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chaikomarkstedt

The Basics of a Really Good Portrait

Updated: May 14

A portrait is so much more than just a picture of what you look like. The picture should immortalize a story, feelings, a light, and who you are right then and there. When we work with portraits, the process always begins with a conversation and a cup of coffee. We do that to form a bond even before we take the first picture. We are happy to help with ideas and inspiration, but above all we always listen to the customer's specific wishes.


Så skapar man ett riktigt fint porträtt
Portraiture or in other words Portrait photography

What is required to make a strong portrait or why is a portrait so much more than just a picture of what a person looks like? - Let's begin



Viktigaste bitar till ett genuin samt tekniskt starkt porträtt:

  1. COMMUNICATION & TRUST BETWEEN PHOTOGRAPHER AND MODEL

  2. POSING & WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR IT?

  3. LIGHTING - WHAT IS IT AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT

  4. BACKGROUND - AS IMPORTANT AS EVERYTHING ELSE IN PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY

  5. EDITING/RETOUCHING - LITTLE IS BEST




1. COMMUNICATION & TRUST


Portrait photography is very personal and is based on conscious collaboration between the photographer and the person, but there is also some psychology behind the process. In a relatively short time, we will get to know each other and create a relationship that makes the photography feel natural. To a large extent, it is the photographer's responsibility that you, as the subject, can open up and lower your guard. This is to allow the photographer to capture your best features.


Kommunikation är en viktig del av porträtt fotografering
Communication and portrait photography

The idea is to use our likenesses to communicate something about the people in the portraits, their personality, emotions and nature. All that must be immortalized and communicated on a two-dimensional paper or digital image for many years to come.




2. POSING DURING PHOTOGRAPHY


Posing subjects requires both training and a lot of practical work. You learn rules of thumb and create and develop your own. It is also something that goes hand in hand with communication and trust. Photographer connects the subject's best angles when you get to know each other. You want to know who the person is in order to show it in the picture. Something that our customers are relieved by is that they don't have to think about how to pose.

We at C&M Photography love meeting new people and we love communication. Our customers feel comfortable with us and experience some joy and an unforgettable experience.



VEM ÄR ANSVARIG FÖR POSERING MODEL ELLER FOTOGRAF
POSERING


3. LIGHTING AND WHAT'S WITH ALL THOSE LIGHTS AND STOBES

As I said, psychology, communication and posing are some of the major building blocks required for a good portrait, but it doesn't end there. If you talk more practically, you also have to talk about lighting as part of a good portrait. You can almost say that it is not possible to create any image at all without light. Naturally, we really only have one light source, namely the sun. The sun shines fairly evenly over time, but all kinds of light experiences are created, all with different colors and intensity. If the light goes through clouds or right through the atmosphere, different characters are created on the light. If the light shines through rain or perhaps reflects from the moon, it is completely different. This creates an infinite number of combinations of different lights from one and the same light source. If the subject is photographed in each of those light sources, with the same subject and pose, it will create images that convey different emotions.

​We at Chaiko & Markstedt Photography understand light and have learned to shape it to create an atmosphere that emphasizes the subject's character and personality.


FOTOGRAFERING HANDLAR OM ATT FÅNGHA LJUSET. DÄRFÖR ÄR LJUS EXTREMT VIKTIGT I PORTRÄTTFOTOGRAFERING
LIGHTING IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF PHOTOGRAPHY


4. BACKGROUND


Background is often underestimated but it is as important as lighting, posing or communication. All the other building blocks are present, but if you lack a good and suitable background, it is not a portrait at all but a snapshot. We have learned to work with different types of backgrounds both out in natural environments or in the studio against paper, vinyl or fabric. We have also invested in some hand-painted backgrounds that make the images stand out and give them a painting-like feel.



BAKGRUND SÄTTER ALLT ANNAT PÅ PLATS
BAKGRUND - VILKA FINNS, VARFÖR VIKTIGT ?


SUMMATION


Are you considering purchasing a classic portrait or perhaps you are looking for a more artistic and unique portrait? Regardless of whether you want to take a portrait of just you, with a group of friends or family portrait, our doors are open. We work both in our cozy studio in Uppsala or at the location you wish to be photographed at.

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