There are many portrait photographers in Chicago who do excellent personal portraits. If it’s a portrait of a loved one, it will be appreciated by those close to the subject. But that’s it. These images might be flattering to the subject, but they lack style, interest, and artistic value.
In these photographs, style, whether of the subject or the photographer, is almost non-existent. John Manning Photography also produces these types of images and has done so since 1987. And if that’s what our clients want, we’ll do our best to flatter the subject and make a pleasing image.
But sometimes clients want us to do more. They want us to use our skills and expertise as a fashion photographer to bring some special to the creation of a personal portrait. We call them fashion portraits.
What is a fashion portrait? How does it differ from the conventional portraits you find in the windows of photographer studios in every neighborhood or shopping mall? Two things: Style and artistry. In a fashion portrait there is an indefinable mix of various elements that combine under the direction of the photographic artist to produce an image that has an artistic appeal and visual interest that does more than just show the subject in a flattering way.
Celebrities as well as the aesthetically and socially sophisticated have sat for such portraits for hundreds of years, first with painters and now with photographers as well. But such images need not be the exclusive right of the cognoscenti. Any person can have an image that expresses his or her sophistication, sensibility, and personl style.
Every image is unique. Wardrobe, hair style, make-up, styling, lighting, composition, mood, camera angle, and many other elements combine to produce an image that expresses the artistic taste, style, and attitudes of subject and creator.
We meet before the shoot to discuss ideas, and during the shoot we try several different approaches. The combination of planning and spontaneity makes for outstanding results. Whether you want something simple or something really "out there" like you might see in avant-garde fashion magazines, we will be eager to co-create with you the kinds of images you seek. John Manning has been a fashion photographer since 1987 and has done assignments all over the world. He brings this expertise to the creation of your fashion portraits.
We shoot on locations, both inside and outside, so you can avoid the sterile studio look. We offer images in black and white and extensive special effects when needed. State-of-the-art retouching and photo compositing is available.
It’s easier to see the difference between a conventional portrait and a fashion portriait than to talk about them. Here are some samples.
www.johnmanningphotography.com (Personal & Business Portraits)
www.jmanningphoto.com (Fashion & Beauty)
