hatch1921 wrote:
WOW! Great feedback everyone So, hand position (something I stuggle with..
and a million other things) With his hand being displayed would the image be more forceful/confident? Or, would the back of the hand/s draw unwanted attention? Steve is a realtor... not sure if this helps with the posing... I think (could be wrong) you would want a less agressive look to the shots?
Good stuff!
Thanks for the great comments all.
Hatch
You aren't necessarily looking for "aggressive" in all kinds of business portraits, but you certainly want confidence. Any photo that you're going to use for marketing should convey a sense of calm confidence, or calm assertiveness. You don't want to make him look like a UFC fighter on his card or site, unless he is one and your photos will be used to promote him as such... but surely you do, in this case, want to have your images promote him as a confident realtor.
Does that make better sense? I didn't mean to come across like you've got to prove his manhood, or make him look aggressive. My point is that for business promotion I'd think you'd want to present him as confident in himself and what he does. Just my $.02... Maybe I'm wrong, but that's how I'd approach the shoot.
airfrogusmc wrote:
I always have the subject do what comfortable for them and how they do it naturally and there are a lot of subjects that pose won't work with. I will usually watch a person natural body language and get ideas from that and try and put them in poses they would fall into naturally. If they tuck in the hand so be it but I think the expression on the face is what sets the tone for the pose. I think the smile looks a bit forced on that image to me anyway. Just a more relaxed overall expression would make all the difference and a stronger base on the bottom of the frame.
I like the lighting and good job. Again I am a big fan of you portraits hatch.
Ok, not to perpetuate the debate... but let's say you are doing a shoot of the CEO of a multi-billion dollar corporation for use on his website... and he's a nervous wimp. Do you think letting him "do what is comfortable for him", which is probably blushing and displaying less than confident body language, would give you the best results for the end use of his portrait? Or, would working with him and coaching him in the right way (mental imaging, etc...) to get a more confident response from him maybe work better? Which way would make you a better photographer? And I'm not questioning your skills. I've seen your posts and know you do great work... In this context I have to illustrate my point though.
I see your point for normal portraiture, where the viewers of the photo likely know the person the way you're shooting them and it's no big deal... but for a business portrait I just think that the photographer has a responsibility to work with the subject and get a more suitable, more effective end result. That make sense?
I never said that you shouldn't coach and I do corporate executive portraits. You watch and incorporate. There are things that you can do to help also, like camera angle, eye level or slightly lower and lighting but of course you coach but a lot of these execs have a way the want to be portrayed and don't always cooperate.
but for a business portrait I just think that the photographer has a responsibility to work with the subject and get a more suitable, more effective end result. That make sense?
I would agree... and this is something I might have lost sight on a little... as I look back over the session... a lot of the shots are more personal portrait style vs the business professional. Something I need to work on... along with a bunch of other stuff.
There are things that you can do to help also, like camera angle, eye level or slightly lower and lighting but of course you coach but a lot of these execs have a way the want to be portrayed and don't always cooperate I agree with this as well.. some people have a certain image they want to portray... this guy didn't come across as being one of those guys. He just wanted some nice shots for his site...since he is a realtor... I figured... anything that didn't come across as agressive or stern would pass. As mentioned several times in the post... I sitll have a lot to work on. This is what makes FM great... more eyes on the shots.. more opinions... I can take the good stuff and run with it.
airfrogusmc wrote:
Debate on a forum is cool right?
I never said that you shouldn't coach and I do corporate executive portraits. You watch and incorporate. There are things that you can do to help also, like camera angle, eye level or slightly lower and lighting but of course you coach but a lot of these execs have a way the want to be portrayed and don't always cooperate.
Cool with me. I'm just leary about getting involved in them on this site usually due to the direction so many friendly debates have taken on this forum in the past. In my opinion, this one has went well. I've learned some things and I think I've shared some points of view that the op may benefit from as well. That's what it's all about for me, but you never know who is on the other end.
I should note that I still have a lot to learn as well in the photography business and I've picked up a few things from this debate. Thanks.
So, hand position (something I stuggle with.. 