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5 Tips for Taking Portrait Photography

By Autumn Lockwood

Republish: EasyPublish™ Published: 13Sep2010 Word count: 588 Viewed: 192 time(s) Get Free Content For Your Site

Many photographers view portraiture as one of the most challenging styles of photography. The intricate art of capturing people and their personalities requires years of study and practical experience. Of course, that doesn't mean there aren't a few things you can implement into your photo routine that will help push your portraiture to the next level. Here are a few hints on how to create striking portraits with minimal experience and no fancy equipment.

Go for Candid

There is no shortage of photographs that feature a smiling subject looking directly down the lens. Pictures like this have their place, but they don't let the subject express the personality. Taking candid photos is the art of taking your subject's picture when they aren't paying attention. This method is becoming very popular at weddings and special events, and will give your portraiture stunning honesty. What's more interesting - a photograph of a mother staring at a camera, or one of her singing a song to her child

Hide Your Subject?

Another good portrait tip is to partially obscure or cover your subject for a more interesting image. This technique will let you draw attention to certain features like eyes, mouth or hands while leaving a sense of curiosity with what's being hidden. Additionally, this is a great opportunity to play with color. Try giving your subject a brightly colored scarf and see how one prop can open up a world of creativity.

Go Somewhere Else

Instead of taking those boring "sitting in a chair" or "looking out the window" portraits we've all seen before, bring your subject into strange and fun environments and work with them to use what's around you. A great example here would be engagement photographs that feature the couple engaging in a fun activity together, like sitting on a playground see-saw. Think outside of the box at every opportunity.

Use Light to Your Advantage

If you're trying to make your subject look natural, then even lighting is the best type of lighting to use for portraiture. However, this in no way means there is no other way to light a subject. Try playing with darkness and only lighting part of your subject, or casting shadow patterns over them. Simple things like this can go a long way towards creating memorable portraits, and you can usually accomplish them with a couple of desk lamps and a little ingenuity.

Capture Their Personality

Have a conversation with your subject before you shoot and try to get a bearing on "who" they are and what they're interested in. By knowing a little about them, then you can use this to help you get them feeling more comfortable so the portrait will tell a more accurate story about who they are and better reflect their true self. Once you know some things your subject likes, try picking up a couple of related props and letting the subject incorporate them into the shoot.

Your first responsibility in portraiture is to always create photographs that show "who" a person is as well as what they look like. Taking portraits can be tricky initially, but by using these tips you'll be well on your way towards taking better portraits that your subjects will love. And don't forget to always clearly understand the expectations for the photo shoot so both you and your subject will be happy with the final images. As always, keep it fun and be creative with how you take your portraits and you'll always be successful.

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