It's always interesting to see how different photographers have a different spin on the same subjects.
And if you ask me, the stylistic differences between photographers' work is no more evident than in portrait photography.
So when I stumbled upon the video above by Jessica Kobeissi, in which she and three other photographers photograph the same model, I was intrigued.
Each photographer got to pick a location and the wardrobe for the model, and the other photographers had to create portraits of the model in three minutes.
It's definitely an interesting study in how each of us sees the scene a little differently. You learn a little something about how to take portraits, too.
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Perspective Changes Everything
In the first shoot, each of the four photographers demonstrate how the perspective from which they take the photo changes the look and feel of the shot.
As you can see in the screenshot above, two of the four photographers chose to shoot upward toward the model, which gives her a more powerful and commanding position in the frame.
One photographer (J2) chose to shoot from a slightly downward angle from just above the model's eye level, which gives the model a slightly vulnerable or delicate look.
And another photographer (J4) elected to create this portrait from eye level, which resulted in the most intimate portrait of them all given that we can look directly into the model's eyes.
When thinking about how to take a portrait, be sure to consider the perspective you provide viewers as it can completely change how your portraits turn out.
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Add Color to Your Portraits for More Visual Appeal
I think the lesson we should take from this photo shoot is that by introducing bold and varied colors, you can create portraits that have tons of visual appeal.
Though each of the images from this set are very different from one another, a common theme is their use of color.
On the one hand, three of the photographers incorporated the bright red color of the car into the shot in some way, and the other photographer (JR2), captured the red color of the car's interior in the reflection on the window.
And the model's outfit brings zest and life to the shot as well - the bold, striped pattern certainly wouldn't be a fit for every portrait, but in this particular setting and with this particular model, it works very well for creating gorgeous portrait photography.
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Adding Props Can Elevate the Shot
Using props for portraits can either go really well or really bad. There just doesn't seem to be much middle-ground.
The key to using props is to incorporate them into the portrait in a way that makes them look like a natural part of the scene.
In images D2 and D3 above, you can see how using the plant as a prop added color and texture to the shot, and did so without the plant overtaking the image.
In images D1 and D4, a prism was used to distort the scene for an artistic and creative element in the portrait.
What's so great about all these images is that the use of props doesn't look or feel forced, even though two of the four photographers wanted no part of using the prism in the first place!
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Portrait Photography Tip: Just Go For It
The great thing about the fourth and final portrait shoot is that it demonstrates the need to just go for it.
Far too often, we get stuck in a creative rut and keep doing the same thing over and over again.
Furthermore, I feel like a lot of times photographers (myself included) don't try new things for fear that it won't turn out right or that it will be a waste of time.
Of all the portrait shoots outlined above, I think this one is my favorite - the one in someone's dark bedroom with a bunch of Christmas lights. Go figure!
But it just goes to show that when you push the boundaries and get out of your comfort zone, you might just create the best work you've ever done. Better still, it demonstrates how with a little creativity, we can create vastly different images of the exact same subject!