6 Composition Tips for Portraits
- Composition : From Snapshots to Great Shots
- Bryan Peterson's Understanding Composition Field Guide: How to See and Photograph Images with Impact
- Photography Composition : Simple Understanding of Composition to Become an Amazing Photographer
Portrait photography is something everyone seems to want to learn about. People, as subjects can be the center of very powerful images, and history has proven that over and over again. These are the kind of pictures that both amateurs and pros are after.
However, working with people in front of a camera can be very hard, particularly if they lack previous experience. Here are six tips that are guaranteed to land you some impressive portraits.
1. Place the eyes in the top third
Imagine the frame divided into thirds. By placing the eyes in top third, you will achieve a natural look, one that will draw the viewer into the image and even cause tension.
(Success Tip:Take better photos with this simple deck of cards )
2. Use frames
One of the best ways to concentrate attention onto your subject is to use frames. Use elements like doors, windows and arches to enhance composition and make things a lot more interesting.
3. Fill the frame with your subject
Unless you have an environmental portrait in mind, filling the entire frame with your subject is one of the best things for composition. You don't really want to have any dead spaces in there. However one thing you should look out for when filling the frame is not to leave any important bits out.
4. Careful with that background
Always look out for what your subject has behind them. Some things like textures or interesting colors make great backgrounds, others like branches and other people do not. Pay attention and leave out anything that doesn't work for your portrait. A low depth of field might help a lot with backgrounds.
5. Use directional lines
The use of lines is another technique for drawing attention to the photo.
6. Switch angles
This is probably the most important tip on the list. Always look for another perspective, no matter what type of subject you are shooting. This is something you have to do with portraits, landscapes, sports or whatever kind of photography you love to shoot. Never settle for the same boring perspective taken from eye level while standing.
For a second explanation of these tips, check out this video made by WeeklyImogen.