Authentic Portraits

An honest and personal book about creating better portraits and becoming your best self.

The most successful portraits take us well beyond the surface of how someone looks and show us the inner essence of who someone is. They reveal character, soul, and depth. They uncover hidden hopes and profound truths, revealing that authentic and deeply human light that shines within. And while technical expertise is undoubtedly important, it’s not the light, camera, or pose that creates a great portrait. It’s you, and it’s the connection you create with the subject that makes all the difference.

In Authentic Portraits, photographer Chris Orwig teaches you that the secret to creating meaningful portraits is simple: curiosity, empathy, kindness, and soul…plus a bit of technique. While Chris spends significant time on the fundamentals of “getting the shot”—working with natural light, nailing focus, dialing in the correct exposure, effectively posing and directing the subject, intentionally composing the frame—he also passionately discusses the need for personal development, creative collaboration, and connection with the subject. Because who you are directly and deeply affects what you create, and it is only through cultivating your own inner light that you will be able to bring it out in your subjects.

Filled with instruction, insight, and inspiration, Authentic Portraits is an honest and personal book about creating better frames. It’s also about becoming your best self. Take the journey, and you’ll learn to find your vision and voice, bring intention to your photography and your life, embrace mystery, and understand the importance of gratitude and empathy. Along the way, you will teach the camera to see in a way that replicates how you feel, and you’ll find you have all you need to create work of lasting significance.

 




TABLE OF CONTENTS

Part 1: The Foundation of Authentic Portraiture

01: Authentic Portraits

02: Beneath the Surface

03: The Paradox of Portraiture

04: Harmony and Discord

05: Thread

06: The Search



Part 2: The Art of Authentic Portraiture

07: Light and Soul

08: Invisible Light

09: Defining and Cultivating Soul

10: Silence

11: Wabi Sabi



Part 3: Mastering Technique, Gear, and Light

12: Finding the Perfect Portrait Lens

13: Exposure Settings

14: Seven Principles of Natural Light

15: Working with Natural Light



Part 4: The Sitter and the Subject

16: Finding Subjects

17: Finding and Approaching People You Want to Photograph

18: Pre-Shoot Prep

19: Preparing Yourself

20: Photograph People, Not Labels



Part 5: Posing, Directing, and Connecting

21: Defining Your Directorial Style

22: Practical Posing Tips

23: Connecting with the Subject

24: Unlikely Inspiration for Connecting

25: The Four-Step Approach



Part 6: Camera Work

26: Composition

27: This to That



Part 7: Stepping Up Your Game

28: The Other Side of the Lens

29: Courage

30: Inner Art

31: Gratitude

32: FAQ

33: The Journey Ahead



Thanks

Image Details

Index