Portraiture: Loosen up!

January 8, 2007 @ 3:21AM

Portraiture: Loosen up!

By Haje Jan Kamps

I’ve spent a lot of time looking at portraits over the last couple of days for various reasons I shan’t get into in details, but there’s one pet peeve I’m afraid I’m going to have to share with you…

Why are people always so damn serious when they are being taken photos of? Does nobody understand the art of portraiture anymore?

To me, a portrait doesn’t have to be a flat-on head-and-shoulders photo. Hell, I’ve seen excellent portraits that don’t even have faces in them. The point I’m trying to make is that there are too many people why are just straight-up trying too hard with their portraiture.

It all depends on what you are trying to do with your photos of course, but are you really the dude who wants to get known for taking plain, boring heads-and-shoulders shots? Granted, I do believe that all good photographers should have a go at classic portraiture, but ultimately, what is portraiture all about?

To me, portraiture is about capturing something that is typical about somebody, in such a way that people who know the subject instantly recognise them, and in a way that people who don’t know them get enough data to make up some sort of opinion about them.

This style of portraiture presupposes that you aren’t taking photos in a lame-ass conveyor-belt-style (yes, Venture, I’m looking at you), but actually have the time to get to know your subjects, and it might just work best with people you know quite well to begin with.

But… Isn’t experimentation and an attempt at capturing the unique what photography is all about? So why aren’t people playing around more?

If you’ve got some stunning portraits that break the rules – why not post a link in the comments? I’d love to see some photos that defy the monotony, before I go spare and lose all faith in the photographers of the world…

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Comments

Anonymous

5 years ago

I absolutley agree with you, and that is most likley the reason why I hate taking portraits. People I photograph never want to do something special for the shots, so then I don’t take them. If I don’t have to, that is.
I’ve never been shooting at concerts before, but it’s something I’ve really have to do sometime. Just because people are so enthusiastic, and willing to be photographed with a wicked face of some sorts :p

Anonymous

5 years ago

Hey Haje,

Here’s one I’m particularly proud of:

http://flickr.com/photos/cabbit/179951370/

One of the rare occasions I’ve shot in B&W. These two are members of a cult called the Twelve Tribes. They were passing through my area in these giant 50′s and 60′s era bus/caravan/things. They were beautiful, painted well on the outside with hardwood paneling and stained glass on the inside.

She always looked to me like I’d caught her hiding a particularly good secret.

Anonymous

5 years ago

I once asked a guy to look not so serious…I was rewarded with a great look. It’s now present at his site, because he liked it… :)

http://lotti.nl/web/

Anonymous

5 years ago

Look. The girl is the same in every shot.
Click on the eye-icon on the bottom right side to hide post-its

- http://photo.webgriffe.com/index.php?shotID=241
- http://photo.webgriffe.com/index.php?shotID=231
- http://photo.webgriffe.com/index.php?shotID=220
- http://photo.webgriffe.com/index.php?shotID=214
- http://photo.webgriffe.com/index.php?shotID=207
- http://photo.webgriffe.com/index.php?shotID=125

Bye

Anonymous

4 years ago

here’s a link to my flickr portraits……love making portraits…and i reccommend antonin kratochvil’s work….great stuff…..

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rolferossphotographs/sets/1670541/

Anonymous

4 years ago

Here’s one of my favorites.. I’m a newbie at this… but I won best in show with this at a professional show… I’m very proud of it!

[IMG]http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l77/megdanmak/Natalia.jpg[/IMG]

Anonymous

4 years ago

let’s try this again…

http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=7083310

Anonymous

1 year ago

I know this post is a bit old, but I think the subject is still alive.
I love to shoot portraits, and when I do I never ask the subject to stand still or anything. I usually just talk to them, even play or do random stuff with them. Sometimes if they are a bit tense, I make some jumpology shoots, or make them run or do irrationnal things that they don’t expect. After a while they get used to the presence of the camera and then we start to have fun a to shoot good photos. I haven’t posted loads of good portraits, but here are some I did which I quite like and which are typically what I do, and what usually works with people: http://samueldelesque.com/photography/event/?image=2909&date=2010-06-15&...

Anonymous

1 year ago

Hi, I am a wedding photographer so portraiture is something important to what I do. I think the most important thing is to never tell the subject what you want them to do, this will always make them uncomfortable, just talk to them while taking photo’s and try to make them laugh this usually gets a good shot.