Portrait Photography
Classic portraiture is a style of photography that should resonate with the sitters persona and suggest bits of truth and vulnerability within them. Most people want to be depicted in the manner that they present themselves to the world, and are taken aback when we capture what they like best about themselves PLUS some.
A professional portrait photographer will take the time to understand the clients goals for the shoot: for example, is it for your personal use, a gift for someone, or for business? Each end use will dictate in some regard the overall theme for the shoot, the style, and the mood.
A great way to discover your own tastes and inclinations about portrait photography is to peruse the internet. It is full of images, some of which are exceptional and some of course not so great. Just spend some time browsing, search for "portrait photography" keep a folder or save links to images that appeal to you. Show these to your portrait photographer, much like you might show your hair stylist a page you ripped out of a magazine of a new hairstyle on an actress or model. It's a great tool to communicate your tastes and expectations with your photographer. A professional photographer will be able to let you know (just like a good hair stylist) whether or not the style of photograph will suit you, or whether it is appropriate for the end use, etc.
Candid or Journalistic style portraits are just that. Sometimes. In other words, a true journalist never ever stages a shot- but a journalistic style photographer often does. Journalistic style photography is a popular technique, and one that requires that the subjects have a little fun, and are open to a little "acting."
"Candids' on the other hand, happen supposedly when you are not expecting it- but again, often times these are staged, and come on, if you have hired a professional photographer and they are within 500 feet of you, more than likely you are pretty aware of what they are up to. So, when perusing the internet for stuff that appeals to you, keep in mind that a good percentage of the stuff that is artistic, intimate and natural looking probably was choreographed to some degree.
