By far the most important element of portrait photography is communication. Real interest in the other person makes more of a difference than technology or craftsmanship. "The person and the emotions are at the forefront," says photographer Daniel Hammelstein.

Photo designer Markus Hauschild agrees. The decisive factors are cooperation, trust and closeness, he says. It's important for the person behind the camera to lead and accompany their model. At the end of the day, you're not trying to take a sterile passport photo. The portrait should depict an interesting person and what makes them unique.