Typing Practice 014 - Technique Portrait Tips. Jonathan Bielaski

Technique Portrait Tips

 

Get the Natural Look

 

Professional photographers from across the globe reveal their top tips for shooting environmental portraits, 

documentary portraiture, weddings, action portraits and professional headshots.

 

Jonathan Bielaski

Based in Toronto, Canada, Jonathan creates cinematic portraits of real people in real places. Striving to capture as much in camera as possible, he has mastered his tools and working on location. See more at www.jonathanbielaski.com 

 

Environmental portraits

Portrait photographer Jonathan Bielski shares his portfolio of images as well as his insights on photographing people in their environment.

 

Mix the light

When using external lighting, try to make it look as natural as possible. Drag your shutter to bring in some of the ambient light and match the color temperatures. It's fine to play with different tones of light, as on this image, with some light warmer than other parts. Just make sure that it's intentional. 

 

Pay attention to colors

The colors in your image - both from the wardrobe to the supporting elements - are key to making a cohesive image. With this image I wanted to make sure that the tomes and richness came out in this theatre set. 

 

Know your subject

When you get to your location it's great to have interviewed your subject beforehand and spent time getting to know them. This will give you insight into who they are and what they do. Utilizing the props they have will add an element that can tell the visual story. 

 

Pull back

With my portraits I love to crop tight into a headshot, but I also enjoy seeing the full pulled-back view. Seeing the sitter's workspace of environment reveals so much about them, such as interesting detail like the tools of the trades. It enables us to peer into that subject's life. 

 

Find the light

Working outside in a remote location can be amazing. Using the natural light and finding the puddles of reflected light to place your subject in is key. Within this image there was a truck just to the right-hand side of the subject reflecting the natural light where I needed it. 

 

Find the right spot

The background or setting in an environmental portrait is just as important as the subject. Work as a team with your subject to find the right spot that will tell the story. This image, which was captured in Iceland, was a favorite spot for the diver.