Pay Tribute to a Woman You Admire
With an Inspirational Portrait
How to take a portrait, add illustrations and truly capture her greatness.
A stunning portrait can make your hero look as inspiring to the world as she does to you every day. That’s why, for International Women’s Day, we want to make it easy for you to create a portrait using basic portrait photography tips, illustration tricks and the Galaxy S21 Ultra. By the end of this article, you’ll be able to transform a photo of your favorite lady into an extraordinary portrait—one to frame, give as a gift or share on social media.
Choose your hero
To start, we asked New York-based fashion photographer Kristen Walther (@kwaltherphoto) to shoot portraits of three women who inspire her. She immediately embraced the assignment, saying how exciting it was to “not only photograph someone you admire, but to get the chance to let them know that.” Think about the rock star women in your own life—whether they’re close friends, co-workers or even just casual acquaintances you really appreciate. Who do you think deserves a shout-out?
Shital, Entrepreneur
“I find Shital so inspiring because of her strength and drive,” Walther says. “She’s not only broken through personal cultural boundaries but also broke into a traditional ‘man’s world’ to become a successful businesswoman.” Walther’s favorite part of this portrait is how Shital’s inner light and strength radiate outward. The colour of her top and Portrait Mode (with a blur of 4) amplify that effect.
Jennifer, Nurse
“Jennifer is a psych nurse who helps kids who’ve gone through trauma or who have intellectual disabilities,” Walther says. “It’s not an easy job, and every day she tackles it with dedication, compassion and selflessness.” Walther likes how this portrait captures Jennifer’s kindness and strength. “I also love her style, which shows off her playful, bold side.”
Kalae, Model
“Kalae’s confidence, her ability to be her true self and to put it out there for all the world to see, is an inspiration.” Walther says. “As a plus-size model, she’s breaking down archaic fashion boundaries, which is major and so empowering.” Walther had a blast with Kalae and believes it shows in the portraits, saying, “It’s hard not to smile and laugh along with her.”
Capture her essence
From using a favourite article of clothing to capturing a trademark facial expression, there are lots of ways to shoot a portrait that’s uniquely “her.” The turquoise wall in Kalae’s portrait is her favourite colour and reminds her of the Caribbean. The background painted brick wall in Jennifer’s portrait alludes to her long history as a New Yorker. Think about the personal details like this that you can include in your portrait.
In general, look for moments that feel uplifting and endearing; ones that draw the viewer into the image. Dynamic poses or motion can add a lot of energy to your shot. And negative space around your model can be super-impactful (and helpful if you want to add illustrations later).
The Galaxy S21’s Portrait Mode can artfully blur the background of an image, so the focus stays on the subject. Want more control? Pro mode lets you adjust every aspect of the image, including shutter speed, exposure and more. If you’re looking for an ultra-natural authentic moment, try 8K Video Snap. It shoots high-def video and lets you pick the perfect image from the footage.
Add colourful graphics for visual interest
If you completely love the photo portrait you’ve already created, there’s no need to go any further. Good work! But if you’re interested in adding some unique artistic flourishes, there are plenty of creative tools available on the Galaxy S21.
Share your portrait with the world
Now that is a work of art. Put it out there for others to appreciate by ordering prints on your photo app—maybe in a larger size and with a frame. You can also keep things digital and share your portrait on social media (along with a flattering social media testimonial, of course). Tag your subject and let all of your followers know what a superstar this woman is.
Take your portraits to the next level
Everything you need to capture your own original, jaw-dropping portraits.
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Galaxy S22 | S22+
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* Images shown here are for representational purpose only, actual may vary. All features, specifications and prices are subject to change without prior notice. Model availability may vary from location to location.