PortraitsCapturing Expressions and

Emotions

What is a portrait?

• Artistic representation of a person in which the face and expression are dominant

• Captures a physical likeness but also their heart

Capturing the essence• Character traits are descriptive

terms that represent a person both inside and out

• Think of who you are and what you want to convey to the world. Remember “What’s My Brand?”

Some character traits to think about

active adventurous affectionate alert ambitious angry annoyed anxious arrogant

brainy brave bright brilliant calm careful careless cautious charming

decisive demanding dependable depressed determined discouraged dishonest disrespectful doubtful

gentle giving glamorous gloomy good graceful grateful greedy grouchy * A complete list can be

found here

Capturing the essence• Character traits should be very

dominant in a well-composed portrait

• What character traits do you think of when you see the following photos?

PlayfulWitty

Mischievous

EccentricIntellectual

Peculiar

PensiveSerious

Thoughtful

IntellectualConventional

Droll

SmittenDelighted

Blissful

MischievousImpish

Rascally

MischievousImpish

Rascally

Portraits are a different animal• They are different from other

kinds of photography because:• The photographer controls the

setting• They are planned and staged• The photographer has

knowledge of the subject and what character traits to convey

Portrait success musts• Meet with your subject ahead of

time and get to know them• Have your equipment prepared in

advance• Have a shot list in mind and ready

with props, angles and lighting

Portrait composition musts• Avoid distracting backgrounds and

watch subject placement

PoorBetter

Portrait composition musts• Make sure the background

contrasts well with the subject and the mood

Good Better

Portrait composition musts• POV can make or break your

portrait

Good

BetterBest

An aside on angles• Shooting from

above creates a feeling of weakness or inferiority

• Shooting from below gives the subject a sense of power

Types of portraits: environmental

• Environmental: shoot subject(s) in their natural habitat

Types of portraits: Prop

• Shoot subject with an object of importance

• Should help to communicate the desired character trait

Types of portraits: detail

• Focus on one defining feature

• Generally body part, like eyes, hair, smile

Yes, you get to take some

portraits!

Amanda Crispino by Marisa

Baumgarte

Robert DuBose by Jeremiah Burum

Cameron Burrell by Will Vest

Regan Rosser by Avery Condrey

Valentine Osigboh by CJ

Smith

Miles Jordan by Jacob Harris

Amanda Miller by Taylor McKeown

Assignment: portraits

• Phase 1: Ideation1. Select a partner. You will take their photos and they will take yours2. Interview your partner and brainstorm on three character traits and the three different types of portraits you will be shooting3. Copy this table into Word and complete it. Title it [last name] ideation [class period] and submit it to Mr. Nigrelli via Google Drive by the end of class on Tuesday, February 10th

Assignment: portraits• Phase 2: Photography

1. You will have the rest of the week to shoot and edit in class2. You can utilize the school grounds or any part of my classroom3. You can also shoot outside of school on your own time

• Phase 3: Editing– Editing your photos can begin anytime you are ready

Save your photos to your H drive in your Photo J>portraits folder as [your last name] Environmental [class period] and turn in to Mr. Nigrelli via Google Drive by the end of class on Friday February 13th

Portraits grading rubric

Item Possible Points

Proper naming 5Clear character traits 20

Properly composed using portrait rules

15

Quality editing 20

Photo quality 25

Overall quality and effort 15

Total 100