Photography Tutorial: professional tips for portrait photography

Learn with Emilia Brandão how to connect with your subject and understand what they feel during a photographic shooting

Nowadays, photography is more accessible than ever, however, a good photographer is the one who knows how to connect with his subject. If you're in the business of photographing people, a good connection can help you get the best out of yourself, your model and your own images.

Emilia Brandão (@emiliabrandao) is a LEICA ambassador and has worked for Vogue, GQ, Elle and Glamour. In her tutorial, she shares some tips to make your model feel comfortable and create the best environment for a successful shooting.

1. Empathy

Put yourself in your subject or model's shoes. Emilia is the first to admit that a photo shoot can be an uncomfortable situation for anyone.

Imagining how the person in front of your camera feels will allow you to make the best decisions and make the experience as pleasant as possible: it's almost always easier to get good photos of a model who feels comfortable.

2. Validation

Making someone comfortable does not mean denying or forgetting their discomfort.

Rather than telling someone not to worry, or encouraging them to think about something else, it is better to acknowledge how they are feeling and talk openly about how to make them feel better and confident.

3. Vulnerability

A great photo always reveals something about the person portrayed. To capture those hidden depths, our model must show vulnerability. To achieve this, you must also be willing to reveal something about yourself.

Share with him your plans and ideas for the shooting, so that he not only understands what you want to achieve but also knows who you are. Doing so will help him recognize your passion and personality and make it easier for him to open up and be authentic in front of your lens.

If you liked this tutorial, in the course Directing People for Portrait Photography you can learn from Emilia Brandão how to relate to each individual and their emotions to achieve unforgettable images and experiences.

You may also be interested in:

-The art of self-portraiture: express yourself through photography, a course by Laura Zalenga
-Introduction to narrative photography, a course by Dara Scully
-Self-portrait photographic fine art, a course by Danny Bittencourt.