The Art of Portrait Photography: Capturing Personality and Emotion

Portrait photography goes beyond the traditional idea of prioritising technical aspects such as lighting, background, or contrast; rather, it dives deep into the photographer’s abilities to read emotions and capture the essence of the subject’s personality. As a wedding photographer in Kolkata, portrait photography has always fascinated me due to its unique charm, where every portrait tells a story of the subject, bringing out the deepest emotions and glorifying personality. In this blog, I am going to take you behind the scenes of what it takes to capture an unforgettable portrait.

Understanding Your Subject

The first thing every portrait photographer needs to do is get to know the person they are photographing, where the main aim is to learn about their personality. If you take a close look at Hitler’s portrait and Charlie Chaplin’s portrait, the first thing you will notice is how similar both look, except for the difference in their expressions, which reflects the difference in their personalities. Similarly, as a portrait photographer, you must know

Setting the scene

The next important thing that needs to be prioritised is setting up the scene. As a wedding photographer in Kolkata, what I do is select the background carefully so that it blends well with the subject. The background should aim to shift the focus towards the subject rather than take away the focus from the subject. The background must be aligned well so that it blossoms with the narrative, adding context and depth to the portrait.

Mastering Lightning

From my experience, I believe the most important thing in portrait photography is lighting. I find natural light to be quite flattering and soothing, making it an optimal choice. Early morning or afternoon is the best time because the sky reflects different hues and colours and the light remains warm and golden. I prefer using diffusers and reflectors to beautifully use natural light and soften hash shadows for indoor portraiture. The secret is to use the natural light and arrange it in the best way so that it accentuates the subject’s best qualities.

Posing with Purpose

Posing is an art in itself, but all subjects are not professional models. That is why guiding them to do the best poses goes a long way. The main aim is to instruct and capture them so that their personalities are best reflected without making them look stiff or posed. It is a photographer’s responsibility to make the subject comfortable so that they can give their best poses. Often, capturing a candid moment between poses can give the most beautiful results.

Capturing Emotion

The soul of a great portrait is emotion. I watch for true feelings to show themselves, whether it’s in the form of a grin, a meaningful glance, or a brief expression. These are frequently impromptu situations that call for patience and careful observation. It all comes down to being prepared to seize those brief moments when the subject’s actual self emerges.

As a wedding photographer in Kolkata, I have observed that clients want details and emotions in their portraits that reflect their personalities. This goes beyond simply having high-quality photographers. It brings out a storytelling element in every portrait, depending on the different events they are posing. My enthusiasm is always focused on creating a lasting visual narrative that the subject will treasure for years to come.

We are absolutely thrilled with our choice of Cedric as our wedding photographer for our elopement in

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ankit mehta photography

Beyond the camera, I’m driven by a love for creativity, a deep belief in humanity, and a passion for coffee.

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ankit mehta photography

Beyond the camera, I’m driven by a love for creativity, a deep belief in humanity, and a passion for coffee.