This is a great thread and I'm glad you started it, Michael. I would love to play, but I have yet to take a photo that I think would make a good portrait. At least now I have a better idea of what to look for.

Mike, I have to know what you say, or do, to these women to get these expressions on their faces? And so many beautiful women--wow!

Marvin, I'm glad you posted the photo reference for your painting--that one is my favorite.

Renee Price

Renee,

I tell them to say "cheeese."

I suppose there are a few factors envolved, the first and most obvious is that most of these gals would have a hard time producing a bad expression. Another is the experience factor, like anything else, the more you do the better you get.

There may be some intuition involved in knowing when to pull the trigger, but it also has a great deal of similarity to fishing. The guy/gal whose bait is in the water most of the day will be more productive than the guy who is always busy popping open cans and munching pretzels. Come early, cast often, leave late.

I routinely throw away (at first glance) 50% of the photos I take. Another 30% are tossed at closer scrutiny. After shooting 50-75 shots I am really dissappointed if I don't have three good ones, and I feel really fortunate to have five. With a great model, one who posseses an intuition for the other side of the camera, the success numbers can go way up.

I can also remember photographing a friend of mine (nameless of course) who was absolutely beautiful, until I pointed the camera at her. In one day I took almost 200 pictures of her. Each time I clicked the button I knew that everything I had done prior had not worked. I rarely take that many shots but most of the time I can tell through the lens if what I am doing is working. She had such high hopes for success so I just kept on trying. We did have some small successes but only because of an extra large effort.

But the larger point must be that the quality of the image can not be based on the physical beauty of the subject. And so you learn to find beautiful light for ordinary people. And you learn to bend their limbs and cock their head in ways that when they view themselves, through you, they gasp.

Well said, Mike:

Ditto Michelle. This is really really worth repeating again and again Mike. Thanks.

I may soon get a commission to paint a severely handicapped boy in a wheelchair. I intend to try and convey his spirit with dignity and compassion and create an object of beauty "not based on the physical beauty of the subject". Mike, I think I'll print out your quote and put it on the wall in my studio.

Heres a few recent, and some not so recent, attempts to get a good photo reference ...

A few more ...