People

One of the most challenging types of photography is photographing people. Not everyone likes to have their photo taken, so creating a genuine portrait that both the photographer and the subject can agree on can be a difficult process. I have found that in order to be a “good” portrait photographer, you first have to be able to communicate and work with people. I feel that by having this sensibility, it allows the photographer to be more compassionate towards the people he or she is about to photograph. I also find that including the subject in the creative process also helps build this trust. Working calm but quickly and not fussing with camera gear and settings, helps put the subject as ease.

When people ask me what kind of photography I like best, I always say, photos of people or portrait photography. I think a lot of photographers shy away from portrait photography because it can be difficult to work with people at times. A lot of times people don’t want to have their picture taken, so the process can be uncomfortable. As I mentioned above, in order to be a good portrait photographer, you need to be a good people person. Is it your job to make people feel relaxed and comfortable in front of the lens? Maybe. Probably. Do you need to know how to arrange and coordinate large groups of people and speak up to let them know what to do? Absolutely. And when I first started at as professional photographer, I had a hard time with that. You really need to take charge and let people know what to do. You need to make quick decisions if problems arise and move on as if nothing happened so people don’t get nervous thinking that things are out of control. knowing that, I always try and have a back-up plan. Extra cameras, lights, batteries, memory cards… don’t be caught empty handed and miss the shot.

In the end, I tell people to relax. I feel it’s when people are relaxed and having fun during a shoot is when I get great portraits.

This creative process has taken me years to perfect and I’m still learning. I’ve learned that keeping your camera and lighting kit small and simple allows you to be nimble and able to moves and adjust to your surroundings. The best portrait, is the photo that both photographer and subject are pleased with.

Date

September 14, 2020

Category

Headshots, People, Portraits, Street

Tags

Action, Adult, Candids, Children, Company, Corporate, Cousin, Coworker, Daughter, Editorial, Family, Father, Friends, Headshots, Husband, Life, Lifestyle, Men, Mother, Natural-Light, People, Photography, Portraits, Professional, Smile, Son, Sports, Studio, Sun, Sunset, Women

