Professional Guide to Shooting Environmental Portraits || Mohit Bansal Chandigar

1. PHOTOGRAPHERMOHITBANSAL CHANDIGARH APROFESSIONAL GUIDETO SHOOTING ENVIRONMENTAL PORTRAITS PHOTOGRAPHER 2023

2. ENVIRONMENTALPORTRAITSAREASOUGHT-AFTEROPTIONFORBUSINESSESANDCANBEAPROFITABLEPROSPECT FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS. NEVERTHELESS, PHOTOGRAPHERS NEED TO BE MINDFUL THAT CAPTURING THESE PORTRAITS INVOLVES UNIQUE DIFFICULTIES. THERE ARE VARIOUS PHOTOGRAPHY CLASSES AVAILABLE THAT TEACH HOW TO CAPTUREENVIRONMENTALPORTRAITSTHATMOITBANSALCHANDIGARHPLAN.NONETHELESS,THISGUIDEHASBEEN CREATED TO SPECIFY SOME OF THE FREQUENT CHALLENGES ONE MAY ENCOUNTER WHILE TAKING SUCH PORTRAITS ANDSUGGESTWAYSTOPLANFORASUCCESSFULSHOOTWHENHIREDTOPHOTOGRAPHTHESEARTISTICPORTRAITS.

3. CAMERA,EQUIPMENT,LIGHTINGSETUPS&SETTINGS EQUIPMENT: THE CHOICE OF EQUIPMENT WILL DEPEND ON THE TYPE OF PORTRAIT YOU ARE SHOOTING AND YOUR PERSONAL PREFERENCES. GENERALLY, YOU WILL NEED A CAMERA WITH MANUAL CONTROLS, A LENS OR LENSES SUITABLE FOR THE LOCATION,ANDATRIPODTOKEEPTHECAMERASTEADY.OTHER ACCESSORIES YOU MAY CONSIDER INCLUDE REFLECTORS, DIFFUSERS,ANDEXTERNALFLASHES. LIGHTINGSETUPS: THE LIGHTING SETUP YOU USE WILL DEPEND ON THE LOCATION AND THE MOOD YOU WANT TO CONVEY. GENERALLY, YOU CAN USE NATURALLIGHT,ARTIFICIALLIGHT,ORACOMBINATIONOFBOTH. WHEN USING NATURAL LIGHT, CONSIDER THE DIRECTION AND QUALITY OF THE LIGHT. THE TIME OF DAY WILL ALSO AFFECT THE QUALITYANDDIRECTIONOFTHELIGHT.WHENUSINGARTIFICIAL LIGHT, YOU CAN USE STUDIO STROBES, SPEED LIGHTS, OR CONTINUOUSLIGHTS.FORAMORENATURALLOOK,YOUCANUSEA COMBINATIONOFARTIFICIALANDNATURALLIGHT. SETTINGS: WHEN SETTING UP YOUR CAMERA, CONSIDER THE APERTURE, SHUTTER SPEED, AND ISO. THE APERTURE WILL AFFECT THE DEPTH OFFIELD,ANDYOUMAYWANTTOUSEASHALLOWDEPTHOFFIELD TO ISOLATE THE SUBJECT FROM THE BACKGROUND. THE SHUTTER SPEED WILL AFFECT THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT THAT ENTERS THE CAMERA, AND YOU MAY WANT TO USE A SLOWER SHUTTER SPEED TOCAPTUREMORELIGHTORAFASTERSHUTTERSPEEDTOFREEZE MOTION.THEISOWILLAFFECTTHESENSITIVITYOFTHECAMERA TO LIGHT, AND YOU MAY WANT TO USE A LOWER ISO TO REDUCE NOISE OR A HIGHER ISO TO CAPTURE MORE LIGHT IN LOW-LIGHT SITUATIONS. Equipment,lightingsetups,andsettingsareessential componentsofenvironmentalportraitphotography. HerearesomeconsiderationsthatMohitBansal ChandigarhPlantokeepinmind:

