Why Everyone Should Be A Portrait Photographer
Let’s face it, you’re ugly. Don’t worry so am I, so are your neighbours and so is pretty much everyone else.
It’s not our fault, we haven’t suddenly withered as a species into unsightly hoards. It’s just the goal posts on what is ‘beautiful’ has changed.
Ads for everything from coats to cat food show us that even shoveling meaty God-knows-what into a bowl for your moggy should be an elegant ‘bistro’ experience; Yes not even your cat escapes the pretty parade.
Despite this barrage of beauty most of us are able to hold together a sense of self-esteem. The problem is it doesn't totally stop us feeling the guilt of being too fat, too thin, too old, young, grey, wrinkly, hairy etc etc etc.
What’s more, the guilt of inadequacy can often impose on our decision process too. Now that penchant for bright orange hair is a secret desire which rarely makes it to casual conversation. As a species, we are all totally different but for some reason, we feel obliged to squeeze ourselves into an impossible template and hide the rest. A large bum has now been sanctioned by the pretty police but what about the hairy back, the prominent nose or uniquely shaped head. Each one can and should be appreciated but while perfection stands fast we are not likely to see them as ‘beautiful’.
There is, of course, a way around this, a way to cast off those skewed goggles and see the real beauty that exists in everyone. Sounds the horns… It’s portrait photography.
As a portrait photographer, the subject is the important thing. They can be youthful, slim and symmetrical or haggard, hairy and downright scary. The art of it all is not about molding what you see into classical beauty, but to recognise the beauty that’s there and bring it out.
To a portrait photographer wrinkles are wonderful. They light up a shot and fill it with character and curiosity. The same goes for freckles too. Moles? I challenge anyone to tell Cindy Crawford that moles can’t be beautiful.
Throughout history the portraits of both paint and photo alike have been about things far greater than a high cheek bone or silly pout. They are things like vulnerability, strength, character or the wonder of ‘that smile’. The real portrait is one which delves deeper than surface looks to capture that intangible something which connects us all. That’s where real beauty lies and that’s what is revealed behind the lens.
Your subject no longer exists as a collection of features to be judged. They are a culmination of feelings, emotions and experiences. Their features, irrelevant of their merits in the perfection stakes are now a canvas to capture that essence and bring it to life. So be it Gisele or Geoff from accounting the challenge is the same. Geoff might struggle to match up in the swimsuit stakes but he’s got a lovely smile and that beats a perfect pout any day of the week.
Thanks for reading. My name is Kevin Lake. I am a photographer and writer, trying to combine both wherever possible.
If you like please recommend and share — you can also check my work out here.
You might also like Why Everyone Should Be a Street Photographer
