11. Use a Frame Within a Frame.
Use a window, doorway, tree limbs, the gap in an old fence, etc. to create a frame within the frame of your picture. Then, position your subject within that frame for a more interesting portrait photo.
12. Widen Your Angle.
A wide-angle lens adds another creative element to portrait photography that you should try. Shoot from a high or low angle or move close to the person’s face. You can also capture more of the setting in which you are taking the picture, which could result in a very different portrait.
13. Control the Background.
Use the background to create interesting moods. A completely white background will strongly highlight the subject. Various colored backgrounds could reveal different aspects of his or her personality. Take portrait photos outside on a sunny day and also on a stormy day, with a dramatic sky in the background.
Recommended Cameras:
Nikon D500 | Nikon D3300 | Canon EOS Rebel T5 | Sony A7RII | Canon 7D Mark II
14. Break the Rules of Framing.
Another photocomposition rule you can break (see tip #3 in Part 1) is holding your camera vertically or horizontally. The vertical position is typically considered the “portrait” mode and the horizontal position the “landscape” mode. Make sure you understand this rule and that you’ve used it correctly, and then break it! Experiment with a subject in a landscape framing, by placing his or her face at the right or left end of the frame. You could also turn them to look at the other end of the frame. Focus on just the subject’s eyes until they fill the landscape frame.
15. Turn the Camera to the Diagonal.
Another angle you can try with your portrait photography is to turn your camera either to the right or left at various angles between portrait and landscape framing. This is a great idea to use with people who are playful, quirky or eccentric. The unusual angle seems to match their personalities.
16. Change Your Focus.
You certainly want some sharply focused portrait photos, so the subjects can be recognized, but stretch your creativity by changing your focus and purposely blur the image of your subject. Create a narrow depth of field by choose a wide aperture on your lens. Then, focus on an object or person in front of or behind the subject. You can also blur the entire picture by focusing outside the frame of the image. You may have to use the manual focus mode.
17. Make It a Moving Experience.
Pretend to be a fashion photographer. Ask your subject to move continuously within a defined space, turn his or her head and look in different directions, obscure different parts of his or her face with an object or hands, etc. Have your subject remain still as another object or objects moves within the frame. Move your camera, as you shoot, but use a slow shutter speed to capture the motion. You can also use a fast shutter speed to freeze the movement of the subject.
18. Impress with Expressions.
Your portrait photography will be more impressive when you can motivate and direct your subjects to express emotions, moods and their personalities in their faces, eyes or hands.
19. Frame the Face.
Instead of shooting your portrait photos with a pleasing or interesting background, fill the complete frame with the subject’s face. This “in-your-face” method can be very expressive and reveal much about your subject.
20. Take Portraits of Strangers.
Most of your portrait photography will probably be of your family and friends, but you’ll develop into a much better photographer when you learn how to take portraits of strangers. You’ll create an amazing portfolio of people pictures. Take your camera to public places and ask people to pose for you. Ask their permission first. Tell them it will only take a few minutes and you’ll be happy to email them the images.
Also Read: 11 HABITS OF THE PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER
Recommended Reading:
- Speedliter's Handbook: Learning to Craft Light with Canon Speedlites
- Understanding Flash Photography: How to Shoot Great Photographs Using Electronic Flash
- The Hot Shoe Diaries: Big Light from Small Flashes
- Mastering Studio Strobe Lighitng: Beginning to Advanced Photography Instruction by Jay P. Morgan
- 75 Portraits: Lighting and Posing Techniques for Portrait Photographers
- Master Lighting Guide for Portrait Photographers
- 500 Poses for Photographing Women
- 500 Poses for Photographing Men
- Light It, Shoot It, Retouch It: Learn Step by Step How to Go from Empty Studio to Finished Image
- Secrets of Great Portrait Photography: Photographs of the Famous and Infamous
- Shooting in Sh*tty Light: The Top Ten Worst Photography Lighting Situations and How to Conquer Them
Photo copyright PhotographyTalk member Roshan