Directing People for Portrait Photography

Captivating portraits are made by understanding human emotions. By being aware of a person’s vulnerabilities and inhibitions, photographer Emilia Brandão is able to connect with her subjects on a deeper level, creating a relaxed atmosphere and gaining the trust of some of the world’s most accomplished athletes, celebrities, and business leaders.

In this course, Emilia shows you how to connect with your subject in order to create authentic portraits that also fulfill your artistic vision. Learn how to direct your subject effectively by using empathy, encouragement, and constructive feedback to create better, more genuine images.

Start your course by getting to know Emilia and learn about her journey into photography. Get to know her influences and how she looks to them to inspire her work.

See how Emilia prepares for a photoshoot. Learn how to visually organize your ideas using a moodboard so you can take stock of the equipment, lighting, wardrobe, location, and props you’ll be needing.

Then, to help guide your sitter throughout the shoot, create a moodboard that’s strictly focused on poses, facial expressions, and body language. Most importantly, discover the importance of creating a relaxing environment and gaining trust with your subject so you can achieve portraits that are both authentic and unique.

Learn how to direct your sitter using the reference material prepared in the previous unit. Understand the importance of connecting with your subject by changing roles, showing vulnerability, and giving encouragement. See how you can achieve better results by physically illustrating your ideas and making your subject part of the creative process.

To wrap things up, take things into post-production using Adobe Bridge. Learn how Emilia uses ratings to make her final selection before retouching individual images with Photoshop and Camera Raw. Get some final tips on adjusting light, contrast, and color. Then prepare your high-resolution portraits to be sent to your client.

Plan, shoot, and edit three unique portraits of a challenging subject using the same mood, scene, and lighting. Final images must be selected together with your subject to ensure they feel represented authentically.

Photographers who are looking to genuinely connect with their subjects and improve their communication skills to create better, more authentic portraits.

You need a digital camera with a lens ranging from 55mm to 85mm. You also need a computer with Adobe Bridge, Photoshop, and Camera Raw.