Corporate lifestyle business woman portrait Newport Beach Woman smiling in field of yellow flowers Canon 85mm f/1.2 lens photography Blond girls smiling created with Canon 85mm f/1.2 lens teenager photography Coronado Beach San Diego family photography by photographer Chris Keeney Hip-hop breakdancer standing on one hand on the sidewalk dancing in front of colorful graffiti art mural by graffiti artist Pose 2 Graffiti art portrait if Ashley at the Writers Blok in San Diego Culture Shock Hip-Hop Dancers in front of colorful mural Wide angle portrait of blonde woman with sunglasses in front of colorful mural B-Boy hip hop break dancers on the streets of downtown San Diego California San Diego B-Boys Eddie+Saso Graffiti Portraits King-Saso and Eddie-Styles San Diego California street portrait Group photo of five hip-hop dancers in front of colorful graffiti art mural in Chicano Park in San Diego, California Unique natural light portrait photography playing with depth of field color photograph of a brunette woman standing in front of a water feature in wearing a red sport coat and black dress smiling at the camera with her arms crossed Fun San Diego engagement session photoshoot in Little Italy Grade school editorial portrait Bozeman Montana color headshot portrait of young girl with long brown hair smiling at the camera with soft shades of blue, red, white and light green colors in the background. University of San Diego professor standing next to a beautiful colored stain glass window of the Virgin Mary Engagement session with couple at Torrey Pines State Park in La Jolla California Having some fun on the beach in Torrey Pines during an engagement session University of San Diego graduate portrait photography of black student leaning against railing with The Immaculata Church in the background University of San Diego graduate standing next to yellow flowers in her cap and gown A Bride enjoying some champagne at her reception - Lodge at Torrey Pines La Jolla Flat Rock Torrey Pines State Park Beach Close-up portrait of the bride and groom smiling after their wedding in La Jolla California Newport Breach headshot photography for company website A black and white grainy film photo a young baby boy with a bigger than life smile looking into the camera Action photo of a young girl smiling and wearing a white dress and necklace as she runs a round a bronze statue of a child Close-up portrait of the bride smiling after her wedding in Julian California Woman in a field of yellow Spring flowers in San Diego California Headshot photography for Brazilian dancer San Diego College lifestyle photography Natural light headshot portrait photograph of a teenager in Balboa Park San Diego landscape oriented headshot of a blonde woman with blue eyes and jacket smiling at the camera in San Diego California Close up portrait of girl with soft lighting and bokeh balls in the background Black and white high contrast photo of teens having some fin at a birthday party Photo of teenage girls having fun at a sweet 16 birthday party High school girls doing a science experiment Young girl sitting on a wooden bench wearing a camouflage boonie hat with sparkling bokeh balls in the background Head and shoulders headshot portrait of a short haired blonde woman blue eyes wearing a white blouse with green shimmering soft focus plants in the background Three bridesmaids wearing brown dresses and holding orange, red and yellow flowers standing on circular paved tile patio color headshot portrait photograph of a brunette woman in her mid thirties standing in a garden while smiling at the camera The bride having some fun dancing at her reception Head and shoulder headshot portrait of a blonde woman with blue eyes wearing a blue coat and red shirt smiling at the camera a woman with long brown hair wearing a black top and yellow pants leaning over on a railing with brightly colored graffiti art in the background in San Diego, California Color photograph of a San Diego graffiti artist working on some artwork for a hip-hop dance performance at the Writerz Blok Hip hop dancer in front of colorful mural at Culture Shock dance school A unique portrait of a female hip hop dancer with her hand on a wall that is colorfully painted A headshot portrait of a blonde woman with blue eyes with her hand on her head smiling at the camera Young blonde girl wearing a long flowing white dress sitting on the beach in front of the ocean at WindNsea La Jolla A girl wearing a long white sleeveless dress smiling and looking off camera on the beach with the ocean and waves behind her her Teenage girl wearing long flowing white dress on the beach in La Jolla California A beach portrait of a tall long haired blonde senior high school girl dressed in a flowing white sheer dress smiling at the camera with the ocean behind her Young blonde girl with blue eyes with jean jacket and fur collar holding a bundle of grass in her hand a sequence of four color photos of a young girl having fun and smiling and laughing going through a play structure tunnel at a water park in San Diego California Young boy with brown hair and eyes holding his hands on his cheeks with a surprised look on his face A mother cradling her newborn child in her arms while the husband sits next to her and looks lovingly at the baby Close up black and white portrait of a baby girl in a onesie lying on her belly looking at the camera Head and shoulders headshot of a long haired brunette woman with brown eyes and pink sleeveless button down shirt smiling at the camera in Balboa Park San Diego California color headshot portrait of a brunette Asian woman wearing a white shirt and smiling at the camera head and shoulders headshot portrait of a dirty blonde haired women wearing blue shirt with white knit sweater smiling at the camera with colorful flowers blurred out behind her Close up portrait of young girl with brown hair and eyes smiling Young brown haired boy lying on his belly on the grass smiling at the camera A high contrast black and white photograph of six groomsmen all wearing black suits and dark sunglasses at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park, San Diego California young blonde girl wearing a pretty rust colored dress with satin smiling at the camera as she's dancing on the dance floor at a wedding reception in La Jolla, California. Head and shoulders headshot portrait photograph of a young Asian woman