THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN PLANNING ENVIRONMENTAL PORTRAITS

Conceptualize Your Shot Choose The Right Location

TO CREATE A SUCCESSFUL ENVIRONMENTAL PORTRAIT, YOU HAVE TO CONCEPTUALIZE YOUR SHOT BEFORE EVEN PICKING UP THE CAMERA. START BY ASKING YOURSELF WHAT STORY YOU WANT TO TELL AND HOW YOU WANT TO SHOWCASE YOUR SUBJECT WITHIN THE ENVIRONMENT.

ONCE YOU’VE ESTABLISHED YOUR VISION, THINK ABOUT HOW BEST TO COMPOSE IT. CONSIDER THE COMPOSITION RULES AND TECHNIQUES LIKE RULE OF THIRDS, LEADING LINES OR FRAMING ELEMENTS. DETERMINE IF A VERTICAL OR HORIZONTAL ORIENTATION WOULD BE MORE SUITABLE.

THINK ABOUT WHETHER IT IS NECESSARY FOR YOUR SUBJECT’S FACE AND BODY LANGUAGE SHOULD BE CLEARLY VISIBLE IN THE PHOTOGRAPH OR IF THEY CAN BE USED SUBTLY AS PART OF THE IMAGE’S STORYTELLING.

CONSIDER WHAT KIND OF LENS WILL WORK BEST FOR THIS SHOT: WIDE-ANGLE LENSES MAY CAPTURE MORE BACKGROUND WHILE TELEPHOTO LENSES MAY COMPRESS DISTANCES BETWEEN SUBJECTS AND MAKE THEM STAND OUT FROM THEIR SURROUNDINGS.

BY TAKING ALL THESE FACTORS INTO ACCOUNT WHEN CONCEPTUALIZING YOUR SHOT , YOU’LL SET YOURSELF UP FOR SUCCESS IN CREATING AN IMPACTFUL ENVIRONMENTAL PORTRAIT THAT TELLS A COMPELLING STORY THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHY!

CHOOSING THE RIGHT LOCATION IS CRUCIAL WHEN PLANNING ENVIRONMENTAL PORTRAITS. THE ENVIRONMENT YOU CHOOSE WILL HELP TELL YOUR SUBJECT’S STORY AND SET THE MOOD FOR YOUR PHOTO SHOOT.

THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX, TOO! DON’T LIMIT YOURSELF TO POPULAR LOCATIONS THAT EVERYONE ELSE USES. IF THERE ARE PARKS OR LANDMARKS NEARBY, TRY TO FIND HIDDEN GEMS WITHIN THEM THAT NO ONE ELSE HAS PHOTOGRAPHED BEFORE.

WHEN CHOOSING A LOCATION, KEEP IN MIND HOW IT COMPLEMENTS YOUR SUBJECT’S PERSONALITY AND STYLE. FOR EXAMPLE, IF THEY’RE AN ARTIST, CONSIDER SHOOTING AT THEIR STUDIO WHERE THEY CREATE THEIR ART.

ALSO, THINK ABOUT PRACTICALITY WHEN CHOOSING A LOCATION. WILL THERE BE ENOUGH SPACE FOR EQUIPMENT AND ROOM TO MOVE AROUND? ARE THERE ANY PERMITS NEEDED TO SHOOT AT THIS LOCATION?

SELECTING THE RIGHT LOCATION SETS UP EVERYTHING ELSE FOR SUCCESS DURING AN ENVIRONMENTAL PORTRAIT PHOTOSHOOT. IT SHOULD COMPLEMENT THE SUBJECT’S CHARACTER WHILE CATERING TOWARDS PRACTICAL NEEDS SUCH AS SPACE AND PERMITS OBTAINED BEFOREHAND.