How to Take a Portrait

Direct, Pose & Shape Light

Workshop Summary:

In this fifth workshop, you’ll learn the art of photographing people with confidence. We’ll start by breaking down what makes a portrait feel natural and flattering (not stiff or over-posed), then we’ll put it into practice straight away.

You’ll work with a model during the session so you can practice directing, giving clear prompts, and making small adjustments that change everything—hands, shoulders, posture, chin, and expression. You’ll learn how to quickly build rapport so your subject relaxes, and how to guide them into poses that feel like them.

We’ll also look at the technical choices that shape portrait style: lens and distance, background selection, and how framing changes the story. You’ll practice using light intentionally—creating window light and simple modifiers—to create portraits that feel polished and professional, even with minimal gear.

By the end of the session, you’ll have a repeatable portrait workflow: how to set up, how to direct, what to look for, and how to troubleshoot common problems on the spot.

Topics Covered:

• Building rapport and directing confidently (prompts, pacing, and feedback)

• Posing and micro-adjustments (hands, posture, chin, shoulders)

• Choosing the right lens and distance for flattering perspective

• Backgrounds that support the subject (separation, simplicity, and story)

• Light for portraits (window light + simple modification and control)

• Framing and composition for stronger portraits (headshots vs lifestyle)

Featured Artist: Richard Avedon — Known for clean, direct portraiture that reveals character through expression and presence

Practice: Shoot a set of portraits with a model using 2 lighting setups and 3 framing styles (tight headshot, half-body, environmental), then review and refine based on what feels most natural and flattering