We can debate whether eyes are in fact the window to the soul, but it's pretty clear that the eyes are extremely important if not the most important thing in a portrait. Sure, there are great portraits where the eyes aren't even visible, but they are the exception, not the norm. Step one, then, is making sure the eyes are absolutely sharp when you take the photo. Achieving that is a combination of good technique and having the right tools to carry it off. This is one of the reasons why Sony engineers have worked to perfect Eye AF (see more about Eye AF here and here). But having a sharp image is just the first step. Using a photo taken at Kando Trip 2.0 with the Sony α9 and 85mm G Master lens, Sony Artisan Chris Orwig share his technique for taking the eyes up a notch using selective adjustment tools in Lightroom. Subtle adjustments can make the difference between a good portrait and one that commands attention and invites the viewer to pause and take it all in.

July is Portrait month at AlphaUniverse.com. Be part of it and take the #SonyAlphaPortrait challenge on Instagram. See more about the #SonyAlphaPortrait challenge here.