It’s actually really easy to see what makes a portrait photographer stand out; the thing that is so important, but often overlooked. Photography can be quite a difficult profession and business to master. One of the reasons is that getting past all the noise the the bazillion photographers out there can be incredibly frustrating. A lot of photographers in the Greater Toronto Area, including myself have realized that looking at our art more as a business is the only way we can continue doing and growing our skills. One issue, however, is that some portrait photographers either can’t master this specific skill or choose to forgo it. So what is it?!
WHAT PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHERS ARE FORGETTING
Connection.
There it is. You can stop reading now if you want. There are a lot of important things that go into making a photograph of someone great. The lighting needs to be right, the setting need to be dialed in on the camera, and if the photo needs to be edited it has to be done professionally.
I’ve seen great lighting, beautiful people, and majestic backgrounds, but when there is no connection to the subject (the person in the photo) then there is no connection to the viewer. In these cases it’s like a brand new car with no engine or a town with no people.
HOW DO YOU CREATE CONNECTION
Believe it or not, connection is actually created by the portrait photographer as much as it is the subject.
I’ve come to realize that taking photographs is capturing both the soul (a bit dramatic, sorry!) of the person being photographed as well as the soul of myself (the photographer). Although the looks vary, you can see that the connection I create is quite distinctive in all the women I photograph. It doesn’t matter if they happen to be a mother or a model. If you don’t believe me go and take a look at the galleries.
There is a look that I know I can patiently wait for – a look that is the same from every woman and yet so unique to their character!
CONNECTING WITH THE PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHER
The main reason is because I pull it out of them – gently of course! I’m super patient when it comes to getting the look. It’s a connection with the eyes that lock straight and true to the viewers’ own gaze. Suddenly you feel as if you’re there; as if they are looking right at you.
That’s the magic of the connection – it’s as if you’ve both just discovered one another. There are even instances where their eyes are closed, but you still feel that pull!
It’s amazing! Don’t you think it’s amazing?!
WE ARE ALL HUMAN
So how do you actually pull it off? As a portrait photographer I know this through practice and it seems weird, but you connect through kindness and empathy.
For a woman to give you the connected looks that I get, they have to let down the veil and be comfortable; they have to allow me to see them and connect with them. They can’t be afraid to show me who they are.
I can’t think of a single person I’ve photographed that I didn’t connect with. I would be happy to bump into any of them on the street and have a chat. That’s how I do it anyway.
I truly enjoy creating real, human connections, filled with empathy!
Hopefully I haven’t scared you off! If you made it to the end then you obviously appreciate this connection. I guess I kind of tricked you because it’s so easy to see and feel if they have it or not, but to be fair, there are so many images out there that it’s easy to accept the mediocre.
Go ahead and check out the other portrait photographers in the Greater Toronto Area and gauge their ability to create connection for yourself! Let me know when you’ve found the best one!
Jonathan How is the photographer behind Made by Ten and calls Milton his home. He specializes in creating beautiful, creative portraits of real women. He uses photography (and this blog) to help them build confidence and love for themselves and creates artistic images for their homes and offices. You can see him driving around the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) in Ontario, Canada from portrait to fashion shoot and back again.