3-Step Process for Photographing Powerful People Portraits

Feel awkward when photographing people? Totally understandable. But a conservation story isn’t complete without those amazing images of people.

So, we’re walking through a simple exercise to help you get comfortable and craft those powerful human portraits that are so critical to effective photo stories.

Contents

1. Why photos of people are important
2. Step One: Choosing Your Lens
3. Step Two: Begin with Familiar Faces
4. Step Three: Broaden Your Scope
5. BONUS: Study the Work of Others

Conservation photographers tend to come from a background of wildlife or landscape photography. People photography is often either uncharted or uncomfortable territory. We feel awkward or intrusive holding a camera in front of someone, and that discomfort makes it hard to capture those decisive and emotional moments.

Yet… every quality photo story NEEDS a human element.

Pictures of people are what get viewers to pause, to look deeper, to connect, to ask questions that help them understand a conservation issue even more, and maybe even act on it.

So, if you’re looking to push past your inner squirm and start photographing powerful people portraits, then this episode is for you. I walk you through a “building blocks” style process that helps you get into the moments, and capture the kinds of images that make a conservation story effective in creating change.

Photo: Jaymi Heimbuch

It is rare to find a conservation photo story that is complete without images of people.

There’s almost always people involved in a conservation issue, whether that’s:

• researchers and biologists who are studying the species or habitat that you’re documenting
• people who are impacted by a conservation issue
• people who are the cause of the issue in the first place

there are all sorts of different characters that factor into a story and photographing them in a way that explorers or explains their significance to the story is so essential to helping viewers understand the story as a whole.

But it’s not just any photos of people that will do.

There’s a big difference between a photo of someone and a photo about someone.

Photos that don’t contribute much to a story often feel static, featuring subjects who appear uncomfortable, are awkwardly posed, or (gasp, but it happens), photos of people’s backs to the camera as they’re doing some activity.

Images like these – where faces aren’t visible or where there’s a general awkwardness – don’t resonate with viewers.

Simple snapshots or mundane company newsletter-style photos won’t do the trick either.

If your photos don’t capture emotion, they won’t evoke it in your audience either.

For viewers to connect and empathize with a photo, it must be compelling and reveal the subject’s identity, actions, feelings, and their role in the broader story.

Picture this: two photographers standing shoulder to shoulder at a public event.

Photographer One is merely documenting. They’re not really sure how to read the situation or really judge the emotions of the people that are involved in this event. They’re the one that getting those standard shots for the newspaper, the ones that you see next to the story, that’s just that, Hey, look, we got a picture to go with the blurb kind of shots.

Photographer Two, however, can read the emotions of individuals in the crowd, as well as the mood of the crowd itself. They’re watching how things are playing out. They’re paying attention. They’re looking for those decisive moments. That, moment in time when something is just at the beginning of happening, right at that peak of activity and getting into position to create frames that pull you as the viewer into that moment, both in activity and in emotion.

That is the photographer who is getting World Press Photographer of the Year level photos.

I want you to be that second photographer.

So how do you get images like that? Well, it comes down to two core skill sets.

Skill Set 1: Building Great Relationships

You’ve probably come across situations where people were not comfortable with you taking their pictures.

It’s almost impossible to capture a good image when your subject feels uneasy or guarded.

The photographers who consistently capture those candid moments, those emotional peaks, are usually the ones who can quickly build rapport with their subjects, even with a camera between them.

This ability largely stems from the photographer’s own confidence behind the lens. When you’re confident and comfortable, you can make your subject feel the same. The stronger your confidence in your skills, the more comfort you can instill in your subjects, and the better your chances of capturing those magical moments that make for incredible portraits.

A crucial tip for capturing engaging portraits is to establish a genuine rapport with your subjects before aiming your camera at them.

This initial interaction can set the tone for the entire shooting process.

Start by showing genuine interest in them as individuals, converse about their interests, listen to their stories and share a few of yours.

This kind of pre-photography interaction can relax your subjects, make them trust you, and make them feel valued.

This results in them letting their guard down, allowing you to capture more authentic and emotive moments when you finally start shooting.

The camera does not create a barrier between you and the subject, but a bridge, and it’s much easier to cross that bridge if you’ve laid a good foundation first.

Skill Set 2. Mastering Composition

The second vital skill set in people photography is comprehending the nuances of compelling composition.

This involves more than just framing a subject within the viewfinder.

You also need to read and interpret body language, facial expressions, and the interactions between your subjects and their environment—a skill that often requires a degree of empathy and emotional intelligence.

When reading body language, pay attention to subtle cues: a slight shift in posture, a clenched fist, or a fleeting expression can add significant depth to your photos by revealing your subject’s emotional state.

Genuine emotions often come in fleeting moments, so being ready, observant, and patient is key.

Also factor in how seemingly mundane elements can affect the shot.

For instance, the way your subject’s sunglasses reflect the surroundings, how their hat casts shadows on their face, or how wind-blown hair conveys a sense of motion or adds drama to the image. These elements, while seemingly trivial, can significantly influence the mood and aesthetic of your shot.

Achieving a balance between these different elements is a dance between the left (logical) and right (creative) sides of your brain.

