When it comes down to it, there are way more than four portrait photography tips that you need to master.
In fact, there's probably a couple of hundred things you need to keep in mind when taking a portrait.
But rather than overwhelm you with a giant to-do list, I've boiled it down to these three all-important portrait photography tips.
I've broken the list down to one topic each on camera settings, camera gear, and posing.
Let's get started!
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How to Shoot Portraits: Camera Settings
Obviously, the specific camera settings that you use to take portraits will depend on a wide range of factors, not the least of which is the lighting you have available to you.
That being said, there are some starting points you can use depending on the shooting conditions you find yourself in.
Camera Settings for Indoor Portraits
- Shooting mode: Aperture priority
- Aperture: f/2.8
- ISO: 800
- Drive mode: Single shot
- Focus mode: Single autofocus
- Metering mode: Spot
- White balance: Tungsten
Camera Settings for Outdoor Portraits:
- Shooting mode: Aperture priority
- Aperture: f/2.8
- ISO: 100
- Drive mode: Single shot
- Focus mode: Single autofocus
- Metering mode: Spot
- White balance: Shade
Camera Settings for Action Portraits
- Shooting mode: Shutter priority
- Shutter speed: 1/200 seconds
- ISO: 100
- Drive mode: Continuous
- Focus mode: Continuous
- Metering mode: Multi-zone
- White balance: Auto
Again, these are just starting points, but at least you get an idea of what camera settings are most important for portraits.
Check out this guide for a detailed discussion of camera settings for portrait photography.
Learn More:
- Things You Should Do BEFORE You Take a Photograph
- Fine-Tune Your Portrait Photography With These Essential Tips
How to Shoot Portraits: The Lens Matters
There is no one focal length that works best for portraits, so there is plenty of variety when it comes to choosing a lens for portrait photography.
Lenses in the 35mm range are popular for portraits because they offer a wider view of the subject's surroundings. This makes 35mm lenses ideal for things like environmental portraiture in which you want to show the portrait subject in the context of their surroundings.
Lenses like 50mm and 85mm are also great for portraits because they offer a tighter view of the subject while also giving you beautiful bokeh that blurs the background and helps separate the subject in the frame.
But don't discount longer lenses for portraiture...
A 135mm lens, for example, or a good mid-range zoom lens like a 24-70mm or 70-200mm offer many advantages for portrait photography.
Primarily, these longer focal lengths allow you to stand further back from the subject, which can help them relax in front of the camera, and still get closely cropped images.
Really, the lens you use for portraits comes down to personal taste (and a few other factors, too).
If you want portraits with some context, select a shorter focal length lens. But if you want more closely framed portraits, a longer focal length is the way to go.
For more insights into the best portrait photography lenses, watch the video above by Manny Ortiz.
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How to Shoot Portraits: Posing Mistakes to Avoid
There is as much an art to posing someone for a portrait as there is for taking the portrait.
That means that you need to pay attention to what the subject is doing and give them direction for how to pose in a way that looks pleasing.
Watch for crossed arms, as it can make the subject feel a little closed off and standoffish. Also be wary of awkward hands, which can degrade the quality of a portrait real fast.
Instead, give your portrait subjects something to do with their hands to prevent crossed arms and awkward hands from happening.
Even something as simple as reaching out toward the lens will help keep both of these problems at bay.
Another common posing mistake photographers make is making their subjects conform to stiff, formal poses.
While there is a time and a place for a posed portrait, taking photos of people that are relaxed, having fun, and enjoying themselves can result in beautiful portraits that deserve a place on your wall.
Crack a joke. Engage your subject in conversation. Give them lots of positive feedback and tell them how good they look. Any of these things will help the subject relax so you can take a more engaging and natural-looking photo.
Learn More:
- Advanced Portrait Photography Tips That Will Immediately Improve the Quality of Your Portraits
- A Guide to the Perfect Portrait
Final Thoughts
As I mentioned earlier, there are many, many more factors at play in creating a beautiful portrait.
But if you figure out the best camera settings, utilize a lens that captures your subject in a pleasing way, and work on posing, you'll be well on your way to creating gorgeous portraits.
Don't forget that the process of creating a wall-worthy photo doesn't end when the photo shoot is over...
Instead, dedicate yourself to learning how to process your images to bring out their very best.
Also invest in quality prints that turn your portraits into works of art - heirlooms your family will cherish for generations.
Now that's a recipe for success from start to finish!