4. THINGSTOCONSIDERWHEN PLANNINGENVIRONMENTAL PORTRAITS CONCEPTUALIZE CHOOSETHE YOURSHOT RIGHTLOCATION TOCREATEASUCCESSFULENVIRONMENTALPORTRAIT,YOUHAVETO CONCEPTUALIZEYOURSHOTBEFOREEVENPICKINGUPTHECAMERA. START BY ASKING YOURSELF WHAT STORY YOU WANT TO TELL AND HOW YOU WANT TO SHOWCASE YOUR SUBJECT WITHIN THE ENVIRONMENT. ONCEYOU’VEESTABLISHEDYOURVISION,THINKABOUTHOWBEST TO COMPOSE IT. CONSIDER THE COMPOSITION RULES AND TECHNIQUES LIKE RULE OF THIRDS, LEADING LINES OR FRAMING ELEMENTS. DETERMINE IF A VERTICAL OR HORIZONTAL ORIENTATIONWOULDBEMORESUITABLE. THINKABOUTWHETHERITISNECESSARYFORYOURSUBJECT’SFACEANDBODYLANGUAGE SHOULD BE CLEARLY VISIBLE IN THE PHOTOGRAPH OR IF THEY CAN BE USED SUBTLY AS PARTOFTHEIMAGE’SSTORYTELLING. CONSIDER WHAT KIND OF LENS WILL WORK BEST FOR THIS SHOT: WIDE-ANGLE LENSES MAYCAPTUREMOREBACKGROUNDWHILETELEPHOTOLENSESMAYCOMPRESSDISTANCES BETWEENSUBJECTSANDMAKETHEMSTANDOUTFROMTHEIRSURROUNDINGS. BYTAKINGALLTHESEFACTORSINTOACCOUNTWHENCONCEPTUALIZINGYOURSHOT, YOU’LLSETYOURSELFUPFORSUCCESSINCREATINGANIMPACTFULENVIRONMENTAL PORTRAITTHATTELLSACOMPELLINGSTORYTHROUGHPHOTOGRAPHY! CHOOSING THE RIGHT LOCATION IS CRUCIAL WHEN PLANNING ENVIRONMENTALPORTRAITS.THEENVIRONMENTYOUCHOOSEWILL HELP TELL YOUR SUBJECT’S STORY AND SET THE MOOD FOR YOUR PHOTOSHOOT. THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX, TOO! DON’T LIMIT YOURSELF TO POPULAR LOCATIONS THAT EVERYONE ELSE USES. IF THERE ARE PARKSORLANDMARKSNEARBY,TRYTOFINDHIDDENGEMSWITHIN THEMTHATNOONEELSEHASPHOTOGRAPHEDBEFORE. WHEN CHOOSING A LOCATION, KEEP IN MIND HOW IT COMPLEMENTS YOUR SUBJECT’S PERSONALITYANDSTYLE.FOREXAMPLE,IFTHEY’REANARTIST,CONSIDERSHOOTINGAT THEIRSTUDIOWHERETHEYCREATETHEIRART. ALSO,THINKABOUTPRACTICALITYWHENCHOOSINGALOCATION.WILLTHEREBEENOUGH SPACEFOREQUIPMENTANDROOMTOMOVEAROUND?ARETHEREANYPERMITSNEEDEDTO SHOOTATTHISLOCATION? SELECTING THE RIGHT LOCATION SETS UP EVERYTHING ELSE FOR SUCCESS DURING AN ENVIRONMENTAL PORTRAIT PHOTOSHOOT. IT SHOULD COMPLEMENT THE SUBJECT’S CHARACTERWHILECATERINGTOWARDSPRACTICALNEEDSSUCHASSPACEANDPERMITS OBTAINEDBEFOREHAND.

