Aaron Sorkin Teaches Screenwriting

Amanda Gorman Teaches Writing and Performing Poetry

Amy Tan Teaches Fiction, Memory, and Imagination

Anna Wintour Teaches Creativity and Leadership

Annie Leibovitz Teaches Photography

Draw and Paint Realistic Portraits

Danny Elfman Teaches Music for Film

David Carson Teaches Graphic Design

Elevate Your Singing and Stage Presence

Es Devlin Teaches Turning Ideas Into Art 

Hans Zimmer Teaches Film Scoring

James Cameron Teaches Filmmaking

James Patterson Teaches Writing

Jessie Krebs Teaches Wilderness Survival

Jimmy Chin Teaches Adventure Photography

Jodie Foster Teaches Filmmaking

John Legend Teaches Songwriting

Joy Harjo Teaches Poetic Thinking

Judd Apatow Teaches Comedy

Ken Burns Teaches Documentary Filmmaking

Make Compelling Videos That Go Viral

Margaret Atwood Teaches Creative Writing

Mira Nair Teaches Independent Filmmaking

N. K. Jemisin Teaches Fantasy and Science Fiction Writing

Naomi Campbell Teaches Modeling Fundamentals

Reframe Your Thinking

R.L. Stine Teaches Writing for Young Audiences

Roxane Gay Teaches Writing for Social Change

St. Vincent Teaches Creativity and Songwriting

Capture Your Vision Through Photography

Tyler Mitchell Teaches Storytelling Through Portrait Photography

Unblocking Creativity

Getting Started as a Writer

Writer's Block

Researching Your Poem

Writing Habits

Surviving the Literary Marketplace

Writing Companions

Writer’s Block

The Idea Store

Combating Writer’s Block and Developing Routines

Conclusion

Roxane’s Writing Process

Boost Your Creative Storytelling Skills

Photo Studies: Creative Partnerships

Gear: Cameras, Lenses, Power, and Storage

Building Your Survival Kit

Gearing Up for Inspiration

Understanding Your Camera and Lighting Techniques

Technical Best Practices: Cameras, Lenses, Lighting

Capture Breathtaking Expedition Shots

Principles of Narrative: Concept, Research, and Pitch

Photo Studies: Mountain Architecture

Introduction

Portrait Photography

Creating Concepts

Studio vs. Location

Photographing People Who Are Close to You

Student Sessions

Case Study Part 1: Photographing Alice Waters

Photographic Influences

The Evolution of a Photographer

Meet Your Instructor

Using a Camera That Reflects Your Voice

Demo: Film Photography in the Studio

The Power of an Image: Photographers and Models

Portraits and Understanding Your Subject

Creating Your Series

Capture Your Subject's True Essence

Capturing Your Passions

Photo Studies: Shooting at the Top

Commercial Work: Pitching and Working With Clients

Commercial Case Study: Canon Shoot

High-Stakes Photography

Editing

Post-Processing: Portrait

Settings: Modes, ISO, Focus, and Depth of Field

Career Advice: Building a Body of Work

The Technical Side of Photography

Demo: Shooting Indoors With Natural Light

Demo: Editing Your Photos

Building Confidence as an Artist

Posing: Telling a Story With Your Body

Create Stunning Photographic Art

The Power of Music

Writing Lyrics: Using Themes & Motifs

Case Study: Writing a Theme Song

Music in Comedy

Themes

Story

Character Theme: Batman

Character Theme: The Joker

Character Theme: Jack Sparrow

Working With Musicians: The Orchestra - Part 1

Hans' Journey

Making a Song Your Own

Elevate Your Musical Narratives

On Location: Portraits and Natural Light

Working With Light

Working With Your Subject

Lighting & Composition

Demo: Shooting Outdoors With Natural Light

New Faces: Photo Session

Storytelling With Light

Lips, Nose, and Ears

Eyes, Hair, and Shadows

Harness Light for Dynamic Portraits

Principles of Narrative: The Shoot and the Edit

Post-Processing: Conrad on the Wall

Becoming a Photographer: Jimmy's Story

Meet Your Instructor: David Carson

Working With Clients

Nonfiction Cinematography

Working With Your Cinematographer

Meet Your Instructor: James Cameron

Creating the Vision for Your Film

Vision

Prep and Moving Into the Doing

Direct With Honest Leadership

Visualize Compelling Moments

Art & Design

Designing a Home That Tells Your Story

Joanna Gaines

Teaches Adventure Photography

Jimmy Chin

Teaches Building and Owning Your Personal Style

Karla Welch

Karla Welch Teaches Building and Owning Your Personal Style

