Van and Mathew Brady‘s What-is-it? wagon set the standards for making portraits and other photographs in the field.

(cited in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portrait_photography).

Contact Hampton Studios Ltd For The Best Portrait Photography In Richmond, Surrey

To get your portrait taken call 020 8941 4767 today.

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