Ironically, the concept of "change" is the only constant thing in our world. And out of all the things that change, people must be one of the fastest. Be it changing positions, changing expressions, or changing emotions, it can all happen in a moment. These moments are the bane of every portrait photographer, and so the artist seeks to capture it before something changes again.
1. Understand The Personality
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| Show "the other side" of your subject. |
If you've already met the subject in your photo, then you have an advantage. Maybe you're friends, roommates, etc. The important part is that you know the character of the person you're photographing. Once you understand that character, it's usually a matter of peeking in to see the other side of their personality. Richard Avedon was one of the most famous and sought-after portrait/fashion photographers in the latter half of the 20th century, and had a way of prying open the doors of the soul that revealed some of the true nature of his subjects.
There is a famous photo of Marilyn Monroe that he happened to shoot that showed her melancholic, and looking exasperated. Anyone that knows anything about the woman understands that she had an extroverted presence at all times. Nobody in the media viewed her any differently until Avedon captured that moment. In most cases, the best portraits are the ones that open the eyes of the viewer. But, of course, this can't happen unless you know your subject's typical behavior. Make sure to tell the story through the image.