Teaches Self-Expression and Authenticity

RuPaul

RuPaul Teaches Self-Expression and Authenticity

Teaches Graphic Design

David Carson

Teaches Photography

Annie Leibovitz

Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia Teach Creative Collaboration and Fashion

Laura Kim & Fernando Garcia

Teach Creative Collaboration and Fashion

Teaches Storytelling Through Portrait Photography

Tyler Mitchell

A Documentary Film From Artist JR

Tehachapi

A Documentary by Artist JR

Teaches Buying and Selling Real Estate

Robert Reffkin

Robert Reffkin Teaches Buying and Selling Real Estate

Teaches Interior Design

Kelly Wearstler

Kelly Wearstler Teaches Interior Design

Teaches Spray-Painting & Abstract Art

Futura

Futura Teaches Spray-Painting & Abstract Art

Teaches Building a Fashion Brand

Diane von Furstenberg

Diane von Furstenberg Teaches Building a Fashion Brand

Teaches Art and Creativity

Jeff Koons

Jeff Koons Teaches Art and Creativity

Teaches Game Design and Theory

Will Wright

Will Wright Teaches Game Design and Theory

Teaches Design and Architecture

Frank Gehry

Frank Gehry Teaches Design and Architecture

Teaches Modeling Fundamentals

Naomi Campbell

The Greatest of All Time

GOAT

Teaches Fashion Design

Marc Jacobs

Marc Jacobs Teaches Fashion Design

Teaches Turning Ideas Into Art 

Es Devlin

Teaches Turning Ideas Into Art

Teaches Style for Everyone

Tan France

Tan France Teaches Style for Everyone

Teaches Creativity and Leadership

Anna Wintour

Teaches Makeup and Beauty

Bobbi Brown

Bobbi Brown Teaches Makeup and Beauty

Corey Damen Jenkins

Corey Damen Jenkins Teaches Interior Design

Petra Collins

[Petra Collins](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/petra-collins) is a Toronto-born artist whose photography explores contemporary femininity, identity, self-discovery, the female gaze, and other matters important to the millennial generation. She first gained recognition for her work on social media. 

The Canadian artist has photographed or directed ads for international brands Adidas, Calvin Klein, Nordstrom, Stella McCartney, and others. Among her directing credits are several short films and music videos for artists Cardi B, Selena Gomez, Carly Rae Jepsen, and Olivia Rodrigo. Petra’s work has appeared in exhibitions in New York, San Francisco, and Toronto, as well as at Miami’s Art Basel.
Portrait photography is a style of photography that portrays human subjects. It has a range of approaches and applications, including magazine covers, family portraits, and contemporary fine art. The most traditional portrait is a close-up of the subject’s face, usually at eye level and making eye contact.
Most portrait photographers use simple equipment for their shots—at the most basic, you’ll need an SLR, DSLR or mirrorless camera, depending on whether you want to shoot film or digital. Many portrait photographers also use a prime lens in the 85–135 range (these [focal lengths](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/basic-photography-101-guide-to-understanding-focal-length) provide the sharpest result without widening or flattening the subject). Avoid telephoto lenses, zoom lenses, and wide-angle lenses since these are unnecessary and can distort your subject’s features. You may also want a tripod, lighting, and a backdrop.

> “It doesn’t really matter what [camera] you use. It’s who you are behind the camera.”—Petra Collins
Portraiture usually emphasizes camera settings that allow for sharp focus on the subject’s eyes, with high lighting (natural light, camera flash, or a studio light source with reflectors) to accentuate their features. If you use a tripod, skip the presets and shoot in Manual Mode for maximum customizability. Since camera shake is less of an issue with tripod photography, you can slow your [shutter speed](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/basic-photography-101-understanding-shutter-speed-alt-title-for-title-tag-photography-101-what-is-shutter-speed-with-video), helping you use all available light (and when slowing your shutter speed, use a low [ISO](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/learn-about-photography-what-is-iso) setting of 100-400). 

