Face the music

Face the music

Whenever someone shows appreciation of your work, anywhere on the web, it’s at least tempting to have a look at what they do. Sometimes, it feels as if it would be rude not to, particularly on model-photographer networking sites.



And with more time on our hands (apart from those of us who are key workers), there are more comments, more portfolios to look at. And it’s brought home to me that some people’s portrait style can be unflattering – or even downright dodgy. I’ve noticed two things that really upset me, which is embarrassing when they’ve liked my work.



Skin softening. A bit of work is kind: removing spots and transient blemishes is entirely good, and kind. But turning every model into a Barbie is spooky, looks wrong. Is it actually disrespectful? I’ve had this preoccupation for a long, long time, and I've blogged about it before.

But today I’ve added a second stylistic issue (not on this website). Portraits where the subject is full-face, straight on to camera, frontally lit. Classic Instamatic portraiture…



Now, it’s possible to have immensely powerful flat-on portraits. The first to come to mind is Arnold Newman’s portrait of Alfred Krupp: sinister and powerful, an indictment on film. The piercing, cold eyes of Vladimir Putin in Platon’s direct portrait. And sometimes, an exceptionally beautiful model (preferably with wonderful irises) will make a shot like this work. But as a standard, not-really-bothered approach? Sorry, no. And particularly no when it’s a frame-filling head.

So here’s my suggestion – if you go full frontal, break it up a bit, with light or composition – it doesn’t need to be very different to make for a very different look – as I hope my pictures here show…