“In portrait photography, it helps to have a sense of imagination, vision, composition, and at times, a sense of humor. Interaction with your subjects is paramount and maintaining that interaction while simultaneously juggling the technical aspects of camera and lighting production is a skill that even the best photographers continue to develop. ”
It is therefore crucial to know and be comfortable with your equipment, both camera and lighting, so that you can focus on being creative while working with your subjects.
While it helps to have an assistant (or two) to help you with the technical aspects of a portrait shoot, even more important is to work with straightforward, easy-to-use gear. Digital cameras have helped to take a lot of the guesswork out of photography, particularly in portrait sessions, and once you are comfortable with a good digital camera, it becomes almost like an extension of yourself. Likewise, a simple, dependable, continuous lighting system can be an extension of your vision.
