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Portrait photography

Portrait photography studio as a toy shop  If the studio uses  toys as props the child who is to be in the portrait  might become totally absorbed in playing with them.
The portrait photographer might in turn become totally absorbed in wondering when he will finally be able to distract him  from them.
In photo: little boy holding his favorite toy in portrait photography studio, click on the image to enlarge it.

Studio props properties

When he does finally attract the child's attention he can take his picture, and naturally in some of the pictures  the child will be holding one of the toys from the studio.
But it will just be a photograph of him holding  a studio prop,  it won't be a photograph of him holding one of his own toys, a toy with which he has a relationship.

Back to the future portrait photography

The fact that the child is holding a toy from the studio and not one of his own toys  might not seem important.
But consider this. In a few years' time he will be an adult, and one day he might decide to look at the photographs which were taken in his childhood, hoping to revive happy memories.
He wil look at the portrait and it will either be a photo of himself playing with his favorite toy or  a photo of him playing with a  toy from your studio. This toy will mean nothing to him.
Why should this bother you, as a portrait photographer? Well, it might,  just might, affect your professional reputation.
When this person looks at the picture he might take a look at the back of the photo frame (unless its part of a digital photo gallery.), and might see your name printed there.
He might, just might, wonder why you, as a professional portrait photographer,  didn't take a picture of him with his favorite toy.   
In conclusion, it doesn't seem to be a good idea for portrait photographers to provide  toys in their studios.

Portrait of a personal injury claim

There may also be legal implications if you provide  toys in your studio.  A child might be harmed by a toy in some way, or the parent might stumble over a toy, and this could result in the parent taking out a personal injury claim against you.

Teen portrait photography background issue

Was it really necessary to pose this teen against a graffiti background?
(click on the photo to enlarge it)
The only available backgrounds were plain walls or a wall where someone had sprayed graffiti.
Teenagers are often associated with graffiti so it seemed natural to pose her against the graffiti.
Should portrait photographers pose people against backgrounds with which they are usually associated?
In a way, it's stereotyping, but maybe this is preferable to using a plain brick wall as a background.

Portrait photographer's brush with some  pretty unusual people 

The kids flying the kite were wearing halloween outfits,  the Skinhead was admiring  his badges and the guys on the right were bomb disposal experts. 

Portrait photographer as a trouble-maker

The popular view of portrait photography might be that portrait photographs should be flattering.
This is generally true, most of these portraits show a favourable view of the people in them.
 But portraits can also be intriguing, they can make us ask questions about the people in the photographs.
 Does the teenage girl with the mixed race baby have a problem with this?   Are the children in the Chinese outfits who were dancers in  a show just gossiping or are they criticising the other children who were dancing in the show?

(click on a photo to enlarge it)

 Copyright © 2007 by Paul Gooch Images