Hello! I’m Chanel (@chanelgphoto), a portrait photographer located in Atlanta, GA where I live with my yorkie pup. I love to relax with a cup of something hot (tea, coffee, or hot chocolate… I don’t discriminate) and a good book. Dancing makes me feel free and I enjoy a wide range of genres of music. I’m addicted to Youtube and I enjoy blogging tips for creatives on a regular basis.
My main focuses in photography genre-wise are maternity, artistic portraiture, and self-portraiture. I enjoy using light, color, and texture throughout my work. Gear-wise, I shoot with a Canon 6D and the 50mm 1.8 lens is usually attached to my body.
My journey
I started out my journey with portrait photography by taking photos of my friends with my point-and-shoot camera. It was a Nikon Coolpix that looked like a DSLR, so even though I had no real experience my friends still thought I was a bit of a pro and would let me pose and direct them.
After I graduated college and got my first salary job, I was finally able to afford my first DSLR and I began to take photography more seriously. I studied light, composition, and posing, trying to put all of the pieces of the puzzle together to make better photos.
Why I love portraiture
Portraiture is for sure my favorite genre of photography. I love how portraits can tell a story simply through the usage of light, posing, and expression. Creating a compelling portrait can be an awesome challenge to your creativity. I absolutely love having a vision and orchestrating all of the moving pieces to bring the vision to life. I’m so excited to share with you guys how I bring depth and vibrancy to my portraits:
1. Using color with intention
Learning color theory can make a huge difference in your work, and it can be an awesome tool to create more compelling portraits. Understanding not only the meanings behind different colors and the emotions they can evoke, but also how colors can relate to each other on the color wheel is important.
Because I shoot a lot in nature, I’m constantly looking for ways to use contrasting colors on my subject that pop against the greenery. Colors across from each other on the color wheel are known as complimentary colors. Using complimentary colors in your work can instantly increase your image’s vibrancy and help your subject pop.
Red and green are complimentary colors meaning they're located across from each other on the color wheel. Using these two colors together in the frame increase the vibrancy of this image.
Also, cooler tones (such as green and blue) tend to recede within an image, while warmer tones (such as red, orange, and pink) tend to pop forward from the frame. Therefore, having your subject wear a red top and placing them against a backdrop of greenery will bring more depth into your photo and help your subject stand out in the frame.
The green tones of the trees and the blue tones of the sky both recede in the photo, while the pink tones of my subject's dress help her to advance forward in the frame.
Another way to use color intentionally in your photos is to employ a monochromatic or analogous color scheme. Analogous colors lie next to each other on the color wheel, while monochromatic colors are different shades of the same base hue.
A white shirt against a white backdrop = a monochromatic color scheme.
In the monochromatic example above, dressing my subject in white and having her stand against a white backdrop with an expression of peacefulness gives the photo an overall feeling of serenity.
An example of an analogous color scheme. I have a before + after example of another photo from this session below that shows how I intentionally edited this photo to achieve the analogous color scheme.
In the photo above, I used analogous colors with the subject’s brown jacket, brown skin, and dark amber leaves to create a calm feeling within a photo that still pops.
2. Using texture and creating layers within the frame
Adding texture to the frame is a great way to create visual interest in your photo. If you look around, there are plentiful opportunities to bring various items into the frame to add depth.
I used my hand as a way to communicate a mood/feeling and to create depth in this self portrait.
You can use body parts such as your hands, your arms, or your hair to create layers and add depth. Or you can incorporate items such as flowers or greenery to become the foreground or background in your image.
I saw this giant tree and knew I could use this as an opportunity to create depth by framing my subject within the many layers of hanging branches.
Nature also provides many opportunities to create depth through layers. You can use a group of small leaves that frame your subject perfectly, or use one big leaf to create a clear foreground, middle ground, and background within your photo. The possibilities are endless if you push yourself and think creatively.
I originally purchased these fern branches to tape to my wall as a backdrop for a self portrait session. During the session I decided to grab one and hold it in front of me, covering my left eye, to add some depth and visual interest to the image.
I used this huge leaf to hide half of my subject and add a touch of mysteriousness to the photo. It also helps create a distinct foreground, middle ground, and background, which adds depth to the image.
3. Using harsh shadows effectively
The moment I see harsh light during a portrait session I start thinking of opportunities to use the deep shadows to create an intriguing portrait. When using harsh shadows in your portraits you have to be very intentional with every aspect of the image.
During this session I noticed the dappled light falling across some nearby rocks and positioned my subject so the light would fall across her face while allowing the background to fall into shadow.
Important things to keep in mind when using harsh shadows include:
· Where you will place your subject
· How the shadows will fall across your subject in a way that’s still flattering
· What will be highlighted in the frame vs what will fall into shadow
I placed my subject in this bright spotlight and metered for his face. The only details I wanted highlighted were his head, shoulders, and the fixtures on the windows on either side of him, so I allowed everything else to fade into black.
When shooting your subject in the shadows, be very intentional about their placement and the story you want to tell. What story do you get from this image?
Before & Afters
Setting your shot up is only half of the formula for creating a compelling portrait. Editing with intention is also an important piece of the puzzle. During your editing process, make decisions that are going to enhance the depth of your image, bring the viewer’s attention to your subject, and help tell the story.
(L) Before (R) After
Deepening the greens of the grass allowed my subject with her warm skin tones and dress to pop against her backdrop. The grass also brings in some nice texture to add visual interest.
(L) Before (R) After
I saw these leaves in their beautiful orange and yellow colored state before falling off the trees, and I knew I wanted to use them as a backdrop for a quick photo session. I styled my subject in a brown jacket to create an analogous color scheme, and positioned him in front of the leaves so they created a beautiful golden bokeh. In post processing I gave the leaves more of a golden brown hue to keep with my envisioned analogous color scheme.
(L) Before (R) After
I really wanted to emphasize the monochromatic color scheme in this image, so I made sure to edit in a way that brightened every aspect of the photo.
Push past your limits
Never be afraid to step outside of the box and try something new. Nothing can hold you back beyond your own self. Challenge yourself to try a new technique or incorporate a new theme into your work.
One challenge you can take on is portraiture with your mobile phone.
A self portrait shot with my iPhone 7 Plus and edited in Snapseed
When embarking on mobile photography, treat your phone just as you would treat your DSLR. Look for light that will add depth to your image, bring visual interest into the frame through your usage of color, and use editing software/apps to enhance your portrait.
Self portrait captured with my iPhone 7 Plus and edited in Snapseed.
I hope this inspires you guys to get creative and think outside of the box to elevate your portraits. I can’t wait to see the beautiful work you all create the rest of this month! If you have any questions, please ask away!
You can find Chanel at Chanelgphotography.com/blog.