> “I shoot a lot in low light, and I like to use a really low shutter speed. I sort of discovered that by accident because I had accidentally put my camera on a low shutter speed. And I noticed that when it’s on this low shutter speed, you can capture this beautiful fluid movement.”—Petra Collins

When you shoot portraits with a handheld camera, shoot in Aperture Priority mode to allow for different angles and lighting by adjusting the amount of light entering the camera through the lens. To compensate for the additional movement of handheld photography, increase your shutter speed to 1/200th or higher, then compensate for this by raising the ISO.

Acclaimed photographer Petra Collins emphasizes that taking great portrait photos is more than just having the best camera or a shallow depth of field. Here are a few tips and photography techniques from Petra to help you take better portraits and make the most of your photoshoots:

1. __Consider the conscious choices of lighting setups__. From golden hour to backlighting, Petra likes to think about the different effects you achieve with your lighting conditions and choices. “With source lighting, it’s something that you’re creating,” she explains. “So you have a little more power over your subject when you’re using these lights.” On the other hand, natural light offers the opposite experience. “[With] given light, you’re kind of at the mercy of nature. You’re at the mercy of whatever space you’re in,” Petra explains. “These two things tell totally different stories.” And it’s up to you to decide which type of lighting—whether soft light or low light—is appropriate for each given portrait scenario. 
2. __Create a safe space for the subject__. It’s easy for a person to get self-conscious once they’re in front of the camera. “One of the most important parts of taking a portrait is making my subject feel comfortable throughout the process,” Petra says. “Always remember that you are taking photos of another person.” She uses several techniques to help create a safe, comfortable, collaborative space—including kicking off a portrait session with talking, walking around the space, talking about what music they can play in the background, and collaborating on the vision for the portraits. 
3. __Establish a balance between you and the subject__. According to Petra, a good portrait should create a balance between you and the subject. “[A portrait] means the connection that the photographer has with the subject, how the subject feels, and how to best represent that,” she explains. “The first thing that I consider when taking portraits is what I want to reveal from my subject or what they want me to reveal. . . . You don’t want to lean too heavy into what you want. You want to make sure that your subject has a fair chance at being viewed,” she says. Talk with your subject about what they hope to <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/robin-robertss-tips-for-effective-communication' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/robin-robertss-tips-for-effective-communication","linkCopy":"communicate","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>communicate</a> with their portrait, what facial features or personality traits they’d like to highlight, and how they want viewers to think about them. When shooting a self-portrait, consider the relationship between you and the camera as both subject and photographer.
4. __Identify the essence of the message__. Feel free to experiment with the concept of a portrait to really get at what you and your subject want to say. “A portrait doesn’t have to be just a straight-on photo,” Petra says. “A portrait can be a lock of a person’s hair, or it can be the back of a person’s head. A portrait just means capturing a person’s essence.” Use your imagination to capture a stunning portrait for each subject rather than relying on the idea of a simple headshot every time—and remember, the best portrait may be one that’s unexpected.
5. __Think carefully about the location__. “Anywhere you shoot has meaning,” Petra explains. “You have to consider whether or not you want to go into someone’s personal space or take them out and put them in a totally different space.” Each choice creates a significant effect in the final portraits—from [environmental portraits](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/environmental-portrait-guide) (shots of people that also contain a sense of place) to professional portraits with blurry, bokeh backgrounds. An outdoor portrait will create a different feeling than one taken in a photography studio with focused portrait lighting, so consider what effects you and your subject are hoping to achieve. 
6. __Use color to tell a story__. Color is one of the most essential parts of a composition for Petra. “It took me a while to . . . ease into this and figure out that everything that I photograph has a specific tone,” she explains. “I’m always looking for where I can apply color or how the color can . . . tell the stories.” She recommends that you “figure out what color means to you and figure out how you see it, because all of us see it differently.” You may find that you prefer bright colors, subdued tones, or even [black-and-white photography](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/the-best-black-and-white-photography-tips) to tell your stories.
Become a better photographer with the [MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com). Gain access to exclusive video lessons taught by the world’s best, including Petra Collins, Jimmy Chin, Annie Leibovitz, Tyler Mitchell, and more.
Artist and director Petra Collins believes your relationship with your subject is far more important than your equipment. Get Petra’s portrait photography tips for developing your style and making your subject comfortable.

