How Traditional Portraiture Can Help You
by Bryan Lindsey
BCL Photography, Houston Wedding Photographer
Do you like traditional portraiture? Does the thought of moving four lights around in a studio get you revved up? If so, that makes one of us. In the past I have shied away from studio portraiture because I consider it boring. I would much rather get outside and shoot an awesome e-session, or go to a high-class venue and capture some great moments of the wedding day.
Recently, though, I found myself in-studio, now face-to-face with all the photographic principles I’ve read about and loosely applied outside of the studio. All the crutches were gone – the light, the pose, and the composition were all on me. I don’t mind telling you, I was quite intimidated. I think we did reasonably well that day, although the biggest lesson I learned is how much more I need to learn! (the more I know, the more I know I don’t know anything…)
There are at least five things wrong with this photo. Can you spot them?
The big benefit to studio portraiture (in my mind, anyway), is that it helps to quantify aspects of photography that may already come naturally to you. So when that outdoor scene unfolds, you can make the small adjustments in lighting and posing that make the difference between a good photo and a great photo. I’m learning “the rules” of traditional portraiture, and I invite you to do the same.
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Bryan Lindsey
BCL Photography
Houston Wedding and Portrait Photographer
The call for entries for the January PPBF Image Competition has ended as is now open for judging. Please vote for your three favorite images now. Judging will close on 1/14. Vote here.
First place will be awarded a one year free membership to the PPBF, a $50 value. Second and third place winners will be awarded a one month membership. Once judging has closed, critiques will begin.
If the winner is already a paying member, then their current membership will be extended.
Thanks to all who entered, and good luck!
Aric C. Hoek BFA, CPP, Author
PPBF Administrator
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Houston Wedding Photographer, Aric Hoek
Maintain Your Own Vision
by Bryan Lindsey
BCL Photography – Houston Wedding Photographer
On your journey through photography (for fun and profit), you are going to get a lot of advice. That’s a good thing – it’s why you here on the Pro Photo Business Forum. But I would caution you against losing your vision.
What do we mean by that – “losing our vision?” Well, as you solicit opinions from others, do not necessarily take them at face value – consider the background of the person providing you with the opinion. We should ask ourselves why we care about 
their opinion in the first place: Are they a professional photographer from whom we are trying to learn? Are they a potential client? An existing client? Your average Joe? We can learn many things by soliciting the opinions of all these individuals – but should we let them dictate our photographic style? Our vision?
For example, I recently submitted some photos for review to a West-Coast photographer I admire, and some of his feedback included “too dark” and “too traditional.” Well, his work is sometimes a little “bright” for my taste, and he occasionally throws out some shots that seem…well, just weird (to me, at least). So, understanding his style and preferences helps me to interpret his feedback. Now I have the choice of (a) heeding his advice and modifying my style and artistic vision to be like his, or (b) take that specific feedback with a grain of salt and realize that not everyone will dig my style as much as I do.
This is not to say that we should discount ALL advice that we don’t agree with. When we ask for an opinion, we should be prepared to accept it – perhaps not agree with it, but understand it. And we must always be open to technical critique (as opposed to artistic critique). But don’t necssarily let other people dictate your style, your vision.
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Bryan Lindsey
BCL Photography
Houston Wedding and Portrait Photographer
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