Tips for Portrait Photography

Portrait photography is one of the most popular forms of photo taking.  Even if you check the film of a novice photographer with a “throw away” camera you’ll probably find that many of the shots are of people.  It’s no great mystery.  Everyone wants to remember the important people in their lives, and photos are a great way to do that. 

Portraiture can also be a lucrative business.  Students, brides, families - everyone wants to get their picture taken. Professional portrait photography involves some very advanced techniques, but it can also be simple for amateurs and with a little practice, the end results can be very satisfying.

When you take a photograph of a person, you can make the portrait formal or informal.  In formal portraits, the subject is posed, looking right at the camera.  For instance, a model’s head shot is a formal portrait.  On the other hand, informal portraits involve the subject doing something more natural (or appearing to).  They appear to be candid shots, without the person knowing that the photographer is capturing the moment.

Many informal portraits are staged, but if it appears that the photograph was taken without the subject’s knowledge, it is considered an informal portrait.  While I prefer the more candid shots, formal and informal portraits can both be beautiful.  Try to take a mix of both and decide for yourself which you like the best.

Most studios shoot formal portraits, but informal shots can make great portraits too. 

If you want to do professional portraiture, you’ll need a studio and some good equipment.  You’ll need a variety of lighting to produce just the right skin tones and highlights.  Misplaced shadows can make a person look much older or hide features that you might want in the photograph.  But remember that lighting is only one aspect of portrait photography.  At least as important as getting the technical aspects right, is portraying something personal or an emotion in your subject.  That’s where your creativity as a photographer will come through.

Portrait photography can be a real challenge.  Often you have to work with subjects who may not like their own appearance.  It can be frustrating to delete what you think are good shots, but if you run a business, ultimately it’s the client’s opinion that counts.  If possible, show your clients a few shots in the early stages of the shoot and get their feedback.  This way you can learn a little about what they like or don’t like and adjust the rest of the shoot to compensate for their personal feelings.  Portrait photography can be fun and exciting if you’re willing to put some time into your work to make it stunning.