Artist and director Petra Collins believes your relationship with your subject is far more important than your equipment. Get Petra’s portrait photography tips for developing your style and making your subject comfortable.

Petra Collins’s Portrait Photography Tips

<a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/petra-collins' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/petra-collins","linkCopy":"Petra Collins","category":null}'>Petra Collins</a> is a Toronto-born artist whose photography explores contemporary femininity, identity, self-discovery, the female gaze, and other matters important to the millennial generation. She first gained recognition for her work on social media. The Canadian artist has photographed or directed ads for international brands Adidas, Calvin Klein, Nordstrom, Stella McCartney, and others. Among her directing credits are several short films and music videos for artists Cardi B, Selena Gomez, Carly Rae Jepsen, and Olivia Rodrigo. Petra’s work has appeared in exhibitions in New York, San Francisco, and Toronto, as well as at Miami’s Art Basel.

Who Is Petra Collins?

Portrait photography is a style of photography that portrays human subjects. It has a range of approaches and applications, including magazine covers, family portraits, and contemporary fine art. The most traditional portrait is a close-up of the subject’s face, usually at eye level and making eye contact.

What Is Portrait Photography?

Most portrait photographers use simple equipment for their shots—at the most basic, you’ll need an SLR, DSLR or mirrorless camera, depending on whether you want to shoot film or digital. Many portrait photographers also use a prime lens in the 85–135 range (these <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/basic-photography-101-guide-to-understanding-focal-length' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/basic-photography-101-guide-to-understanding-focal-length","linkCopy":"focal lengths","category":null}'>focal lengths</a> provide the sharpest result without widening or flattening the subject). Avoid telephoto lenses, zoom lenses, and wide-angle lenses since these are unnecessary and can distort your subject’s features. You may also want a tripod, lighting, and a backdrop.<blockquote class="mc-text--italic mc-opacity--hinted mc-my-8 mc-mr-0 mc-ml-6 mc-pl-6">“It doesn’t really matter what [camera] you use. It’s who you are behind the camera.”—Petra Collins</blockquote>

What Equipment Do You Need for Portrait Photography? 

Portraiture usually emphasizes camera settings that allow for sharp focus on the subject’s eyes, with high lighting (natural light, camera flash, or a studio light source with reflectors) to accentuate their features. If you use a tripod, skip the presets and shoot in Manual Mode for maximum customizability. Since camera shake is less of an issue with tripod photography, you can slow your <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/basic-photography-101-understanding-shutter-speed-alt-title-for-title-tag-photography-101-what-is-shutter-speed-with-video' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/basic-photography-101-understanding-shutter-speed-alt-title-for-title-tag-photography-101-what-is-shutter-speed-with-video","linkCopy":"shutter speed","category":null}'>shutter speed</a>, helping you use all available light (and when slowing your shutter speed, use a low <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/learn-about-photography-what-is-iso' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/learn-about-photography-what-is-iso","linkCopy":"ISO","category":null}'>ISO</a> setting of 100-400). <blockquote class="mc-text--italic mc-opacity--hinted mc-my-8 mc-mr-0 mc-ml-6 mc-pl-6">“I shoot a lot in low light, and I like to use a really low shutter speed. I sort of discovered that by accident because I had accidentally put my camera on a low shutter speed. And I noticed that when it’s on this low shutter speed, you can capture this beautiful fluid movement.”—Petra Collins</blockquote>When you shoot portraits with a handheld camera, shoot in Aperture Priority mode to allow for different angles and lighting by adjusting the amount of light entering the camera through the lens. To compensate for the additional movement of handheld photography, increase your shutter speed to 1/200th or higher, then compensate for this by raising the ISO.

What Are the Best Camera Settings for Portrait Photography?

