Capturing successful portraits takes some practice. You have to get the lighting right, and work with the model to achieve the pose or vision you have. Portraiture is a true art form and we love looking at great portraits on Instagram for inspiration. Check out these great photographers and see how they use camera and lens to create inspiring portraits. Tag your Sony portrait images on Instagram with #SonyAlpha for the chance to be featured on AlphaUniverse.com, and give @sonyalpha a follow for your daily dose of creative inspiration.

Get ready for your next portrait shoot and check out these amazing photographers whose portraits tell a story in a single frame on Instagram.

Miguel Quiles - @miguelquilesjr

Miguel Quiles is a Sony Artisan of Imagery and content creator who is well known for storytelling through portraiture. Quiles is able to create scenes using makeup, lighting, clothing, and expression that allows the viewer to experience a story in their minds by looking at the image. We love this portrait below, taken with the Sony Alpha 7R IV and the Sony 50mm f/1.2 G Master lens. Quiles shares his expertise on the Sony Alpha YouTube channel, check it out HERE.

Paola Franqui – @monaris_

Paola Franqui is an Alpha Collective member and photographer. She has a special skill in capturing moments that feel like they are part of a movie scene. Using a distinctive editing style that is uniquely hers. Her authenticity behind the camera brings out the humanity in her subject matter. We love this quiet moment below, where we can really connect with the subject, even without seeing his eyes.

Steven John Irby – @stevesweatpants

Alpha Collective member Steven John Irby focuses his photography on documentary-style street photography. Known for his black and white edits, his work gives off a raw, gritty vibe not often found on Instagram. The image below has great framing, the angle of the view along with the curl of smoke adds visual intrigue, keeping the viewer's eye moving throughout the frame. The black and white allows us to focus only on the important details of the scene, letting the rest fall away.

Tavo FX - @tavo.fx

Tavo FX is a visual artist who is known for his strong portraiture, product, and landscape photography. As we are entering fall, we love the series of images below - they give off a dark, almost spooky vibe. These images were shot on the Sony Alpha 7 III with the Sony 35mm f/1.4 G Master. All of his posts include a behind the scenes image where he breaks down his camera settings and lighting setup and settings. So if you find a look you’d like to use for inspiration, he makes it easy to learn and replicate! 

Jansen Bridge - @jansen.b_

Jansen Bridge is a Chicago-based social impact creative and portrait photographer. He uses his impactful images to “push forward” causes he believes in. He describes his work on his website by stating,  “I started shooting fine art portraits after realizing nobody was photographing people who look like me. I choose every subject I shoot based on the value they add to their community.” Not only are his images adding community value, they also are technically stunning. The image below was shot on the Sony Alpha 7 III with the Sony 85mm f/1.4 G Master – check out more of Bridge’s work on his Instagram.

JC Carey - @JCPhotoMedia

JC Carey is a photographer based in the New York City area. He is a jack of all trades who photographs headshots, weddings, concerts, events, and more. We love his dynamic lighting for his portraiture. The image below is impeccably lit with two Westcott lights. In the behind the scenes image, you can see how using these lights allowed the background to fall to black, even without a backdrop. These images were shot on the Sony Alpha 1.

Natascia Mercurio - @natybtw

Natascia Mercurioalso known as Naty, is an art director, photographer and filmmaker born in Italy. She has created a unique orange and blue color pallet in her imagery that makes them easily identifiable. She uses color, expression, and composition to express a sense of emotion to her audience. We love the storytelling element in the image below. Check out Naty’s go-to gear HERE.

Taylor Ballantyne – @taylorbphoto

Taylor Ballantyne is a photographer and director based in Nashville, Tennessee. Ballantyne has a knack for capturing authentic portraits. She builds a connection with the subject and that feeling comes through in her images. We love the photograph below, the casual pose creates a sense of intimacy and the lighting adds a beautiful depth to the image.