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Photographic Portrait

A Change of Focus

This year has made all of us reassess what we are doing, whether by necessity or choice. But despite all the changes and upheaval, a lot of creative professionals have discovered new avenues in their work. One of them, portrait photographer Marina Williams, faced big challenges during the lockdown when her clients postponed or cancelled upcoming sessions. After sharing old work on social media and being underwhelmed by the results, she decided to push her limits by shooting more intentional self-portraits on her own. That, and creating tutorial videos of her process, led to a whole new type of photography she wouldn’t have discovered otherwise. Marina told us how this new way of seeing saved her during the pandemic—both professionally and creatively.

Marina Williams double exposure B&W hands and texture

Get Out There.

“My biggest piece of advice for portrait photographers right now is to not let anything stop you from shooting. Whether that’s a pandemic or your own hesitation to try new things, you should always be out shooting and practicing as often as you can. The biggest growth I’ve seen in my own work was when I let go of the fear of making mistakes and just shot every single day until it came easily.” 

Don’t let circumstances in the world around you impede your creativity. If the universe throws you a curveball, take a swing at something different. Above all, keep the creative juices flowing as much as possible. You may be surprised by what you discover about your work. And yourself.

Marina Williams B&W double exposure woman and texture

Fanning Your Fan Base.

“I love sharing advice and tips on all aspects of photography, from the creative side to the business and marketing side. When I started to share this type of content instead, my followers grew quickly.”

Don’t limit yourself by only talking to your fans about one aspect of your work. Be open to sharing more than just your work—people are often interested not just in what you do, but how you do it. Giving a wider view of what you do can grow your fanbase exponentially. 

Marina Williams B&W double exposure of a woman and texture

Try New Stuff.

“I shot multiple times a week trying out concepts and ideas that I had been sitting on, and constantly producing new content helped me grow substantially.”

Now—when many of us have more free time than usual—is the perfect time to experiment. If you always shoot stills, try video. If you make short form films, try time-lapse. A time when the world is full of unwanted boundaries turns out to be the perfect moment to push your own.

Marina Williams double exposure of a woman and bubbles

Platforms Matter.

“I also started posting Tik Tok videos in January, and as my following grew on Tik Tok, it also did on Instagram as a direct correlation. I think especially during quarantine, all photographers were craving ideas and inspiration too, so creating content for them helped me grow a lot.”

While you are expanding your creative horizons, think about how you are putting your work out there. The more platforms you are on means more opportunity to reach a wider audience. 

Marina Williams double exposure of a woman and bubbles close up

A Parting Shot.

“When I got that shot, I had one of those giddy “YES!” moments that makes photography so special.”

I made this image in my studio with a white wall and natural morning light from a window. I love keeping my images monochromatic and I do it pretty often in my work. I had two toy bubble guns blowing bubbles into the frame from both sides to create bokeh at varied distances. Z 5, NIKKOR Z 24-50mm f/4 lens at 24mm focal length, 1/320 sec., ISO 320 .

Categories
Photographic Portrait

Who Let the Dogs Out?

It seems like every family has a fur baby or two these days — and you can never have enough pictures of the family. Pets, especially active dogs, make getting great shots a real challenge. That’s why we asked lifestyle photographer and fur mama, Samantha Brooke, how she gets such compelling pet photos. 

First Things First

How to get your dog to look at the camera: “Use high value treats and toys (especially squeaky ones!) above your lens. Also use ‘trigger words’ they respond to like ‘grandma, grandpa, eat, squirrel’ etc…”

The trick to real connectedness in photos like the one above involves using what you know about your pet to get them to respond to you. Samantha says the key thing about dogs is that they come from a place of love. “I find [photographing dogs} easy because [they] have a universal language: love. Love comes in many forms: safety, being caring, food (!), toys, and using a variety of obnoxious noises to engage their attention.”

Divide and Conquer

Minimize distractions. Except when that makes the perfect shot: The fewer people around, the better, and ideally, there wouldn’t be any other dogs in the area. This helps your dog focus on, listen to, and interact with you. If you have more than one pet, it’s a good idea to separate them. 

