PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY WEEK 10 | MY YOUNG MODEL

Hello everyone, my name is Abasifreke, and I own DSF ANIMATIONS photo editing studios. Today I decided to capture my model on a portrait shoot. The girl in the picture is actually my secondary school friend, someone that has always wanted to be a model right from our school days when we used to snap random pictures and just laugh about the future. Life really moves in circles because today I’m the one behind the camera, and she’s standing in front of it, trying to live that dream.

I positioned her facing the direction of the light but not directly under it. I turned her slightly sideways so one part of her face could catch the light while the other side carried a gentle shadow. That shadow added depth and mood to the portrait. Portrait photography is not just about snapping; it’s about controlling light and understanding how it touches the face. It was just a calm afternoon shoot. The weather was soft, not too sunny, not too cloudy, just that natural light photographers like me always pray for. The sky had this quiet brightness that made her skin glow without stress. I always prefer natural light because it gives this real feeling.

At first she was shy, you know, when someone is not fully used to a professional camera. I kept talking to her, making small jokes so she could relax. Once she became comfortable, her real personality started showing. That confidence you see in the picture didn’t come immediately; it grew as the shoot went on.
What I loved most about this shoot was the connection. It wasn’t just about camera settings or editing skills. It was about capturing a dream in progress. Seeing her stand there confidently knowing she has always wanted to be a model gave me real joy.

For the angle, I didn’t stay at eye level all through. I bent down a little and shot from a slightly lower angle to give her a stronger presence. Then I moved closer for tight shots, focusing on her eyes and facial expression. I made sure the background was simple so it won’t distract from her face. In portrait, less background drama is sometimes better. This shoot reminded me again why I started photography. To tell stories. To freeze moments. To show growth. Sometimes it’s not about expensive gear; it’s about understanding light, angle, and emotion.