Authentic Portraits: Searching for Soul, Significance, and Depth

It is not the posing or the light that makes a portrait successful. Nor is it how glamorous or beautiful the subject looks. The best portraits show us more--they reveal hidden secrets and deeper truths. Ever so slightly, they give us hints of character, essence, soul, story, and life. And the best portraits have a lasting significance. They resonate in an interesting way. They not only show us appearance, but they reveal to us that authentic and deeply human light that shines within. These photographs are an outward expression of inward dreams, hopes, and ideals.

In Authentic Portraits, photographer Chris Orwig teaches us that the secret to authentic portraits is simple: curiosity, empathy, kindness, and soul--plus a dash of technique. By caring deeply about the subject, we increase the odds of someone else caring as well. And the only way to truly care is to be yourself. Authenticity is more powerful than anything else.

Authentic Portraits is about taking, making, and creating better frames. But it's also about finding and becoming your best self. In the pursuit to capture more authentic and meaningful frames, you'll find that the two paths intersect in unexpected ways.

CHRIS ORWIG is an author, teacher, photographer, and creator of more than 80 courses at lynda.com. His previous books include Visual Poetry, People Pictures, and The Creative Fight. He speaks on creativity and photography frequently and has been invited to speak at places such as the Google headquarters and on the TEDx stage. Whether shooting photographs, speaking, or writing books, he inspires others to become more creative and to lead better lives. Chris is based in Santa Barbara, California.