“It takes a lot of imagination to be a good photographer. You need less imagination to be a painter because you can invent things. But in photography everything is so ordinary; it takes a lot of looking before you learn to see the extraordinary” – David Bailey.
Portrait photography is quite a challenge, anyone can pick up a camera and take a snap shot of someone, but capturing the essence of a person and creating a good photograph of them is quite another matter. Most people are quite apprehensive about having their photo taken, common worries include, “I always look awful in photos”, “I look fat in photos”, “My nose/chin/ears are too big/small/pointy” etc etc. The key to creating a set of portrait photographs that a client will look at and love is relaxation and feeling at ease. Everyone can look good in photos if they feel confident and comfortable, and it’s up to the photographer to put the person they’re photographing at ease. If you enjoy the experience of your portrait shoot, you will enjoy looking at the resulting photos.
Johannesburg is full of exciting and unique locations for portrait shoots. If you’ve previously had portraits taken in a studio environment that look stiff and posed, perhaps an outdoor shoot would be a better option for your next set of photographs. This picture was taken in Newtown to create an edgy, urban feel for singer Adrian Galliard’s new website and despite being a little nervous at the start of his shoot, he soon relaxed and really enjoyed himself. To view more examples of lifestyle photography, please click here.
For more information about portrait photography, please contact Emma on (0027) 076 564 4365 or emma@emmaobrien.com.