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For some, photography is simply a professional occupation, where good is good enough; for others it’s a craft that is continuously and persistently honed and developed over time. Each studio has their own agenda…
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It goes without saying; not all portrait studios operate at the same standard or have a primary focus on producing a beautiful final image. To quote George Orwell’s Animal Farm, some portrait studios are “more equal than others.” For some, photography is simply a professional occupation, where good is good enough; for others it’s a craft that is continuously and persistently honed and developed over time. Each studio has their own agenda and raison d’etre. This poses a challenge for anyone looking to have a professional portrait taken – how to discern between the two.
In my experience as a photographer, the most important factor in this equation is finding a skilled portrait studio/ photographer who understands light and how to use a camera very well, whilst knowing when to ignore the light meter and make decisions based on experience and instinct. The digital camera is a powerful tool, and with great power comes great responsibility. Since photography graduated from film to digital at the turn of the century, gone are the days where the film camera was the (only) weapon of choice for the commercial photographer. Since the dawn of the digital camera, the acute reproduction of detail in a digital image has left significantly less of a margin for error, unlike their more forgiving film counterparts, and so the person operating the camera and editing the images must be beyond proficiently skilled – not only in getting the best from the camera, but also from their subject and making them feel at ease.
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In the wrong hands however, a digital camera is not unlike a loaded gun: your self-confidence and sense of authority in the firing line. If a portrait is badly lit and poorly taken, you can risk looking worse than you actually do in person.
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For all its drawbacks, the digital camera’s sensitivity to detail is also its greatest asset; producing brilliantly sharp and clear images, it brings forth its own modern charm. In the wrong hands however, a digital camera is not unlike a loaded gun: your self-confidence and sense of authority in the firing line. If a portrait is badly lit and poorly taken, you can risk looking worse than you actually do in person. The opposite is true of the skilled photographer with an eye for good lighting – harnessing the power of the camera, they can draw out a confident and warmer version of their portraits subject. This benefits the subject greatly, as inherent to a great portrait is a connection and trust in those photographed.
The phrase ‘professional portrait’ is frequently banded around, but it’s important to note that professional is not synonymous with beautiful or well-taken. Just because someone is using professional equipment, it doesn’t always mean they have mastered it. And so, to revisit the original question: how can you ensure you are in the hands of a skilled photographer and trust the studio you’ve chosen to take your picture? It can be as simple as looking at their body of work; do you like how they photograph? Do you see consistency in the portfolio presented? Do they bring out a warmth and beauty in those they have photographed?
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We are a creative and intuitive studio, which informs how we approach photographing each person; with passion, emotion and an astute eye for composition.
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At LAPORTRA, our primary focus is on taking beautiful, flattering and radiant portraits. We are detail driven perfectionists, who have a strong understanding of, and experience in the technical requirements of great portraiture, whilst moving beyond the clinical and technically accurate. We are a creative and intuitive studio, which informs how we approach photographing each person; with passion, emotion and an astute eye for composition. We are well-versed in making our clients feel at ease and comfortable, which is absolutely paramount to taking a strong and compassionate image. We photograph with intention, our North Star being that our portraits inspire trust, curiosity and connection in the viewer.