with long brown hair wearing a black baseball cap with a California bear on it and a flannel shirt standing in front of a orange, red and blue colored graffiti art mural that says "Funk 4 Life" on it San Diego bikini portrait of hip hop dancer Brunette woman with brown eyes wearing bikini top and jewelry on a black background looking at the camera while touching her lip with her hand A close up of a newly married husband with his smiling wife nestled into his chest while he looks off at the setting sunset A boy and girl teenager embracing each other just before they’re about to kiss backlit with fairy lights San Diego lawyer in a suit with a red tie sitting on the edge of the office table with reflective glass window in the background A far away view of a groom holding his bride in his arms with pink flowers blurred in the foreground Topless woman lying on the sand with tattoos on her arm and her finger on her lip looking into the camera color photograph of San Diego spray paint artist at work at the Writerz Blok in San Diego Californa A colorful red and green band photo of a musician playing guitar A photo of a short haired white man wearing glasses, a blue button down dress shirt and black pants leaning over a glass railing in downtown Newport Beach, California. color photograph of a woman wearing black jeans, t-shirt, tall white socks, sneakers, baseball hat and hoop earrings spray painting art on panels to be used in the Graffiti Life dance performance in San Diego horizontal headshot of man in blue button down long sleeve shirt and black pants with hands clasped sitting on bench in the lobby of a business building in Newport Beach California A San Diego female attorney with long brown hair and black dress sitting on an office table smiling at the camera A young engaged couple sitting in meadow while she has her arms around his shoulder while they both smile at the camera Low depth of field portrait of a short haired blonde woman wearing a white top standing in a garden in Balboa Park, San Diego Experimental high speed shutter and snooted flash portrait of Chris Keeney with green plants and palm trees behind him Shallow 85mm lens portrait of a couple next to each other smiling at The Lodge at Torrey Pines in La Jolla Portrait of a young girl wearing a hat and heart t-shirt in a rose garden holding flower pedals in Liberty Station Headshot of long brown haired woman with feather necklace smiling at the camera while holding a piece of her hair A couple embarrassing each other in a field of flowers at Torrey Pine State Park in La Jolla, San Diego Young girl wearing a colorful dress and silver sequin hat playing in a pink, white and blue toy car action shot of a dad throwing his son in the air at a wedding reception a young couple riding bikes next to each other laughing because the photographer is about to get hit by the bike tire A newly married couple walking down the aisle, which is the grass of park, which guests cheering them on seated on both sides of them Landscape oriented portrait of a long brunette woman with a gray sweater and creme colored blouse wearing a pear and silver necklace smiling at the camera. She's standing in front of water with trees all around her. Editorial portrait of a San Diego lawyer standing in her office with her arms crossed smiling at the camera brunette woman wearing white sleeveless top and green striped scarf standing in from of colorful mural of a man wearing glasses Head and should portrait of long haired brunette woman with brown eyes and hoop earrings looking into the camera color photograph of a bride on her wedding day in La Jolla San Diego California wearing a white sleeveless wedding dress holding white flowers with a picture of her mom on the wrap of the bouquet Young Persian woman dressed in black wearing a large red flower in her long brown hair wearing different colored bangles bracelets on her arm Young girl with face paint and tiara wearing a fairy dress at her second birthday party An editorial portrait of a man wearing a blue suit, white shirt and light pink tie standing in his office Man sitting on the grass smiling next to a bay with his white and black dog Head and shoulders portrait of a young brunette girl holding a wooden block in the classroom. Teenage girl with glasses and black scarf and jeans leaning against a purple painted wall a color photograph of a baby girl sitting on the grass in a home garden with a white and pink dress on smiling at someone off camera Business man wearing blue button down shirt smiling and standing next to a dock Head and shoulders portrait of a long haired brunette woman leaning again a pillar in a home with window light in the background color photograph of a University of San Diego female graduate in cap, gown and stole inside a meeting room with a piano Eight person family standing next to the ocean with the sun setting in the horizon behind them Teenage girl sitting on rocks next to the ocean getting splashed by a wave color photograph of a young man in his black college graduation gown sitting next to some white flowers on the campus of University of San Diego in California A couple holding hands while walking on the sidewalk and looking into each others eyes in Little Italy, San Diego California. Some yellow flowers are blurred out in the foreground. color photograph of a young boy in shorts and a t-shirt holding a toy alligator standing up against a large boulder with yellow lichens on it smiling at the camera. A girl with red hair wearing a black and grey dress standing in front of a wall with graffiti art Color photo of a hip-hop dancer in front of colorful street mural painted by artists Crol vs Werc in downtown San Diego A couple lying in some plants laughing as the act like they’re about to eat some fern leave vintage sepia tone black and white photograph of a young boy eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich A young blonde couple sitting on the grass with their newborn son smiling at the grass a woman and a small child standing in a doorway of a metal barn together smiling at the camera A woman with long blonde hair and wearing a black dress sitting on the sand smiling at Coronado beach in San Diego A family of four sitting and kneeling on the sand smiling at the camera with the sun setting behind them at Coronado beach in San Diego A hip hop dancer dressed in jean, a white t-shirt and a baseball