Family Documentary Photography Tip: Photograph Your Subjects From Behind

As a portrait photographer, it should come as no surprise that I spend a lot of time preoccupied with faces. The face and the eyes after all provide a connection between subject and viewer.

But while the face is important in portraiture, it’s good to break the rules once and a while.

One way is to photograph subjects from behind. This won’t work for traditional portraits but it’s great for candid family documentary photography.

This approach is not without its difficulties. When you restrict yourself to a subject’s backside you limit the ways in which to draw a viewer in. Without a face to look upon, you must rely on other devices to make that all-important connection.

Use body language to convey meaning. A person’s posture and positioning can speak volumes. Waiting for the right gesture or movement can make a huge difference in the images that you capture. Look for interesting poses that convey meaning or create dynamism. Subtle movements work just as well in this case (a slight turn of the head, a gently raised foot or hand etc.).

Tell a story. Telling a story in your images is always a good idea but even more so when the subject isn’t facing the viewer. Look for elements in a scene that give the image context and lend interest.

Use lighting to create a mood. Lighting is an all-important element in any photograph. Lighting can help to create a mood and add interest and drama. When shooting, test how the light can improve your image. Sometimes a change of position or angle can make a big difference in your image.

For the sake of the blog, these guidelines are separate but in practice, you may apply them all to a single image. Challenge yourself the next time you are out documenting your family and try photographing your subjects from behind.

You may find the results can be very rewarding.