The 3 requirements to create a "magical" Portrait

"Magical Portraits"

I must have taken more than 30K portrait "clicks" during the past 1.5 years. How many of those pictures do you think, turned out to be so beautiful that my customers exclaimed "Wow". You guessed it right, not many initially. I was wondering why. I was also wondering what are the elements that are needed to make a portrait beautiful, appealing and a joy to look at. After a year of observation, study and research i guess I have got it. I give them to you for your benefit. Think about it and practice if possible.

The emotional and physical state of mind

The subjects must be in a neutral state of mind, neither tensed, worried, hurried nor agitated, when photographed. In fact they should be radiating their authority, love, kindness, happiness etc.

The photographers skill

The photographers skill to blend his art and craft, plays an equally important part in the creation of "magical portraits". Such skills are either inborn, or acquired, and practiced to perfection.


"Devine intervention"

Finally no matter how much skill and subject-state-of-mind, is mixed one may not be able to create "magical portraits" without "divine intervention". I have put this condition in quotes, because not everyone may subscribe to this believe of mine.

When these three elements are mixed in appropriate proportions, we can create a portrait that will have some magic appeal. In other words if 10 people view a display of such a portrait, 9 will spontaneously express their appreciation using pleasant words/phrases like " beautiful", "Wonderful", "this is the picture I like most" etc., Such appreciation will usually transcend one's filter, of race, religion, subject interest. The best world renowned portrait under such a category could be the "Monalisa" (artist instead of a photographer).

As I hear such appreciative words more and more often at Lux Me Images, i am beginning to realize that somehow I am getting a good mix of these three elements more consistently.

The "Gift" of a beautiful family-portrait

Now that i am meeting more and more families who come to get their family portraits taken, i am discovering many basic conditions that has to happen before a family gets this "gift" of a family portrait.

The reason why i say it is a gift, is because, even if many families wish, or try to get one, they may not succeed even if they have the financial resources and the time. The following important conditions must be fulfilled:-

1. The family's physical and emotional relationship must be healthy, i.e. the parents siblings and in-laws enjoy each others company, are still in talking-terms, or at best tolerable with each other. Just do a reality check within your family, as to how your family fares in this respect.

2. An occasion to celebrate must come about for the family to gather or meet. The frequency and commitment depends on the family culture and past practices. Such occasions that i have seen so far are, anniversaries, graduations, engagements, weddings, birthdays, but yet to experience, striking a lottery, birth of a child, getting a divorce (!!) etc.

3. An organizer must appear or appointed. With a kind and loving person acceptable to all family members, taking charge, it will be easy to gather, coax and talk all members to buy into the idea of going to a studio to get a portrait done, else it will be an attempt in futile.

4. No bad or unfortunate incident has taken place in the near past. Incidents like accidents, death, theft/burglary, divorce, loss of employment, failures, may take a long time to heal and uplift the mood of the family enough to commit to a family portrait. I have known widows choose not to participate in a portrait of her children, because she cannot see herself in the picture without her late husband.

5. Superstition is not an obstacle. I get small families calling me an asking "is it good to take a family portrait of three family members", or taking a picture of a baby before the 1st birthday, wearing blacks or using a black background. Such believes could possibly prevent or cause a delay in getting the portrait.

6. The family has not been exposed to the benefits of a beautiful family portrait, and its heirloom value. I regularly hear my customers appreciate the beauty of families captured in the portraits displayed in our gallery, and wish that theirs will turn out just as beautiful. They often say that their family portrait should replace the other art or decorative pieces currently displayed at their home.

Well I tell every family that gather at Lux Me images, how lucky they are and that they should celebrate this occasion considering that they are one among the 5% of families who are gifted to get a family portrait done. These families have fulfilled or overcome the conditions required to get that beautiful picture.