Acclaimed photographer Petra Collins emphasizes that taking great portrait photos is more than just having the best camera or a shallow depth of field. Here are a few tips and photography techniques from Petra to help you take better portraits and make the most of your photoshoots:<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Consider the conscious choices of lighting setups. From golden hour to backlighting, Petra likes to think about the different effects you achieve with your lighting conditions and choices. “With source lighting, it’s something that you’re creating,” she explains. “So you have a little more power over your subject when you’re using these lights.” On the other hand, natural light offers the opposite experience. “[With] given light, you’re kind of at the mercy of nature. You’re at the mercy of whatever space you’re in,” Petra explains. “These two things tell totally different stories.” And it’s up to you to decide which type of lighting—whether soft light or low light—is appropriate for each given portrait scenario. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Create a safe space for the subject. It’s easy for a person to get self-conscious once they’re in front of the camera. “One of the most important parts of taking a portrait is making my subject feel comfortable throughout the process,” Petra says. “Always remember that you are taking photos of another person.” She uses several techniques to help create a safe, comfortable, collaborative space—including kicking off a portrait session with talking, walking around the space, talking about what music they can play in the background, and collaborating on the vision for the portraits. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Establish a balance between you and the subject. According to Petra, a good portrait should create a balance between you and the subject. “[A portrait] means the connection that the photographer has with the subject, how the subject feels, and how to best represent that,” she explains. “The first thing that I consider when taking portraits is what I want to reveal from my subject or what they want me to reveal. . . . You don’t want to lean too heavy into what you want. You want to make sure that your subject has a fair chance at being viewed,” she says. Talk with your subject about what they hope to <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/robin-robertss-tips-for-effective-communication' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/robin-robertss-tips-for-effective-communication","linkCopy":"communicate","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>communicate</a> with their portrait, what facial features or personality traits they’d like to highlight, and how they want viewers to think about them. When shooting a self-portrait, consider the relationship between you and the camera as both subject and photographer. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 4. Identify the essence of the message. Feel free to experiment with the concept of a portrait to really get at what you and your subject want to say. “A portrait doesn’t have to be just a straight-on photo,” Petra says. “A portrait can be a lock of a person’s hair, or it can be the back of a person’s head. A portrait just means capturing a person’s essence.” Use your imagination to capture a stunning portrait for each subject rather than relying on the idea of a simple headshot every time—and remember, the best portrait may be one that’s unexpected. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 5. Think carefully about the location. “Anywhere you shoot has meaning,” Petra explains. “You have to consider whether or not you want to go into someone’s personal space or take them out and put them in a totally different space.” Each choice creates a significant effect in the final portraits—from <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/environmental-portrait-guide' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/environmental-portrait-guide","linkCopy":"environmental portraits","category":null}'>environmental portraits</a> (shots of people that also contain a sense of place) to professional portraits with blurry, bokeh backgrounds. An outdoor portrait will create a different feeling than one taken in a photography studio with focused portrait lighting, so consider what effects you and your subject are hoping to achieve. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 6. Use color to tell a story. Color is one of the most essential parts of a composition for Petra. “It took me a while to . . . ease into this and figure out that everything that I photograph has a specific tone,” she explains. “I’m always looking for where I can apply color or how the color can . . . tell the stories.” She recommends that you “figure out what color means to you and figure out how you see it, because all of us see it differently.” You may find that you prefer bright colors, subdued tones, or even <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/the-best-black-and-white-photography-tips' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/the-best-black-and-white-photography-tips","linkCopy":"black-and-white photography","category":null}'>black-and-white photography</a> to tell your stories. </li></ol>

6 Portrait Photography Tips From Petra Collins

Become a better photographer with the <a href='https://www.masterclass.com' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com","linkCopy":"MasterClass Annual Membership","category":null}'>MasterClass Annual Membership</a>. Gain access to exclusive video lessons taught by the world’s best, including Petra Collins, Jimmy Chin, Annie Leibovitz, Tyler Mitchell, and more.

Want to Learn More About Photography?

Artist and director Petra Collins believes your relationship with your subject is far more important than your equipment. Get Petra’s portrait photography tips for developing your style and making your subject comfortable.

Artist and director Petra Collins believes your relationship with your subject is far more important than your equipment. Get Petra’s portrait photography tips for developing your style and making your subject comfortable.


Tell Stories Through Photography