5. USETHE ENVIRONMENTTO YOURADVANTAGE CONSIDERTHE LIGHTING WHENITCOMESTOENVIRONMENTALPORTRAITS, LIGHTING IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTORS TO CONSIDER. IT CAN MAKE OR BREAK YOUR SHOT! HERE ARE SOME TIPS ON HOW TO CONSIDERTHELIGHTINGINYOURPORTRAIT: THEENVIRONMENTPLAYSACRUCIALROLEINSETTINGTHE MOODANDTONEOFYOURENVIRONMENTALPORTRAIT.THE SURROUNDINGS CAN ALSO PROVIDE CONTEXT TO YOUR SUBJECT’S PERSONALITY OR PROFESSION, SO IT’S ESSENTIAL TO UTILIZE THE ENVIRONMENT TO YOUR ADVANTAGE. FIRSTLY,CONSIDERTHECOLORSANDTEXTURESTHATEXIST WITHIN THE LOCATION YOU’VE CHOSEN. DO THEY COMPLEMENT OR CLASH WITH YOUR SUBJECT’S OUTFIT? IF THERE ARE TOO MANY DISTRACTING ELEMENTS IN THE BACKGROUND, TRY CHANGING ANGLES OR USING A WIDE APERTURETOBLUROUTANYUNWANTEDDETAILS. ADDITIONALLY,THINKABOUTHOWYOUCANUSENATURALLIGHTSOURCESLIKE WINDOWSORDOORWAYSASFRAMINGDEVICESFORYOURSUBJECT.YOUCOULD ALSO EXPERIMENT WITH ARTIFICIAL LIGHTING TECHNIQUES LIKE GELS OR REFLECTORSTOCREATEINTERESTINGSHADOWSANDHIGHLIGHTS. WHEN SHOOTING OUTDOORS, TAKE NOTE OF HOW WEATHER CONDITIONS SUCH AS FOG, RAIN, SNOW, OR SUNSET LIGHT MIGHT ADD AN EXTRA DIMENSION OF ATMOSPHEREANDDRAMATOYOURSHOT.SIMILARLY,IFINDOORSLOOKFORUNIQUE FURNITURE PIECES THAT COULD ACT AS PROPS ADDING DEPTH AND CHARACTER TO EACHFRAME. INSUMMARY;UTILIZINGDIFFERENTELEMENTSFROMOURENVIRONMENTSALLOWS USPHOTOGRAPHERSNOTONLYMORECREATIVITYBUTALSOADDSMORELAYERSTO OUR PHOTOGRAPHS PROVIDING THEM WITH MUCH-NEEDED DEPTH WHILE STILL ENSURING FOCUS ON OUR SUBJECTS THROUGH LEADING LINES/SHAPES WHEN APPROPRIATELYUSEDTHROUGHOUTCOMPOSITIONS. FIRSTLY, PAY ATTENTION TO NATURAL LIGHT SOURCES SUCH AS WINDOWS AND DOORS. THIS KINDOFLIGHTCANBEFLATTERINGANDCREATE ABEAUTIFULMOODFORYOURPORTRAIT. SECONDLY, IF YOU’RE SHOOTING OUTDOORS, TRY TO AVOID THE HARSH MIDDAY SUN AS IT CAN CAST UNFLATTERING SHADOWS ON YOUR SUBJECT’SFACE.INSTEAD,OPTFOREARLYMORNINGORLATEAFTERNOON WHENTHESUNISSOFTER. THIRDLY, IF YOU’RE SHOOTING INDOORS WITH ARTIFICIAL LIGHTS LIKE LAMPSOROVERHEADLIGHTS,MAKESURETHEYDON’TCREATETOOMUCH GLAREORSHADOWSONYOURSUBJECT’SFACE. CONSIDERUSINGADDITIONALLIGHTINGEQUIPMENTLIKEREFLECTORS OR SOFTBOXES TO ENHANCE THE NATURAL LIGHT SOURCES YOU HAVE AVAILABLE. THESE TOOLS CAN HELP FILL IN ANY DARK SPOTS AND ADD DEPTHANDDIMENSIONALITYTOYOURSHOTS. REMEMBERTHATEVERYLOCATIONWILLOFFERDIFFERENTCHALLENGES REGARDINGLIGHTINGSOBEPREPAREDFORANYTHING!