The left side is responsible for assessing the technical aspects of the shot—lighting, focus, and framing—while the right side contributes by weaving in creativity, emotion, and intuition. This harmonious collaboration can transform a simple snapshot into a profound portrait.

Tying It All Together

So, we have our two core skill sets for effective people photography: building quick and instant rapport with subjects and mastering the art of reading people and situations to create intriguing compositions.

But how do you gain these skills, especially if you’re not used to photographing people, and you don’t yet have that foundational confidence?

Fear not! I have a process you can follow.

If you commit to this process step by step, you’ll gradually see your confidence grow, camaraderie with your subjects increase, and your compositional skills soar.

Let’s dive straight into the first step. Pick a lens – just ONE lens – to work with.

Restriction fosters focus and creativity, so it’s important to think more about composition and less about lens choices.

I recommend a prime lens. This encourages more focus on the scene unfolding before you.

Instead of zooming in and out to establish your composition, you’re observing the scene, moving your body to adjust your perspective and frame.

This simple restriction can help you be more present in the moment and enhance your composition skills.

The lenses of choice would be a 50mm or a 35mm.

These are excellent for beginners photographing people as they allow you to balance the human subject within their environment.

With a wide or standard lens, you’re not just capturing their face, but putting them in a context that communicates something about them.

Photo: Jaymi Heimbuch

The next big step is to start with photographing family and friends.
This is a strategic move to build up your confidence level.

Your family and friends might not be instantly comfortable in front of the camera but it’s your job to help them relax.

Your goal is to make your photography a common occurrence that they barely notice.

This practice makes you adept at recognizing and capturing fleeting moments of joy, sadness, or connection, all the while ensuring a good composition.

Let’s look at two feasible strategies to boost your confidence in people photography.

STRATEGY 1: Casually document family activities or friendly gatherings.

The idea is to make your picture-taking so routine that it eventually goes unnoticed.

Maintain a low profile, quietly capturing moments of genuine emotion and activity without disrupting the flow.

This is an excellent practice for honing your ability to anticipate moments and subtly capture images that reflect the ambiance, mood and fleeting instances of joy, sadness, or connection.

It’s a stepping stone towards confidently photographing events or groups.

STRATEGY 2: Partner with a willing friend or family member to document a specific activity

For example, if you have a friend who’s an avid gardener, document their gardening activities.

As you join them in the garden, interact with them naturally while they go about their work.

Seek to understand what the activity means to them to capture the right emotions.

This practice bolsters your confidence in working one-on-one with a subject, helping them feel at ease in front of the camera while you get the storytelling shots you need.

This exercise can also involve posed portraits in the environment, an opportunity to practice your lighting and direction skills.

Both strategies aim to build your confidence and skills in working with subjects one-on-one.

After you’ve built a foundation of confidence, it’s time to expand beyond the circle of people you’re comfortable with.

This is where your conversation skills come into play.

Building rapport with someone is quite simple – listen to them and show genuine interest in their story. As they open up, genuine moments will naturally unfold for you to capture.

It’s great to start with someone you’re already working with or connected with in some way.

For instance, if you’re a volunteer for a nonprofit, opportunities for photographic exploration are endless. Begin by documenting the nonprofit’s events or activities. The mutual commitment to a shared cause eases the initial discomfort, making people more open to being photographed.

In addition to event photography, you might also consider initiating a portrait series of the other volunteers. This not only allows you to practice your skills but also adds a personal touch to your portfolio, showcasing the human faces behind the collective effort.

Building rapport and getting comfortable with people you’re less familiar with will not only bolster your confidence but further hone your skills in people photography.

Mastering conversation skills is crucial in people photography, just as much as handling your camera.

Building rapport is straightforward; all you have to do is listen and care.

When you genuinely care about knowing what makes someone tick, what they think and how they feel, what they’re doing, then they’re going to feel really comfortable sharing that with you. This comfort invites candid moments that you can capture, resulting in more authentic and compelling portraits.

So practice your conversation skills, your interview skills, ask simple questions, listen deeply, then ask follow-up questions and listen deeply again, really genuinely care to learn about this person that you’re photographing.

And soon enough, your subject will relax and you’ll know enough about them to know how you need to photograph them in order to create these beautiful portraits.

Finally, one valuable tip is to examine closely the work of your favorite conservation photographers, particularly their photographs involving people.

Ask yourself what elements you love in their shots – is it the composition, the captured moment, or the activity within the photo that draws you in?

What technical skills have they utilized to achieve perfect lighting or capture motion effectively?

It’s crucial to study how these photographers have used images of people within conservation narratives to advance the story.
This can significantly guide you in creating your own impactful images.

Think about what elements will resonate with viewers, add depth to your story, and go beyond the typical field researcher shot to portray the researcher as a real person contributing significantly to the area of conservation.

Understanding this will help you take photos with which viewers can truly connect.

Final Thoughts

So there you have it! By following these steps and strategies, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a proficient people photographer. Remember, practice is key and every interaction is an opportunity to learn and grow.

Being a good photographer is as much about being a good listener and observer as it is about knowing your way around your camera.

Engage genuinely, keep your curiosity alive, and never stop learning.