As for location, Samantha finds that shoots involving water or restaurants can be a “too much of a ‘shiny object’” for her dogs, and their willingness to cooperate and attention spans diminish. That said, great shots can still happen. “These are also the times when I can get a very authentic shot like Koa drooling at the sight of pizza.”

Planning vs. Spontaneity

“Back in 2015/2016 when pool floats became more popular, I thought ‘why not put my dog on a float in a picturesque setting outdoors?’ I set out with Aspen to emulate Taylor Swift on a swan float (but on a lake surrounded by mountains) and from there, I made it an annual ‘float’ tradition to capture my dogs on floats in different locations. On the other hand, dogs and toddlers are very unpredictable so half of the time I set out with a general goal and hope for the best!”

It’s always great to have a plan, but just know that things might not work out. “Unplanned” photos during a “planned” shoot can end up being the most interesting ones.

Finding Your Audience

“It’s funny in that I never thought sharing pictures of Aspen in a kayak would lead to a “niche” in dog (with family!) photography. Social media, specifically Instagram, allowed me to speak to a specific audience: dog lovers. Since my social media presence focuses on pets, people wanted me to take pictures of their families including their pets. As I built my portfolio and shared more of my dogs on social media, my business grew.”

Use the social media platforms at your fingertips to help grow your business. Putting your work out there is the most important thing. Like Samantha, you might be surprised at the turn your work takes.

Categories
Portrait

Get your props

Portraits are all about capturing the essence of your subject, which might make obvious props seem extraneous. The right props, however, can add subtext, depth, and interest to your shots. We asked Bobby Kenney III, a portrait photographer based in Dayton Ohio, about the distinctive props he incorporates into his portraits.

Bobby Kenny III photo of a female model and her reflection

Be Prepared. Then go with the Flow.

“I choose the props for my shoot by deciding what I can use to add a creative touch to the picture without taking away from the beauty of the main subject.”

Of course, it’s always good to have your shoot well thought out before you begin. Scout the location, bring lots of props (even ones you don’t think you’ll use), have a backup plan for lighting or weather issues. Being prepared allows you to approach your subjects with a certain openness and spontaneity — which can result in something unexpectedly great.

Bobby Kenny III photo of a female model and flowers

Hiding in Plain Site

“Another big reason I add props is to create bokeh (the visual quality of the out-of-focus areas of a photographic image, especially as rendered by a particular lens) in the foreground of the picture, adding depth and sometimes an extra addition of color.”

Props add texture, color, depth, feeling. The interaction between the subject and the props also reveals another aspect of the subject’s nature — do they want to blend in or stand out? Are they reserved or connecting with the props? These things lend emotion to your photos.

Bobby Kenny III photo of a female model in the trees

A New Angle

“Pictures that have props that partially obscure the subject have come about from experimenting with different angles, with the props and subjects staying in the same location while I move around. My intention with this is to make the photo unique and also to add depth.”

See what happens as you move around your subject. Having them as the center of the shot with you as a satellite moving around them can help you discover striking and surprising angles.

Bobby Kenny III photo of a female model and billiard balls on a pool table

What Makes a Favorite

“Of my new images, my favorite is the pool table shot of Katelyn! {Above} I love this photo because the overall tint of the photo is dark and contains a lot of black, but the pool balls provide various spots of color, creating great contrast and really bringing the photo to life.”

Props bring so many elements to portraits. They can bring pops of color to a dark image. They can add a subtext about the subject — perhaps revealing their competitive streak or playfulness. How you arrange your props matters too. Putting props in the foreground and your subject in the back forces the viewer to look deep into the image, adding drama to the portrait.

Bobby Kenny III photo of a female model lit by blue neon at night

A Parting Shot

“If I were to give other portrait photographers advice, I would say to make sure you don’t objectify your subjects. Upholding the dignity of each human is so incredibly important, as our identity doesn’t lie in our appearance.”

Obviously, the subject of the portrait is the most important element of your photograph. Finding a way to bring their inner life out is the key. And props, used effectively, can definitely help do that.