The more I prepare myself for a portrait session, the better, especially when shooting outside in an unfamiliar place. But, over time, I discovered that in some situations, not having a clear definition of what you wish to do can be a good thing. At least in my case, it draws me more to my subject or makes me attentive to things like body language or their interaction with the environment.

For my second portrait session with Michelle, I packed three lenses. Aside from my 50mm F1.4 and 200mm F2.8, I also brought my latest acquisition, a 17-40mm F4 which I shot at its widest focal length. I enjoy how using a wide angle lens for portraits can create a sense of casual intimacy. When I first shot with Michelle early this year, the images weren’t as sharp as I wanted them; so this time, to ensure better sharpness, I made sure to keep my shutter speed above 200/sec.

In a place like Greenwich Village in NYC, you will find locations that lead to good spots for taking portraits. Before meeting with Michelle, I also made sure to spend a few minutes searching for areas that would serve me with textures, geometry, or saturation.

I took these set of portraits above posted under different lighting conditions with my 50mm F 1.4 lens. Initially, I considered bringing my macro lens but knowing I wanted to use my 200mm F 2.8 forced me to keep things lightweight. I like the results I got from shooting close up portraits with my 50mm F1.4 at it’s widest aperture, the way it softens up the edges makes a very enticing image.

My purpose with bringing my 200mm, F 2.8 was to compress the background elements as much as possible, which proved to be the right lens choice when I photographed Michelle through a set of handrails using manual focus.

As I reflect on how I do this kind of photo projects, I realize how much I want to convey the idea of a story, so as I become more comfortable learning how to use a camera, I will concentrate on taking photographs with a greater sense of purpose.

Follow Michelle on Instagram: @mikichia92