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.

Here with examples, are a few short guidelines that I hope will inspire and aid you in this approach:

Create mystery or suspense. Turning the subject away from the viewer can create a sense of mystery or suspense. It is human nature to want to see what hides from view, so you can exploit this fact to great effect.

Girl looking out a window
A Window adds metaphoric meaning and mystery to this photo.

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.).

A young girl walks alone in a field.
Through subtle movements the subject shows how they are interacting with their environment.

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.

Siblings sitting on the lawn at the waterfront watching the wind surfers.
The interaction between the subjects is relatable as it shows a familiar scene.

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.

Boy walking with strong sunlight.
Shooting the subject from down low and into the sun has created an interesting effect. Combined with the body language it helps to create a dramatic mood.

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.