Brooke Bowers Waskey has worked as a professional photographer since 2007. Known for her family and senior portraits, Brooke Bowers Waskey strives to capture the subject in just the right moment.
Good portrait photography requires much more than photogenic subjects and the right lighting. It demands a photographer who can relate to subjects on a human level to help them explore poses and settings outside of their comfort zone. As subjects experiment and play, their enthusiasm and engagement with the moment comes through in the final product.
The photographer must also be willing to step back and let the subjects be themselves. This may involve giving her a prop and allowing them to play with it for a while. The result can be a spontaneous shot that shows off the originality of the subject who might otherwise come across as overly posed.
Good portrait photographers let their subjects shine, though they also consider the impact of subject placement. Many innovative photographers find that they take their most evocative portraits when the subject is off-center or shot from an unusual perspective, such as from above or from the side. A photographer can also experiment with zooming in on one particular part of the subject's body, such as the eye or cheekbone, to capture the expressiveness of the body.
Finally, the portrait photographer carefully considers what type of lighting would work best for the effect that he or she wishes. This does not necessarily mean avoiding all shadows, as a thoughtfully placed shadow can set a particular mood that flatters the subject. Manipulating of shadows and light can improve the artistry of a portrait, while also highlighting or downplaying particular physical features.
