Shooting smiles with the dental progam for a portrait assignment

Lauren Murtaugh

   Portrait photography allows the photographer to be more in control, and this idea can be scary to some. Portraits can capture the meaning or feeling of a person. The photographer needs to work with the subject and understand them as well as the surroundings.

   Lauren Murtaugh is a second-year student in the Dental Hygiene program at Owens Community College. I am covering the Dental program currently in my photojournalism class, and followed Lauren for my portrait assignment. Lauren, as a second-year, gets the opportunity to work with real patients in their clinic at Owens. I shot her portrait as she was setting up her work space before her patient arrived. She was meeting her patient that day for the first time, but had already looked over his form and was prepared for what was needed.

   When I first arrived to shoot this assignment my first thought was to get a head shot of Lauren. To get the right exposure in a head shot you need to be sure you are setting up the subject and white balance correctly. A head shot is a basic head and shoulders shot with their head tilted back and their face forward. In addition to the head shot portraits should include an environment shot which the subject works or lives, which is her cubicle at the clinic. 

Lauren Murtaugh prepares for her patient before clinic (PHO245 photos by Sam Ricker)

   I wanted to capture Lauren working in her clinic space as she was working with her own tools because not only would Lauren feel more comfortable but I could easily see how she works and what tools she uses regularly. Lauren put on her sterile gloves, protective glasses, mask, and cover slip just as if she was preparing with a patient. With her face covered however portrait photography can be tricky. It is important to see a smile and a face in portrait photography. I'm sure a dental student won't mind showing off some teeth. 

  After tackling feature photography and learning to not be afraid of photographing people, portraits did not seem so scary. Knowing an visually appealing way to pose a subject comes with experience but capturing someones life and portraying them is fun and exciting for both the subject and the photographer.

   The Dental Hygiene program has been great in allowing me access and information. They were very welcoming. Hopefully they enjoyed this assignment as much as I did.

Second-year students in Dental Hygiene, like Lauren Murtaugh, participate in a clinic at Owens Community College.