cap standing on one leg in front of a colorful graffiti art mural in the background in San Diego California A group photo of a family of five black people dressed in wedding formal attire making a fun pose in front of a blue and turquoise tiled wall at a wedding in Point Loma California color photograph of a long haired blond woman with blue eyes and a blue dress headshot poirtra smiling at the camera A color photograph of a young blonde girl with blue eyes with her left hand cupping her face and the right hand holding a small Lego figure. Photographed in the school room. color photograph of a long haired blonde woman sitting and smiling on a concrete bench with pink flowers on either side of her trees and a lantern behind her color photograph of a University of San Diego alumni wearing glasses, a blue blazer, white button down dress shirt and tie sitting in a wooden chair with one leg over the other smiling at the camera Head and shoulders company lifestyle portrait of a dark haired woman with large pearl like necklace wearing a black business suit A close-up head and shoulders portrait of a short haired blonde woman seated in a field of orange California poppies and green trees in the background color photograph of a business man sitting in a chair with his hand on the conference room table smiling at the camera. He's wearing a blue pinstripe suit with a purple tie. Head and shoulder portrait of a short hair woman wearing glasses and a tan shirt with city lights behind her in downtown San Diego, California Bride and groom standing together smiling with she holds a colorful bouquet of flowers with the mountains and setting sun behind them color photograph of a long haired brunette woman wearing a red tank top and see through turquoise crochet cover up with hearts on it smiling at the camera while holding a yellow wild daisy in her hand. In the foreground you can see soft blurred out blobs of yellow made by the flower being out of focus. Head and shoulders portrait of a red haired woman with flowers in her hair and on her red leather bracelet Color photograph of a long haired brunette woman with a black and white patterned dress and black sweater High key light photo of Persian woman with large red flower in her long brown hair wearing black shawl and shorts color photo of a woman and man hip-hop dancers in the dance studio, she's waring a gray hoodie that says dance on it and he's in the back with his hand on his chin. There is a graffiti art mural on the wall behind them. a picture of a man wearing a half-face respirator and latex gloves reaching for a colored spray paint can to spray paint graffiti art on a wall in San Diego. Blue sky and clouds can be seen above Bride and groom cutting the wedding cake together in front of large fish tank at the Birch aquarium in La Jolla color photograph of a business man in a blue suit jacket and button down shirt wearing glasses and smiling at the camera. Soft out of focus glass office window in the background Head and shoulders color photograph of a teenage girl with blonde hair smiling at the camera a color photo taken at night of a family of three holding colored Christmas lights and smiling at the camera close-up portrait of a short haired woman smiling and framed with soft green hues A close up of a young mother and father lying on the bed looking with love and admiration at their newborn son who is looking at the camera color photograph of a woman with long hair and blue eyes wearing a black strapless dress on the beach in Coronado, San Diego California black and white photo of a mother holding the hand of her daughter while looking into her eyes knowing she is about to get married color headshot portrait photograph of long haired brunette woman wearing blue business dress smiling at the camera sitting in front of a gray seamless background A photo of a bride on her wedding day at Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park, San Diego California. Angela is wearing a strapless long white wedding dress with a pink bow around her waist and wearing a pearl necklace while standing on a pathway smiling at the camera color photograph of Asian woman with short brown hair and white shirt smiling at the camera. a color photograph of a young girl wearing a pink dress Hello Kitty sandals and a red beret riding a red AMF tricycle on a dirt road in a rural town in Kansas color photograph of a little girl with short blonde hair holding a bouquet of white roses while she is hugging and being held by a grown man possibly her father or uncle. color photograph of a University of San Diego woman with long blonde hair wearing a cap and gown sitting next to a fountain in a interior courtyard on campus Color headshot photograph of a long brunette woman with long hair and blue eyes wearing a blue knit dress standing on a bridge with her hands on the railing in San Diego, California head and shoulders color headshot portrait of a woman with brown hair wearing a white blouse and green shirt smiling at the camera Editorial portrait of a woman with short blonde hair wearing a blue shirt and holding a black and white photograph of a large military drone with a group of people standing next to it. Vertical portrait of a bride in her white wedding dress holding a bouquet of flowers on her wedding day at the Japanese friendship garden in Balboa Park, San Diego California color photograph of a Asian woman with short brown hair wearing a black dress with white swans on it and a red coral strand necklace smiling at the camera standing in front of a bright yellow background. Portrait of older looking gentleman with gray hair and reflective Prada sunglasses vertical portrait of a short haired blonde woman wearing a white Lacey top and blue jeans smiling at the camera color photograph of spray paint artist Chor Boogie at work painting at the Writers Block in San Diego, California. He's wearing a respirator, white long s-shirt, gray paints and black sneakers. young professional golfer, Rickie Fowler signing orange Puma golf towels for young children and fans at the Farmers Insurance open at Torrey Pines in La Jolla color head and shoulders portrait photograph of a long haired brunette woman smiling and looking off camera. Rust colored background with white oval shapes color photograph of a blonde woman with blue eyes and a navy colored shirt with a turquoise necklace smiling at the camera headshot