Portrait photography is one of the most popular types of portrait photography. It’s also known as portrait painting or portrait art. This post will provide you with some tips and techniques for better portrait photos!
Shoot portrait photos against a solid background – this will help the subject stand out. If you’re shooting in portrait mode, it can be great to shoot with tall buildings or scenic landscapes behind them. This is especially true if your subject is wearing dark colors and you want their clothing to “pop.”
Keep backgrounds simple! Simple backgrounds create less visual noise for viewers which makes it easier on the eyes when viewing your portrait photography. It’s also important that whatever backdrop you use doesn’t distract from who the portrait photo is about (the person). For example, an interesting brick wall might look good as a background for some shots but may not be appropriate for others because of its distracting patterns and shapes. So, think twice before selecting a background.
Use a portrait lens if you have one – portrait lenses are typically more expensive than other types of lenses, but they’re worth the investment because portrait photography is so popular!
Make sure your subject’s eyes are open and not squinting or looking in different directions (unless that’s the desired effect). It can be difficult to capture great portrait photos without good eye contact with the subject.
Smile for portraits! Smiling will make your subjects look happy which is what most people want from their portrait photography. A friendly smile also helps create an emotional connection between photographer and subject which makes for compelling portrait photography.
Be creative with portrait photography! Experimenting is the key to finding your own style and it’ll help you stand out from other photographers.
Be patient – portrait photography can take a little time so be sure to find a location that will work well for portraits, set up lights if necessary, tweak camera settings before shooting, and don’t forget about composition as well (e.g., balance of color or brightness in portrait photos).
When photographing children who are being uncooperative because they’re shy or have their hands full of toys at the playground, bring something fun like bubbles which often capture great smiles on subjects’ faces! This helps create natural shots where people look happy instead of uncomfortable while having their portrait taken.
Avoid portrait photography tricks – don’t use props that’re too big or distracting, and do not photoshop your portrait photos! The goal is to capture a beautiful candid portrait of a person in their natural environment.
Experiment with different styles: try shooting portrait photos from above (bird’s eye view), shoot portraits out of focus for an artistic effect, take pictures from below the subject so they look larger than life, experiment with black and white images as well as color ones…have fun experimenting but remember to keep it real!”
Use portrait photography lighting – portrait photography requires a nice soft light that flatters the face (and skin) of the subject.
Try portrait photography with flash as well as natural light. This creates more interesting portrait shots!
It’s generally better to reduce portrait photos in size than it is to enlarge them so keep this in mind when you’re editing your portrait pictures.
Shoot portrait photos on bright sunny days! The lighting will be much better than cloudy or overcast days and will create a higher quality image for viewers. Make sure there are no shadows from obstacles like trees, buildings, or cliffs otherwise they’ll distract viewers from who portrait photo is about (the person).
Look for portrait photographic opportunities – portrait photography can be done anywhere! Shoot portrait photos in the mall, at the beach, or on the street. The possibilities are endless and will help you learn how to take portrait photos anywhere so you’re always prepared!
Bring some extra clothes for portrait subjects in case they change their outfit before or after portrait photography because it’s much easier to move things along when everyone is comfortable with what they’re wearing.
When shooting outdoor portrait shots, make sure there is nothing else distracting in the background like bushes, trees, buildings…it needs to be clean and simple. You can even ask your subject to look towards a clear area of sky if there are distractions.
Play portrait photography games to help portrait subjects relax and have fun during portrait photography sessions.
Use portrait photography props when shooting portraits at home or a studio in case you need some extra help like flowers, handkerchiefs, books…this helps portrait subjects get into character, especially when the portrait photo is of someone who was famous in the past (e.g., Marilyn Monroe).
Have your portrait photos on rotation so family and friends will see it more than just once!