Intro to Studio Portraiture
THE BEST PLACE TO CREATE beautiful portraits is without a doubt in the studio.
Outside the studio, the photographer can often blame the shortcomings of a photograph on circumstances beyond their control. The background was busy, they could say, or the light was poor quality.
In the studio, none of this is a valid excuse, because the photographer has control over everything.
The position of each and every light is subject to his or her will and the direction of every shadow can be manipulated to enhance the picture.
Control in the studio is not limited to lighting either. The photographer will usually also choose the color and type of backdrop, using it to enhance the model's features or to convey a specific message. You can, for instance use a blue backdrop to create a calming effect, or use orange to convey as sense of quirkiness.
But with all of this control comes a lot of responsibility. Studio photographers often spend hours before a shoot planning exactly what they want to achieve and how they aim to achieve it.
It is not uncommon to make multiple sketches of both the image you want and the lighting and prop layout you need to use to achieve it. (See attached sketch.)
The most important factor in studio photography, however, is knowing what you want to achieve. Without a clear concept of the type of image you want to create, no amount of planning will get you anywhere (not least because you don't know where you are going!)
Your concept will often be dictated by someone else, or will be implicitly agreed in the commissioning of the image.
For instance, a CEO who wants a portrait done for the company newsletter will want a formal image, perhaps conveying the idea of power and success. The image will be as straight-forward and uncluttered as possible.
Then again, if you are approached for a family portrait, you will be expected to create a relaxed, friendly atmosphere, showing a loving relationship.
Setting the model at ease.
While most things in the studio are under your complete control, the one thing that is not, is the person you photograph.
While professional models may be at ease with the alien environment of the studio, with all it's cables and lights and reflectors and snoots, the vast majority of people are not. For many, the large gaping hole is a terrifying site and they will stiffen involuntarily as soon as it is pointed at them. Others will instinctively reach for their tried and trusted 'camera smile' which they generally only use when caught in the headlights at a birthday or wedding.
As the photographer, it is your job to break through these exteriors to expose and celebrate the person underneath.
In this quest, your first tool will be your own comfort in the surroundings. No studio shoot can ever be successful unless the photographer is at ease in his or her surroundings. Make sure you know your equipment inside out and if it is a rented studio, make visit the location before the shoot. At the very least arrive well before your model and play with the lights and camera to make sure that everything is in perfect working order.
Once the model arrives, you should focus your attention on them, not on your equipment, excessive fiddling with lights and reflectors only serve to remind the sitter of their presence.
Engage your sitter in conversation. Get them talking about anything they are interested in. As they sit nattering away, they will soon forget where they are and you will be able to fire away to your heart's content.
Always be on the lookout for telltale signs of tension, though, as it can creep back at any stage. The hands are often your most obvious clue and if you have a model that is really hard to relax, you may have to resort to handing them a suitable prop to play with.
Another trick I sometimes use is to ask the model to close their eyes and think of their favourite holiday. I then wait for 5 seconds and tell them to look at me. Sounds corny, I know, but it works.
On those rare occasions that none of this does the trick and even my personal charm has failed, I have a final secret trick up my sleeve (or in my back pocket, to be more exact). Models who can't relax get a little treat from the hip flask I bring to shoots. This seldom fails, but please don't go telling them I do that in advance, else they'll all play hard to get!
Studios need not be the preserve of professional photographers with huge budgets.
Indeed, at its simplest, the studio is nothing more than a place where the photographer has control over the quality of the light falling on to the model. Described as such, a studio can be anywhere and you can create studio conditions in a wide variety of different places.
A photographer can, for instance, create a studio in his own home, or in the home of the person being photographed. This is a huge departure from traditional thinking, and one that opens a brand new world of possibility to aspiring studio portrait photographers.
One of the biggest criticisms levelled against studio portraiture, as we have seen, is that the environment can often be very intimidating for inexperienced models. If, however you can take the studio to the model, rather than the model to the studio, you have a much better chance of creating a relaxed atmosphere, and one in which your model will be able to shine.