Hands down, Retro Atelier (link in the sidebar) is still the best portrait studio that I know of. A number of studios do first-rate work with models, but these guys seem to be out to prove that ordinary people can be made to look good in photography, and they make a good case for it.
Disclaimer: er...actually I don't recall that they ever explicitly declared that intention...but my near flawless intuition and ability to read between lines has confirmed that this is the case.
I'm guessing that a number of the photos here are of professional models, but the selection is mine, and I couldn't help myself.
Try to get this effect (above) from your mall photographer.
It must make a portrait photographer's day when a subject with an angular face (above) walks in the door. There's so much that you can do with people like that.
Delightfully and artistically seedy (above).
Wow! I imagine a lot of Photoshopping was done on this (above), but it was time well spent.
This man (above) looks like an old-time gunslinger but I like the suggestion that he's also a laborer.
Amazing! It's hard to believe that this photo (above) is a recent one.
Okay, I'm beginning to realize that all the photos I chose are probably of professional models.
Man! If you were a girl wouldn't you like to be shot by a photographer who could do this (above)?
Try to get this effect (above) from your mall photographer.
It must make a portrait photographer's day when a subject with an angular face (above) walks in the door. There's so much that you can do with people like that.
Delightfully and artistically seedy (above).
Wow! I imagine a lot of Photoshopping was done on this (above), but it was time well spent.
This man (above) looks like an old-time gunslinger but I like the suggestion that he's also a laborer.
Amazing! It's hard to believe that this photo (above) is a recent one.
Okay, I'm beginning to realize that all the photos I chose are probably of professional models.
Man! If you were a girl wouldn't you like to be shot by a photographer who could do this (above)?
I love photos that portray people as thinkers. What is she mulling over here? Revenge? Maybe she just realized that her husband has been cheating on her, or that he's caught her cheating. Maybe something puzzling has just been resolved, or maybe she's recalling the events of the day and coming to some realization. Maybe she's composing a letter of great importance.
Alright, alright....I'll concede that a lot of people probably aren't suited for this kind of picture, but I'll bet it would work with more types than you'd expect. I wish I had the time to experiment.