6. BRINGTHERIGHT EQUIPMENT DIRECTYOUR SUBJECT DIRECTING YOUR SUBJECT IS A CRITICAL ASPECT OF CAPTURINGTHEPERFECTENVIRONMENTALPORTRAIT.AS A PHOTOGRAPHER, YOU NEED TO GUIDE YOUR MODEL THROUGH THE ENTIRE PHOTOSHOOT PROCESS. YOU MUST COMMUNICATE WITH THEM AND GIVE CLEAR INSTRUCTIONSONHOWYOUWANTTHEMTOPOSE, MOVE OR LOOK. STARTBYHAVINGACONVERSATIONWITHYOURSUBJECT ABOUT THEIR PERSONALITY, INTERESTS, AND WHAT THEY HOPETOACHIEVEFROMTHESHOOT.THISWILLHELPYOU UNDERSTAND THEIR VIBE AND TAILOR SPECIFIC POSES THATSHOWCASEWHOTHEYAREAUTHENTIC. DURINGTHESHOOTITSELF,GIVEPOSITIVEFEEDBACKFREQUENTLYAND MAKE SURETOSHOWTHEMSOMEGREATSHOTSASTHEYGOALONG.IT’S IMPORTANT FOR YOUR MODELS’ CONFIDENCE LEVEL THAT THEY KNOW WHENTHINGSAREGOINGWELL. BE CREATIVE IN DIRECTING YOUR SUBJECTS WHILE STILL STAYING TRUE TO THEIR CHARACTER. PLAY AROUND WITH DIFFERENT ANGLES AND POSITIONSUNTILYOUFINDSOMETHINGTHATWORKSBESTFORBOTHOF YOU. ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT COMMUNICATION IS KEY – BE OPEN TO SUGGESTIONS BUT ALSO HAVE CLEAR VISION ON WHAT KIND OF SHOT YOU’RE LOOKING FOR. WHEN DONE CORRECTLY, DIRECTING CAN ELEVATE ANALREADYIMPRESSIVEIMAGEINTOSOMETHINGTRULYSPECTACULAR! WHEN PLANNING ENVIRONMENTAL PORTRAITS, IT IS CRUCIALTOBRINGTHERIGHTEQUIPMENTWITHYOU. MOHITBANSALCHANDIGARHPLANTHETYPEOFGEAR YOU NEED WILL DEPEND ON VARIOUS FACTORS, INCLUDINGTHELOCATIONANDLIGHTING. FIRSTLY, CONSIDER YOUR CAMERA SETUP. DO YOU HAVE THE APPROPRIATE LENSES FOR CAPTURING WIDE-ANGLE OR CLOSE-UP SHOTS? IT’S ALSO IMPORTANT TO ENSURE THATYOURCAMERABATTERIESARE FULLYCHARGEDAND THAT YOU HAVE ENOUGH MEMORY CARDS TO STORE ALL OFYOURIMAGES. SECONDLY, THINK ABOUT ADDITIONAL TOOLS SUCH AS REFLECTORS OR DIFFUSERS.THESECANHELPMANIPULATELIGHTSOURCESANDSOFTENHARSH SHADOWSONYOUR SUBJECT’S FACE. THIRDLY,IFYOUPLANONSHOOTINGINLOW-LIGHTCONDITIONS,BRINGINGA TRIPOD CAN BE BENEFICIAL IN STABILIZING YOUR CAMERA AND AVOIDING BLURRYIMAGESDUETOSHAKYHANDS. DON’TFORGETABOUTPERSONALPROTECTIVEEQUIPMENT(PPE)IFNEEDEDFOR CERTAINLOCATIONS.FOREXAMPLE,IFSHOOTINGNEARCONSTRUCTIONSITES ORINDUSTRIALAREASWHERETHEREMAYBEHAZARDOUSMATERIALSPRESENT –SAFETYGOGGLESORHARDHATSCOULDBENECESSARY. BRINGING THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT NOT ONLY ENSURES THAT YOU CAPTURE HIGH-QUALITYPHOTOSBUTALSOHELPSSTREAMLINETHESHOOTINGPROCESS ALLOWINGMORETIMEFORCREATIVITYDURINGPOST-PROCESSING.

7. PREPAREFORTHEUNEXPECTED ENVIRONMENTAL PORTRAITS CAN BE A CHALLENGING BUT REWARDING GENRE OF PHOTOGRAPHY. WITH THE RIGHT PLANNING AND PREPARATION, YOU CAN CAPTURE STUNNING IMAGES THAT SHOWCASE YOUR SUBJECT IN THEIR ENVIRONMENT. REMEMBER TO CONCEPTUALIZE YOUR SHOT, CHOOSE THERIGHTLOCATION,CONSIDERTHELIGHTING,USETHEENVIRONMENTTO YOUR ADVANTAGE, DIRECT YOUR SUBJECT, AND BRING THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT. HOWEVER, NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU PLAN AND PREPARE FOR A SHOOT, UNEXPECTED THINGS CAN HAPPEN. THE WEATHER MIGHT CHANGE SUDDENLY OR YOUR SUBJECT MAY NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA. TO AVOID ANY POTENTIAL ISSUES RUINING YOUR SHOOT ENTIRELYIT’SIMPORTANTTOALWAYSHAVEABACKUPPLANINPLACETHE MOHITBANSALCHANDIGARHPLAN. PREPARING FOR THE UNEXPECTED MEANS PACKING EXTRA GEAR SUCH AS LIGHTING EQUIPMENT OR BRINGING ALONG ADDITIONAL CLOTHING OPTIONS FOR YOUR SUBJECTS. IT ALSO MEANS BEING ADAPTABLE ON SET ANDFINDINGCREATIVESOLUTIONSIFSOMETHINGISN’TWORKINGOUTAS PLANNED. CONCLUSION: ENVIRONMENTALPORTRAITPHOTOGRAPHYISABEAUTIFULWAYTOCAPTURETHEESSENCEOFAPERSONANDTHEIRENVIRONMENT. BY UNDERSTANDING THE SUBJECT, SELECTING THE RIGHT LOCATION, CONTROLLING THE LIGHT, COMPOSING THE SHOT, DIRECTING THE SUBJECT, CHOOSING THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT, AND POST-PROCESSING, YOU CAN CREATE STUNNING IMAGES THAT TELL A STORY. KEEP THESEELEMENTSINMINDANDEXPERIMENTTOFINDYOURUNIQUESTYLEINTHISGENREOFPHOTOGRAPHY.