Portraits are great when posed correctly.
They are even better when taken as candid shots.
But there is an even better way.
Environmental, situational or character portraits.
This is achieved by placing the person in their work, home or recreational environment.
It's a great way to shoot portraits.
Here's how.
Imagine this scene.
Your grandfather is sitting in his den, glasses on his nose, a steaming cup of coffee on the workbench and flyfishing equipment everywhere.
He's busy tying flies as trout fishermen call it.
As he twirls the cotton round a feather attached to a little hook you call out to him.
He looks up at you over the top of his glasses and you press the shutter.
This is a true reflection of who he is.
Many years later this is the image that will recreate the memories of granddad.
A memory of him and the things he loved.
What did your image say about your grandfather's environment, hobby or even lifestyle? Are you happy that you reflected who he is and what his passion is? If you are happy then you've completed the task.
I'm not so sure that you are totally satisfied so let's look at how to best take these shots.
1.
Choosing your location for the photo within the environment needs careful consideration.
All the principles regarding background etc.
need to be applied.
One little rule-breaker here is the use of clutter.
This may actually enhance the photo, especially if the subject's occupation is naturally cluttered.
You want to include things that show what the working environment contains.
2.
Ensure that there are sufficient "tools of the trade", or items that reflect the trade, occupation or lifestyle of the subject in your photo.
Be aware of things in the location that might be a part of the environment, but don't place the subject in context.
You don't want to include these.
3.
Planning is even more vital to the task at hand than with other shoots.
There are a number of factors that need to be dealt with and if you aren't careful the whole shoot could go pear shaped.
4.
Included in planning should be the research of your subject's environment.
Knowing who they are and what they do will assist in knowing what to include in the final image.
If the person is in their own home, include enough to reveal their tastes, lifestyle and interests that are unique to them and will reveal this to the viewer.
5.
The positioning of your subject is important as this will ensure the connection or relationship between them and their environment.
Placing them in the right context makes or breaks the final image.
Having them actually engaged in the activities that make up the hobby or trade adds to the ambience you are trying to create.
6.
You need to strike a really fine balance between how tightly you frame the image and what clutter or background to include.
How much to include and how much to exclude is important.
You don't want large, empty neutral backgrounds that have nothing to say about the subject's environment or lifestyle.
The fundamental rule of getting in closer should not be applied too strictly as you will need more background and elements than normal in your image.
Situational portraits make great memories especially in 20 or 30 years time.
Not only do you get the memory of the person but also items that are dated and have memories of their own.
Why don't you try and shoot some images of friends and families in their work, home or recreational environments.
It will add a new dimension to your portrait photography.