Anticipating Behavior
An important element in people photography is knowing your subjects well enough to be able to anticipate what they are going to do. It's the only way you are going to be able to get pictures of it. If you wait until you see it, it's too late. The key is to watch people carefully. Always have your camera ready. If you're going to be shooting in one situation, set the aperture and shutter speed in advance so you don't have to fiddle with them while you're shooting. Watch people through the viewfinder. If you're paying attention, you'll sense what's about to happen.
Hands and other details
The hands of a farmer, a pianist, a baker. The feet of a ballet dancer, a long distance runner, a place kicker. The belly of a pregnant woman, the bicep of a weight lifter. Hair caressing a pillow, fingers clutched in prayer, a peering eye. The details of the human body make great photographic subjects, either as expressions of ideas or emotions, as graphic shots, or as a way to say something about an individual. Whenever you are photographing someone, try to think of details of their body or dress that would get your message across in an indirect way.
Are there particular parts of their body or items of what they wear that are important to what they do for a living or a hobby? Does some part of them really stand out? Can you find a way to abstract what you want to say about the person by using one of these elements?
The point is to use your eyes and your imagination, whether you want to use detail and abstraction to say something about an individual or about the beauty of the human body. If you are making photographs of details of the human body, you will be working intimately with people and will have to direct them, tell them where to pose, and how.
Using reflective object
A mirror or some other reflective surface offers an even easier way to take a self-portrait. In most cases, the camera will be included in the scene (but this can help make a statement about your enthusiasm for photography). You can use your camera as a prop, and hold it away from your face. When you photograph into a mirror, be sure your reflection is in focus. An infrared auto focusing system will usually focus on glass if it's aimed into a mirror, and will focus at infinity if aimed at an angle. You might try focusing at an object that's the same distance as the distance from the camera to the reflection, lock in the focus, recompose the image to include yourself, and take the picture.
Environmental Portraits
These photos have amazing lightning and color contrast. The model's emotion is also fantastic, it shows their personality in that environment. The choice of background, setting, and time looks very professional with the model holding their individual item of settings.
Casual Portrait
I like the balance of these portraits and the emotion the subject is expressing. The background, their clothes, accessories and hair position, and shooting angle fits their personality as an individual. Soft lines on background, avoiding mergers and focus out everything other than the main subjects blends in as a casual portrait.
Portrait Assignment
I plan on shooting myself because I trust myself the most. I will shoot outside for clear, natural, earthy background and good lightning. I might shoot on top of a rock in courtyard for my martial arts kick pose, or a bright expression looking up with sun light exposure for a magical feeling, or laying on top of something, facing upward, with an expression matching my outwear color, or a sad expression looking right into the camera while sitting on a grassy ground and grip right into the grass, a dress (if i want to wear one) and camera facing down on me, or a jump on the air while the background shows only the sky with excited expression, or my martial arts jump kick with vertical lines as background to show a strong spirit feeling (if the camera can go down to a good enough shutter speed and good lightning). These are my ideas that i haven't narrowed down.
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