How to shoot portraits while travelling
It is really important to take your time with the person before asking if you can take their picture. It’s about building a relationship, not just pressing the trigger and running away.
I thoroughly enjoy capturing portrait photos during my travels, and this practice has significantly shaped my approach to exploring new destinations. Engaging with local communities and immersing myself in their culture is the highlight of my travel experience. It allows me to gain insights into their traditions, religion, and daily life, fostering a deeper connection with the places I visit.
Whether spending just a few minutes or several days with someone, each interaction is unique. Despite the varying durations, the end result – the portrait – consistently tells a compelling story, encapsulating the memorable moments shared with the subject.
My camera and lenses are discreetly tucked away in my bag when I approach people, avoiding any initial intimidation. Showing genuine interest in their activities serves as the best icebreaker, even when faced with language barriers. Natural interactions, marked by eye contact and a warm smile, help create a comfortable atmosphere before bringing out the camera.
Taking time with the person is crucial when shooting portraits while travelling. Building a relationship, rather than hastily pressing the shutter button, ensures that each photo narrates the story of the location and the unique moments spent together. Assessing the subject’s receptiveness is key, as capturing genuine expressions requires mutual comfort.
In situations where direct interaction is limited, seeking permission through gestures while displaying the camera can be effective. The key to a captivating portrait lies in integrating the background, allowing viewers to experience the atmosphere and location where it was taken.
I believe the key to a beautiful portrait is bringing the viewer into a new environment, a new place. The portrait should tell you something about the atmosphere and place in which it was taken. This can be achieved by including the background as part of the story. By doing so, the portrait becomes a kind of visual narrative, illustrating to the viewer whether it is a sunny or rainy day, if you are at the beach or in the countryside, or if you are in Asia or South America.
Sometimes, I do take portraits without interacting with the person when I want to capture a candid moment or a general scene. This is more of a documentary/reportage style of photography. However, I prefer to interact with the people I photograph.
You can also take a group portrait if that seems more appropriate. People often feel more comfortable posing in front of a camera as part of a group. It can be less awkward than focusing on just one person in the group. Kids are always happy to have their pictures taken, and if they are in a group, be prepared to be entertained…they can get a bit out of control when they know a camera is watching.
When taking pictures, especially portraits, I avoid using the flash as much as possible. I prefer natural light; it is the best light. Move around your subject to get the right light before asking to take a picture. It’s important that you are ready to take the picture when you ask because you don’t want to make the person feel uncomfortable by pointing the camera at them and asking them to wait while you set the configuration of your camera. In addition to making the person uncomfortable, there is a chance the moment will be lost as well if you are not ready.
Set a nice aperture between 1.8 to 5.6, as you want your portrait to stand out of the picture with a nice depth of field. In most situations, I frame the portrait on one side so that more of the background is visible. Do not neglect the background!
Most of the portraits I have taken come with a story that I remember quite well. I think it’s important for the photographer to have this memory. My portrait shots may not be the best in the world, but the moments I spent with the people to get them are definitely special and unique.
