Portrait Photography Power Duo
With his Tamron 17-70mm F2.8 VC zoom, Asuquo Eton strives for simple authenticity.
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By Jenn Gidman
Images by Asuquo Eton
More than a decade ago, Asuquo Eton discovered his love of videography. “About four years ago, I thought, ‘Why don’t you add photography into the mix?’” he recalls. “I was working in customer service at a bank then, so I carved out the time to take pictures at night and on weekends, perfecting my craft.”
Spurred by what seemed to be a dead end at his day job, Asuquo recently decided to pursue his creative portrait photography and videography full time, and Asuquo Travels Productions was born. “I don’t like to put myself into a box, so I try to cover a bit of everything,” the Nigerian native, now living in DC, says of his company’s creative services. “I’m available to document weddings and other events, shoot commercials and documentaries, and take photos for real estate listings, as just a sample of my offerings.”
Creative Portrait photography has become an especially important component of Asuquo’s portfolio. “I enjoy taking portraits partly because of my background in customer service,” he says. “You need to excel at a certain level of communication with your clients in that role, and the same applies to this kind of photography. I keep tabs on how my subjects are doing throughout the shoot and make sure we’re always on the same page.”
17-70mm (52mm), F2.8, 1/125 sec., ISO 640
Click image to view larger
To bring his portrait photography to life, Asuquo uses the Tamron 17-70mm F/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD zoom lens for his mirrorless camera system. “I love the flexibility this lens offers—to be able to go from 17mm to 70mm without moving is incredible,” he says. “I’ve found it’s even more handy for my wedding work, when I might not be able to get as close to the couple during the ceremony. I like having that little extra reach. My images are always sharp and in focus, and the F2.8 aperture is much appreciated during low-light situations. Plus, the Vibration Compensation (VC) feature is very useful for when I’m handholding.”
17-70mm (17mm), F2.8, 1/160 sec., ISO 200
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ASUQUO’S QUICK TIPS FOR PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY
Base your lighting on each scenario’s nuances.
In outdoor situations, for instance, I never used to use flash. Recently, however, I’ve found that using an on-camera flash can elevate my subject's appearance by adding extra glow to their face. That not only looks better, but it makes the editing process smoother, as there’s less noise. Conversely, in more controlled studio environments, using regular studio flashes provides consistency and control over my lighting conditions.
17-70mm (70mm), F2.8, 1/320 sec., ISO 640
Click image to view larger
Choose backgrounds thoughtfully.
When I’ve got my subject in the frame, I always look left, right, and up and down to see what in the environment might work with my subject’s skin color and texture, as well as with what they’re wearing. Prioritize capturing your subject’s uniqueness and making them stand out from the background.
17-70mm (36mm), F2.8, 1/200 sec., ISO 200
Click image to view larger
For the man you see here wearing that colorful Hawkins shirt and board shorts, we were on the basketball court, and I wanted to take advantage of his fun, casual outfit. I found a place on the court where you could see some greenery and pink flowers through the fence, which complemented that summery vibe we were going for.
17-70mm (70mm), F2.8, 1/1250 sec., ISO 320
Click image to view larger
Evoke natural poses for creative portrait photography.
When we first start shooting, I’ll tell a few jokes to reduce the tension, or I’ll start up an energetic conversation. Some of my best photos come when we’re having an animated discussion or my subject is laughing. I also try to offer gentle guidance, especially if it’s someone’s first time in front of a camera. Sometimes by having my subjects take part in an activity helps, as capturing poses that reflect real moments are far more captivating than rigid or staged poses.
17-70mm (34mm), F2.8, 1/1250 sec., ISO 320
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Be spontaneous.
I was on the set for a music video shoot, taking care of some of the behind-the-scenes photos, when I spotted the videographer taking a break on top of that stone structure. From my spot below, I thought, “This would be a great image for a poster.” I took a few test shots, then kept shooting. Stay alert for those unexpected moments.
17-70mm (17mm), F2.8, 1/125 sec., ISO 640
Click image to view larger
Streamline your photo process.
Maintaining control over the number of photos you take during a shoot not only saves time during the session—it also ensures a more efficient editing process. Strive for quality over quantity. I prefer to take three really good pictures, review them to see if they’re all in focus and if everything is the way I want it, then delete them on the spot if they aren’t working. I also like to involve my clients in the initial selection process. If I took 400 pictures during a session, I’ll ask the client to pick out their favorites, as well as the ones they don’t particularly care for. Just by doing that I’m usually able to winnow the selection down to 200 photos.
17-70mm (52mm), F2.8, 1/125 sec., ISO 640
Click image to view larger
To see more of Asuquo Eton’s portrait photography, check out his website.
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