Narrative Portraiture: On Location in New York City

Photographer and teacher Chris Orwig shows how incorporate aspects of a location, such as architecture, natural light, and even passersby, to create authentic, story-filled portraits.In the Narrative Portraiture series, photographer and teacher Chris Orwig explores the use of elements such as location and natural light to create images that tell stories about their subjects and produce a strong emotional connection. In this installment of the series, Chris shows how to incorporate aspects of a location, such as architecture, natural light, and even passersby, to create authentic, story-filled portraits. The course begins with a photo shoot on the Brooklyn Bridge. Chris emphasizes the importance of directing and collaborating with a subject and of being responsive to changing lighting and location conditions. After the shoot, Chris discusses the preparation that goes into on-location shoots, from choosing camera gear to storyboarding. Next, he reviews the images from the shoot and mentions the post-processing techniques that he employed to make them more effective. The course also includes several assignments aimed at reinforcing the concepts Chris describes. The course concludes with an on-location family portrait shoot and a look at the special considerations that go into group shots. Topics include: Engaging the subject Scouting a location Handling gear on location Taking advantage of natural light Planning and storyboarding before a shoot Working with props and groups