Portrait photography is probably one of the first genres of photography that many attempt when first starting out. There are many different ways to approach portrait photography – you can set up in a studio go for environmental portraits or a candid approach, and each one of these sets a different mood and style. A good portrait conveys emotion and allows us to connect with the people or person in front of the camera, and that connection with the person in front of the camera to the viewer comes from a photographer that knows how to communicate with people in front of their lens. It takes practice, but once you get it, it allows you to create profound images that make a lasting impression. This week we feature a group of Sony photographers who bring their subjects to life through compelling portraiture. For a chance to be featured on AlphaUniverse.com, make sure you tag your Sony photography posts with #BeAlpha and follow @sonyalpha for your daily dose of creative inspiration.

Tag your Sony photos with #BeAlpha for the chance to be featured on AlphaUniverse.com, and follow @sonyalpha for your daily dose of creative inspiration.

Paola Franqui – @monaris_

Known for her street photography, New Jersey-based Sony Alpha Imaging Collective member Paola Franqui is constantly pushing boundaries. Franqui explores the human connection and how to translate that into beautiful cinematic moments that we can relate to. For example, the portrait below is a simple moment, but the angle and eye contact of her desert guide forms a connection with the viewer, it is welcoming, playful and easy to sit with, much like all of her work. Follow @monaris_ for beautiful stories of strangers you will probably never meet, but feel like you know.

Dane Isaac – @dane.isaac

Dane Isaac is a commercial, portrait, street photographer and Sony Alpha Imaging Collective member with an Instagram feed full of engaging personalities that come across in the form of multiple different styles. There are striking portraits from commissioned work and images from live music events. All of it further conveys his passion for observing the world around him with curiosity and dedication to telling stories that matter. He shot this photo with the Sony Alpha 7R III and Sony 85mm f/1.4 G Master.

Sandy Windham – @sandy.windham

Sandy Windham is a portrait, fashion and travel photographer who knows how to make those in front of her camera comfortable and aims to make her process as collaborative as possible. By doing this, Windham produces incredible portraits that draw you in, create intrigue and translate the connections she has to the audience, making each image of hers relatable and familiar. She created the image below with the Sony Alpha 7R III and the Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master.

Sean Dalton – @seandalt

Sean Dalton is a lifestyle, travel photographer and teacher that is based in Indonesia. His feed is full of his adventures and exploration of new and familiar places, as well as the people he meets along the way. His observations of people and place reflect his love for traveling and the relationships he forms while doing so. For a mix of landscape, portraits and tips for making your own beautiful content follow @seandalt. The photo below was made with the Sony Alpha 7 III and the Sony 85mm f/1.4 G Master.

Marc See – @marcseephoto

Based in Atlanta, GA, Marc See found his way into portrait photography while working as a graphic render at an architecture firm. He soon realized that photography was his true passion and his interest in people and how unique each of us are comes across in his work. You are often up close and personal to the person he is photographing, making it feel like you are in conversation with them. It forces you to take your time while scrolling through his feed, as you will be easily charmed by each photo. 

Ajay Randhawa – @avrandhawa

Ajay Randhawa is a fashion, product, and portrait photographer based in 
Vancouver, British Columbia. Randhawa creates bold and captivating images that are powerful and rich in color and mood. His feed is full of interesting personalities and products that he consistently portrays with elegance and character. The photo below was made with the Alpha 7R III and the Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master.

Steve Salgado – @uncertaincomfort

Steve Salgado is a creative director, photographer and illustrator based in Chicago. His Instagram feed is full of moody portraits and moments from the streets of Chicago and New York, often through a window of a car or with other framing around his subject that makes his images something more than just another photograph of a person on the street. They are intimate observations of people he passes on the street yet do not feel intrusive. Follow @uncertaincomfort for more.

Oliver Covrett – @olivercovrett

Oliver Covrett is a multi-disciplinary visual creative based out of New York. He specializes in portrait and documentary photography which his Instagram reflects. It's full of color and life from mostly around New York with a focus on the people. His portraits are often diverse and full of movement and texture. For fresh, fun and inspiring portraits, follow @olivercovrett. This photo was made with the Sony Alpha 7R III and the Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master lens.

Joseph Mendoza – @jomatt_m

Joseph Mendoza is a portrait and street photographer based in Washington D.C. He has a knack for capturing quite candid moments on the streets or from a portrait session. Even if the scene is busy, he has the ability to center in on a moment and a person to get an image that represents an authentic moment in time. The image below was made with the Sony Alpha 7 III.

Mika Sahin – @mika.sahin

Mika Sahin is a portrait photographer based in Duisburg, Germany, with an engaging editorial style full of soft tones and a minimal mood that adds to the beauty of his work. You are compelled to keep scrolling through his feed to see what's next, and when you do, each image inspires. The image below was made with the Sony Alpha 7 III.