Capturing Emotion: How To Create Powerful Portraits

Emotion influences our daily decisions and perspective. In 1997, studies showed that rational considerations outweigh emotional considerations when making decisions. However, the roles have reversed in today’s society, with emotional considerations outweighing rational ones.

While advertising focuses on figures and facts, such as price points and product quality, it is clear that many consumer choices are also driven by emotional attachments and responses. And we see that increasingly as one of the key factors in creating a successful corporate video. Consumers are looking for relatability.

Likewise, in photography, the ability to capture emotion is a valuable skill. Being able to capture your subject’s emotion certainly will help your photograph to inspire similar emotions in viewers. Hence, with that being said, we have compiled five simple methods to help you create emotionally powerful portraits.

1. Collaborate and listen 

To start, we recommend that you spend as much time as possible getting to know your subjects. You can begin by searching through your local community and practising with your family and friends. Once you have built the comfort level necessary, it will be easier for you to build a rapport with future subjects.

Consider asking them about their interests and passions. You might even be able to incorporate something you have learned about them into the photo shoot. Share your aim for the photo shoot, but also ask them for theirs. If possible, share your mood board with them, so they get a clearer understanding of what you are looking for. 

During the photoshoot, provide clear direction, encouragement, and positive coaching. You can get them to relax by playing, in the background, their favourite music. Work with your subject to find a wardrobe, makeup, and hair combination that brings out their style and personality. The more comfortable your subjects are during the photo shoot, the more natural their emotions will be.

2. Do not be afraid to get candid 

There is always a time and place for everything, including formal portraits. We recommend that you mix things up when it comes to posing and framing. Consider extending the hands beyond the face to capture body movements or hand gestures, both of which help capture that particular moment’s emotion.

If you are doing a lifestyle photoshoot, do not be afraid to give your subjects something to do, actions that will inspire candid moments that can never be replicated. As a photographer, directing your subjects and providing suggestions to make your photoshoot flow more smoothly is critical, but allowing yourself to fade to the back as events unfold is a vital element too. Keeping your subjects moving rather than staying still creates a collaborative, casual environment that will result in genuine portraits.

3. Lighting is king

The light you choose plays a significant impact on the feelings and mood you portray. For instance, the golden hour as the sun sets creates a sense of warmth, well-being, and contentment. On the other hand, the moody light of twilight or the blue hour can be used to inspire a melancholic, quiet, or lonely emotion. 

You can easily replicate such natural lighting in our photoshoot studio. To recreate the golden hour glow, you can use a high-key setup with soft shadows and low contrast. To recreate the moody twilight, you can consider the split lighting scheme in which half the face is lit while the other is cast in shadows.

4. Be present

Connecting with your subject is vital to building a powerful portrait, and it ties back to the first point, collaborating and listening. Do not get distracted with your gear settings when you should be tuned into the moment. Focus on your subject and their photoshoot experience rather than trying to get every technical detail right.

Avoid “chimping” or reviewing your photos so that you do not miss out on the right moment to catch new ones. Keep communicating with your subjects throughout the photoshoot if it helps you to connect with them. It is always more effective to share a funny joke or story that will get them to laugh rather than asking your model to smile for the camera.

5. Custom your photoshoot approach to your subject

All in all, we highly recommend you take your time to get to know your subjects. Even if you work with people that you are familiar with, you will always discover something new about them, which will help you take better portraits of them. Every subject is different; while some might need more guidance and coaching to get the photo shoot going, others require little to no assistance.

Similarly, some subjects might perform better in a high-paced, upbeat environment, while others might need a little more peace and quietness. Not every subject you shoot will have the experience you are looking for, and that is perfectly fine. As the photographer, you are expected to be adaptable and lead the photoshoot.

If the particular pose is not working, remain positive and maybe move on to the next pose first. Sometimes it can be easy to get so fixated on the shot you are looking for that you miss the right opportunity and moment in front of you.

Conclusion

We live in a society of transformation, with what we assume is “picture perfect” to a more candid, relatable aesthetic. The consumers of today, the Millennials and Gen Zs crave content that is considered “imperfect” as they are more relatable. As long as you can tell an impactful story, capture authentic emotions, and connect with real people, you are able to create a powerful portrait like no other. 

Nevertheless, if you are looking for either a cheap photography studio rental in Singapore or professional photography services, then look no further than Crio Collective. We are a creative production company that offers videography and photography services on top of studio space rental. For more information, head over to https://www.crio-collective.com/ to find out more!