Natural Portrait Photography

The term may be Candid Portraiture...

I've done this for a few clients for that particular purpose. It started off with current business clients that asked me to carry out this particular job, word spread and I've done a few. I end up producing about 12 to 20 shots after a period of time with the client talking about what they want to portray, how they want to look etc... They've all been successful shoots with good portraits resulting in dates, relationships and in some cases weddings. It was a good little spinner for me and very enjoyable.

It's important that the portrait conveys the model as he or she is in their best light and not a misrepresentation.

Basically, you'll need to talk to the photographer, get to know him or her, explain exactly what you don't and what you like in a portrait. Some I've worked with like a work shot, sports or hobby shot (pausing while packing the car for instance). The photographer should spent at least an hour with you (up to three), while you both get comfortable with you.

Local photographers will be cheaper. Locations should be decided by both of you, but if the photographer has a place in mind go for it.

Cost should be from €180 to €300 depending on the distance, and photographers experience.

Fair play you to. Don't forget, this isn't an unusual or weird activity!! It's perfectly normal to be photographed looking well and happy, payed for or not! I'm Dublin based, I don't think you are, so I'm not touting for business.

If you're apprehensive about approaching a photographer say it's for LinkedIn (that's what most of my clients did) and then after a few shots they asked could I do something a bit less formal and more candid for dating as an aside, and I did with minimum further charges. This should be the case.

Avoid local hobbyists if you can unless you've a relationship with them. There's a chance they'll put your photos on their insta with a watermark or those dreadful signatures that their so fond of. Make sure it's clear you don't want this & it's a professional service you're after and you don't want it on their feeds or popping up social media three years later.

That's really interesting, thanks!

I genuinely can't add more to what I've said already. You certainly don't want them polished or looking like the tool guy in the Aldi brochure or the surf girl in the wetsuit catalogue. You're just going to have to verbalise this to the photographer you go with.

Something like "Lifestyle" or "Branding" photography would be along the lines you're thinking of. Possibly more common in the US, but not unknown here.