This document provides guidance on taking portrait photographs for use as references in drawing charcoal portraits. It discusses different portrait poses and profiles, as well as four approaches to portraits - constructionist, environmental, candid, and creative. It then gives tips for lighting, backgrounds, framing the subject, changing perspectives, filling the frame, and capturing different expressions. The goal is for students to take 10 quality self-portrait photos to use as references for their charcoal drawings.

1. Photography for Charcoal Portrait Reference

2. From the time we are little
our parents or loved ones
have been taking pictures of
us- documenting our every
move. When we think of
standard portraits most of us
think of the classic “school
picture”.
BOOOORING!
There are far more creative
ways to capture our subjects;
we just have to think outside of
the box!

3. There are essentially three profiles to begin
with:
 Front Profile – face is straight on
 Side Profile- head is turned 90 degrees
 ThreeQuarter Profile- held turned 45 degrees
four different approaches that can be taken in
photographic portraiture — the
constructionist, environmental, candid
and creative approaches. Each approach
has been used over time for different
reasons such as technical, artistic or cultural.

4. There are also four different
approaches that can be taken in
photographic portraiture — the
constructionist, environmental,
candid and creative approaches.
Each approach has been used over
time for different reasons such as
technical, artistic or cultural.

5. This when the photographer in their
portraiture constructs an idea around the
subject — happy family, romantic couple,
trustworthy executive. It is the approach used
in most studio and social photography. It is
also used extensively in advertising and
marketing when an idea has to be put across.

10. Depicts the subject in their environment
such as work, leisure, social or family
environments.They are often shown as doing
something; a teacher in a classroom, an artist
in a studio, a child in a playground.The
environmental approach helps to reveal more
about the subject.

14.  Candid Photography is portrait pictures taken
when the subject is not posing or does not
realize a picture is being taken.
 Though it is impossible to take a candid
picture of yourself- if you have a picture a
friend took of you that is candid that could
work!

17.  Creative Portraiture is fine art portraiture that
is created in a studio.The photographer is
responsible for every detail- from styling the
subject all the way up to lighting.
 Head shots focus on the face and may include
the shoulders and sometimes waist.
 Props may be used- such as glasses,
umbrella, etc.

21.  Lighting can add mood,
texture and contrast, all while
enhancing the focal point.
 There are almost unlimited
possibilities when it comes to
using light in portraits.
 Side-lighting can create
mood, backlighting and
silhouetting your subject to
hide their features can be
powerful.

23. Skin/HairTones vs. BackgroundTone:
To help your subject stand out think about
contrast.
• Darker skin tones stand out dramatically on
white backgrounds.
• Lighter skin tones stand out fantastically on
black backgrounds.
**Hair (depending on the tone) can either be
brought forward by contrast with the back
ground or become part of the background when
matching hair and background tones- leading to
dramatic focus on the face.

24. Look at the Camera:
The most commonly used
stance, looking at the camera
when creating a portrait helps
to achieve a heightened
connection between the
audience and the subject.

25. Look within the frame:
A child looking at a ball, a
woman looking at her new
baby, a singer looking at her
microphone…. When you give
your subject something to look
at that is inside the frame you
create a second point of
interest and a relationship
between it and your primary
subject. It also helps create
’story’ within the image.

26. Add a prop and
you can create
another point of
interest that can
enhance your
shot.The prop
should tell the
audience
something
about the
subject.

27. Creating lines with movement:
• Add movement by using a fan to blow
hair or shaking your head; creating
implied lines and framing of the face

28. Framing is a technique where by you draw attention
to one element of an image by framing it with
another element of the image. Framing gives an
imaginative depth and draws the eye to a point of
interest in the image.

29. The standard vertical format (left) is the compositional
formatting we tend to go to.Try to change this and see
what you come up with!

30.  In some portraits it is the expression on the face of your
subject that makes the image.
 Get your subject to experiment with different moods and
emotions in your image. Play with extreme emotions

31. Instead of taking the picture
head on change perspectives!
 Shoot from really high up
 Shoot from laying down on
the ground
 Look at foreshortening

32. One way to ensure
that your subject
captures the
attention of the
viewer of your
portrait is to fill the
frame with their
face.

33.  These pictures will be used as a reference for a
drawing you will be doing of yourself.You are
responsible for EVERYTHING in the frame of the
picture.Though things can be changed, it take
more time and experience to do this!
 Take a few minutes to read “Choosing & Using
Picture Photo References”
 Make sure the idea sheet is filled out and given
to teacher to check before take final pictures.

34.  Take 10 pictures of yourself that you would
want to use for the final.
Get your friends and family to help!
 All 10 pictures must be quality pictures that
could be used- that means you will most
likely need to take way more than 10 and
choose the 10 best.
 If the pictures do not work then you will be
asked to retake them.

35.  I will be photographing all students’ head
shots in class tomorrow – so be ready!
 We will use these for completing the
preliminary work of individual features… its
best to practiceYOU because the final is of
YOU!