Portrait Photography Tips

Here are some portrait shots I took about a year ago. It's fun to look back at old pictures and critique your own pictures, and see how far you have come.




Three Tips I have learned through taking portraits.

1. Details - I am not naturally a person who looks for the details, a stray hair in someones face, or dirt on a subject's shirt. But when photographing a subject it is key to make sure you, as the photographer, catch all of the little details. Or else what could have been a great shot will be ruined by missing a piece of grass that is poking out of the subjects sleeve.

2. Posture - One of the most frustrating things for me when taking portraits is dealing with a subject's posture. This is a difficult problem to overcome. As the photographer you want the subject to feel comfortable, but many times people naturally have bad posture. One way I have found to overcome this issue is playing with different poses. Have the subject prop up on her elbows while lying on her stomach, or have him lean his arm against a tree. Remember a pose does not work for that particular subject don't force it, each subject is different. A pose that may have worked for one subject may not work for another.

3. Come prepared - Treat every photo shoot as if you are getting paid for it. This will stretch your photography skills, build up your portfolio, and might even book you a job. Make sure you have an idea of what you want to get out of the photo shoot. Come with poses in mind, you could even write them down so you have an organized list in front of you. Make sure you have full batteries and empty memory cards. Finally make your subject is comfortable, the more relaxed and comfortable your subject the more likely you will get that "money" shot.