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Blend the subject with the environment
Successful portraiture often involves ensuring that the subject and the scene blend together well. There is more to achieving this than finding an attractive backdrop and photographing your model against it. Use elements of the background to relate to the sitter; try to match tone and colour; or go for deliberate contrast – it’s usually best to avoid clothes with strong primary colours when working with neutral backgrounds, for example. Make sure that your subject’s clothes and pose are in keeping with the location. Hiring a professional model can certainly help in this regard. It is also essential to know the best time of day to photograph in a location, and plan what lighting equipment (such as diffusers and reflectors) you will need.
STONEWORK
Here the model is wearing black, which works with most backdrops, including the weathered stonework of this church wall. The model has been carefully positioned to make the best of the scene. The pillars on the right are striking architectural details and, to ensure balance, the model stands on a box so her eyeline is level with the details to her left. Also, her arms, while appearing naturally placed, have been subtly spread open so that the eye follows them up towards her face. The brickwork has been warmed a little, using image-manipulation software, so that it matches the model’s skin tones. The texture of the widest pillar has been revealed by increasing the contrast, then applying Gaussian Blur to soften it.
Canon EOS-1DS, 70–200mm lens at 115mm, 1/500 sec at f/2.8, ISO 100.