Shooting Portraits

Shooting portraits can be quite difficult especially if you are asked these questions:

1. How should I pose? 

2. Where do you want to go? 

What I have found after doing a few portrait shoots is this: 

You can go into a shoot thinking of some poses that you might think would work, but most importantly you need to let your model show their personality. These pictures here are of my brother. I was taking head shots of him and he kept asking what he should do. We ended up just doing things that my brother normally does, working on projects, playing guitar, and just hanging out. I have also found that while taking portraits you should set up your tripod, focus on your subject then talk to your subject. Then while you are talking you can snap shots while they smile from conversation or are in thought. 

As for settings, it is good to scope them out before you need to start shooting. I prefer older buildings that don't have a lot of distractions. My brother's shots were taken at the house where he resides. They have an awesome roof and some great brick walls throughout. I recommend having a small note book on you at all times in order to write down good locations that you see. You never know when you'll need to take shots at the drop of a hat and need some good locations.