As commercial photographers capturing engaging portraits for profiles, websites and brochures is an important part of what we do. Whether you’re trying to engage personally or commercially, great portraiture has the power to grab hold of the viewers attention. It takes some thought though, as the style, location and lighting all have a bearing on what and how a portrait communicates. We share some of the thinking behind our portraits, display some of our recent people pics and explain how they’ve been used.
Paul Carroll Photography has an extensive portfolio of commercial portraits including subjects from a variety of backgrounds, shot both on location and in the studio.
When working with businesses and organisations you’re often shooting subjects who at best are not used to being photographed, or at worst actively dislike it. So how do you get the best out of them? A relaxed and friendly style goes without saying, but achieving a balance between being directive, without coming across as bossy or rude, is an art that’s perfected with experience. So great interpersonal and communication skills are important, as well as working quickly and competently to get results in a timely manner, especially if you’re dealing with senior people within an organisation. These portraits of the Dean and Associate Dean of Nottingham Law School at Nottingham Trent University were shot in just a few minutes in their offices at the end of the day when the students had gone home.
Andrea Nollent and Jenny Holloway are the Dean and Associate Dean of the Nottingham Law School at Nottingham Trent University.
Provided in both colour, as well as in an often more flattering monochrome version, the black & whites portraits were printed full page in the Nottingham Law School annual student planner, with the colour versions added to Andrea’s and Jenny’s profile pages on the Nottingham Trent University website.
Monochrome versions were used full page in the 2013 – 2014 Nottingham Law School annual planner handed out to students.
With the colour versions used on Andrea’s and Jenny’s profile pages on the Nottingham Trent University website.
Understanding the purpose of a portrait is important too, as it help us determine the mood of the lighting, the composition, the range of facial expressions, as well as the setting for the shot. This is crucial for delivering not just competent portraits, but images that are going to work in the context in which they are displayed. One good strategy for this are ‘Environmental Portraits’, where location and props are used to communicate something of the subjects’ character, business, sector, position, or personal interests. Having just scooped awards for their family run business this environmental portrait of the father & daughter team from The Beckett’s Farm was shot in their restaurant, together with their awards to place the story in context. The portraits went on to be used in trade magazines to tell the story of the award winning farm and the family behind it.
Environmental Portraits are shot in location that puts the subject into some context and communicates something of their personality, situation or story.
Good Environmental Portraits work well in printed media as they quickly communicate the essence of the story to the reader.
In the studio shooting against plain backgrounds the style of lighting becomes more important in determining the mood of a portrait. Strong, harsh lighting will add drama and intrigue, whereas the use of bright contemporary ‘high-key’ and softer lighting creates a more friendly and approachable aesthetic. Recently appointed to a senior role at Cambridge University Mark needed an updated series of serious & professional portraits that displayed a level of gravitas, whilst as the same time portrayed him as friendly and approachable. During the one hour session we were able to photograph Mark under different lighting conditions & backgrounds with a couple outfit changes to give him some flexibility to use the pictures in different contexts. It’s important to consider how the images will look used on a small scale too. For a small profile picture or insert often a tight head and shoulders crop will work best.
Shooting in the studio simple changes to the lighting, backgrounds and outfits adds some variety to the portraits so they can be used for a variety of purposes.
Mark’s profile on the Cambridge University website. Recently appointed the details are obviously yet to be listed, but at least he’s got a great profile picture!
Developing a concept to use the portraits in a fun and engaging way will really help add purpose to those portraits. We work with clients on ways to do this such as shooting portraits with post-production techniques in mind. This can include merging multiple portraits together, dropping in different backgrounds, leaving space for text, headlines, strap-lines. The marketing team at Brighter Directions had some clear and creative ideas on how they wanted to shoot their ‘Meet the Team’ pictures. We set up a mini portable studio at their offices and photographed small groups of 3 or 4, which were merged together post-production for the final effect.
No we didn’t use a massive studio! We simply shoot small groups against a black background at their offices and merged them together in post production.
The black background ties with with their brand colours and the resulting montage is the perfect dimensions to use as a banner picture across the top of websites, leaflets or posters as an attention grabber.
We often shoot a range of facial expressions from serious and professional, half smile, a big ‘show your teeth’ smile, as well as looking both directly into the camera and slightly ‘off-camera’. This adds even more diversity and flexibility to the portraits, so they can be used in different settings. Here the team from Brighter Directions used the serious and professional versions.
But wait a minute. Do a mouse ‘roll over’ on each profile pic and it suddenly switches to the ‘show your teeth’ big smiley version in colour. A really creative, fun and engaging way to use the profile pictures that adds something a little different to their ‘Meet the Team’ page.
Paul Chapman also wanted to use his portraits in a fun and engaging way with the use of ‘signs’ so he could add different message to communicate with visitors to his website.
An engaging way to communicate with customers or visitors to you website and using blank signs gives your portraits a bit more longevity, as you can re-use with different messages in the future.
An engaging way to communicate with customers or visitors to you website and using blank signs gives your portraits a bit more longevity, as you can re-use with different messages in the future.
Whatever the moral and ethical debates surrounding image the reality is we are often judged, quickly, on our appearance. That first impression counts. Ruth commissioned us for a set of portraits specifically for her online dating profile after reading articles on the importance of great profile pictures. Wanting to portray herself as professional, as well as fun and engaging, in an hour long portrait session we were able to get a range of studio and location shots for Ruth to use.
Ruth wanted a selection of portraits for her profile that represented her as fun as engaging whilst at the same time professional.
So, there you have it. Our insight in the thinking and techniques behind really engaging Portraits with Purpose. Head over to our Portrait Gallery for more examples of our people pictures, and when you need some portraits in the future don’t hesitate to get in touch. Contact details HERE.