If you’re truly exploring portrait photography, then at some point you’ll start to consider versatility. Natural light is amazing, be it backlight sun or the soft light of an overcast day.

If you’re put off from studio-based portrait photography as you’re worried about the cost and complexity of lighting or working with models, take heart from the story of David Thatcher.

The lighting setup gives the image an "ominous" look often seen in horror films, said Eliska Sky, a portrait photographer with the London Institute of Photography. She compared the portrayal of Trump ...