Portrait photography is a popular genre, and one of its most complex variations is the emotional photo shoot. Within this format, the photographer is interested in close-ups, sincere feelings, and the true face of a person. The complexity of the task is to avoid staging, stiffness, and artificial posing.
Technical tips
If you plan to work with emotional photography, you need to choose the right features of the studio and equipment.
Camera settings
For shooting with an emphasis on emotions, the same recommendations will be suitable as for work in the genre of ordinary portraiture. The ISO parameter will depend on the lighting: in good natural light, values from 200 and below are suitable, in low light – from 400 and above. The shutter speed should be twice the focal length of the lens. The optimal mode is aperture priority.
The difference from the usual shooting is that in the process of an emotional photo shoot, a tripod is used less often. More precisely, it is suitable for working with experienced models. If a beginner is filmed, the photographer will need to literally “catch” the frames from the hands.
If the settings of the camera did not justify themselves in all moments, the shortcomings can be easily removed at the stage of post-processing. For example, color photo edit will allow you to make your shots warmer or cooler, to achieve the necessary balance.
Keep the background as simple as possible
If it is planned that the focus of the photo shoot will be a person, his emotions, and close-ups, choose a laconic background for the work. The ideal option is an empty studio with a minimum of objects (table, chair, stool) that will be used for poses. If the studio is filled with interior details, it will be distracting during the photo shoot and set the mood, from which it will be difficult to distract. In addition, the abundance of details in the finished photo will distract the viewer from the facial expressions, looks, and body language of the model.
Your choice is a solid-colored paper background of a neutral shade: white, beige, gray, brown, or black.
Simple lighting schemes
When arranging lighting for an emotional portrait shoot, the photographer should strive for minimalism. First, as in the case of backgrounds, nothing should distract the viewer from the sincere feelings of the person in the photo. Secondly, an emotional photo shoot has one organizational feature: the model behaves freely and intuitively, and changes poses and angles. The photographer should catch the moments, and not ask the hero to sit or stand so as not to “fall out” of the light scheme.
A universal lighting option is a single light source located diagonally, just above the model’s head. In the process of shooting, the model should be as far away from the background as possible, so that it does not light up.
It is allowed to use a backlight, and with its help, you can create a beautiful contour on the hair. The source of rays should not be placed exactly behind the model’s back.
To get a soft shadowless pattern, use a second flood light. With its help, you can highlight the silhouette of a person, if he is filmed in dark clothes on a dark background.
Organizational considerations
When it comes to such a complex sphere as human feelings, it is not enough just to set up the camera and arrange the light correctly. Both the photographer and the model must be ready to work.
For the hero or heroine of the photo shoot to show sincere emotions, be it joy or sadness, you need to first help him/her to relax. A great way – is to make a suitable playlist before the shoot. This forces the person to focus on his/her mood, to show the photographer something personal. In addition, the atmosphere in the studio will be much friendlier if there is music playing.
In the process of work, try to maintain a dialog. Exception – if the model came with a certain inner mood and wants to keep it during the work. Do not rush the process: perhaps the first minutes of shooting your model will be spent in one pose with a stone face. And maybe not even minutes, but more. A portrait photo shoot requires time and inner peace.
Do not refuse, if the model asks to show pictures, but do not emphasize the possible shortcomings, which will be removed in the course of retouching.
To evoke emotions, the photographer can and should provoke them: jokes, meditative exercises, and acting out scenes are suitable.
Be sure to take breaks: every half an hour for a few minutes. But don’t let go of the camera! There is a chance that it is during the pause that the most sincere emotions will be captured.
The portrait photography experience is a very personal one for the model and the photographer. In case your tandem works well, you’ll get a lot of amazing shots and fond memories.