Eye Contact
I don't have a lot of experience in portrait photography. It is something I would love to get more experience with. Any suggestions or ideas of how to get started would be great. Finding models is the key.
More Posts in: Portrait Photography
Dean Wilson
The Sun and the Moon: Edited to add last photo
I wanted to see how my 50 year old Canon FD 800mm f/5.6 s.s.c. would handle photographing both the Sun and the Moon.
1 - Revealing sunspots. (Square cropped)
5
Last: Aug 02, 2026
Charles Mercier
German contemporary art museum
Just a few shots - not of the art but the building interior!
1
Last: Aug 02, 2026
1
Last: Aug 02, 2026
Hector Reyes
Sterling in silhouette
I held a lighting workshop recently. Sterling was the model. I rarely shoot silhouettes but I wanted to incorporate that arch into a shot. Backlighting became an obvious choice.
Alan Brown
Bluristic mirror mode
I must admit I have been lax in both my shooting and posting recently, perhaps due to the fact my wife has now retired, and we are spending a LOT more time together doing various activities.
5
Last: Jul 31, 2026
3 Comments
John,
I've gotten started though workshops organized on Meetup.com. You probably can find some in your area too. That way someone else handles all of the organization with the models and studio and such. Then you can schedule that into your busy life, which I found helped for me as well - and I see we're about the same age.
I've just started hiring models myself and have used ModelMayhem which seems pretty much the standard. Some of the younger folks use Instagram, but I've heard that the level of commitment from models found there is a lot lower than those who go to the effort to make a MM account. That said, I just had a model from MM last-minute-cancel on me today, so it's no guarantee.
-john
My only complaint about the ops on Meetup.com is cost. I’m not trying to sound cheap but I don’t wanna spend 50-$100 To take a couple shots.
To achieve stunning or even good results when taking portraits is much harder than one would imagine.
From trying to establish some rapport with the model to the moment when you select export is a complex journey with many pitfalls. If I were to offer any advice it would be to plan your shoots and have some clear idea of what you are aiming to achieve....and then exert control over the whole process. If possible meet the model or subject before hand so when they appear in your location or studio they are not a stranger. Ask them to bring a variety a tops to give you some options. Know your equipment intimately, it’s use should be transparent.
In relation to your first image;
From my point of view This could have had more impact if the model had taken off the checked shirt and just wore the blue T she has on underneath. I think the checked shirt is competing for attention as it is visually dominating.
Keep your lighting simple to start with. Get used to using one light. Use it to sculp the features get it in close and make it soft. The setup you used on this shot looks a wee bit confusing. Check out Joe Grimes on YouTube and how he uses one light.
Be careful in post and watch not to overdo things like eyes, keep it natural, and above all have fun and enjoy the journey.