Environmental Portraiture: Tell Your Subject’s Story and Create Dynamic Portraits with One Bag of Gear

Getting Started with Environmental Portraits

Although it may not always seem possible, great people pictures can be created using the gear that fits into one camera bag. The trick is knowing how to use the equipment you have, and not worrying about what you don’t. In addition, it’s important to put the environment around you to work. Effectively combining sound photographic technique with the elements of the environment, situation, or scene is how I define environmental portraiture. It is telling a story about your subjects by creatively using the architectural and natural elements that surround them (and you).

Let’s face it, not everyone has the latest and greatest piece of photo equipment. Over the course of 25 years as a professional newspaper ...