For this assignment, we’ve picked out some of our favourite pictures centred around portrait photography. Portrait photography generally focuses on one individual in a frame and finding the best way to represent the subject, their state of being and the story.

Shelby’s Portrait Picks

I used to think portrait photography was slightly boring. Get a model, focus more on lighting, click the button and bam… gorgeous portrait. During this assignment, I’ve learned otherwise. It takes a lot more from the photographer to tell the story when the frame and subject are confined, and/or the subject is looking at the camera.

Another thing I found during my assignment was distracting options that blur and distract from the model— things like bicycles, cars, and signs. At the start of the assignment, I didn’t realise how many of these I was getting in my shots, but when I realised it, I was quite happy to learn. It was like a splinter that you struggle to get out. I didn’t know what I didn’t like in the photos, but when I realised it, and found the splinter and started removing it, it was a big relief.

I would like to continue taking portraits, perhaps at some point move onto pet portraits too.

View Shelby's Portfolio

Jason’s Portrait picks

For this month, my main goal was to get a portrait of a stranger. It was something I had never done before, as most of my pictures of people are candid street photos. So I really wanted to find someone interesting and ask them for a picture. I feel happy with the picture I took. The person had a strong, confident cool feel to them as they walked towards me and I feel I managed to capture some of his vibe. I used some good subject separation to bring the attention fully on him, with background blur and a little clean-up in Lightroom

My other pictures this month capture my lovely girlfriend with a colourful background, again I think I captured her essence and smile well here. I also threw in a self-portrait, taken in a local market in France. This picture is pretty interesting with the mirror framing me from the items being sold in the background, it was a little fun one to put in. Lastly is one of my girlfriend’s mom, taken on the beach. I loved the colour of the sky and contrast with the beach in this one and the punch of subject colour to bring everything together.

Overall, I found this assignment a fun one. I think doing portraits well is a tricky process, but I want to try to do more street portraits, it was fun to connect with someone for a few seconds.

View Jason's Portfolio

Brad’s picks

So for the portrait challenge I of course wanted to take some photos of my lovely wife. Very chuffed with the outcome. I had also wanted to get some street portraits, however, the opportunity did not really present itself to be honest, but one day I will perhaps give it go.

Happy with the use of leading lines at the bottom of the frame in the image below and the colour in the last image of Shelby. I had also taken some portraits at work, but those photos don’t belonmg to me so Icannot post them here. It was nice to work in a studio setting for change.