
Your subject isn’t sitting for a painting that will take many hours to complete, so keep things moving. Stiff portraits are best left in the baroque wings of art museums. Ever noticed that many authors have their portraits taken in front of a wall of books? Even though this setting is full of color and can be visually complex, it immediately cues us into what’s vitally quintessential to the subject. The maximalism of a space packed with all of the subject’s favorite things can speak volumes about the person themself. Take inspiration from fashion photographers and even old paintings. While the au natural look certainly has its appeal, indoor, staged settings can be artful and fun. We’ll delve further into this topic later, but natural light is particularly flattering, so consider opting for an outdoor setting when snapping your next family portrait. It’s a good idea to photograph outside, when possible. You can create this type of scene at home or while traveling by taking portraits against solid-colored walls or visually uncomplicated landscapes like pastures, forests, or rock formations. These pared-down settings ensure that the person in the photo stands out. Sometimes, the photographer includes furniture or objects that represent the subject’s style. You’ve likely noticed that many portraits, especially ones taken at studios, have simple if not completely blank backgrounds. Awe-inspiring backgrounds can steal the show, taking focus away from the people in the frame.

It doesn’t have to be a particularly impressive space.

When we say “right setting,” we mean one that works well for your subject. Start by choosing the right setting for a portrait. 5 Tips for Portrait PhotographyĬonsider these tips to take winning portraits of yourself and others. In all honesty, the best portraits are those that look natural, or at least correctly staged and tastefully tweaked. In part, sitting for portraits – or taking them – is a trust exercise between the subject and photographer, and a session goes a lot more smoothly when the person directing the photos knows how to help others look their very best.įilters and special effects aren’t necessarily what make the perfect portrait, though some can be helpful when editing minor details. We harbor the misconception that we aren’t photogenic, and it can be stressful to pose without having any idea of how the photographer is seeing us on the other side of the camera. However, when it comes to having our photo taken by another person, some of us freeze.
