Taking portraits is one of the most popular activities that people do with their cameras. If you are a budding photographer, you may snap many pictures of yourself, loved ones, or strangers in the hope that the images have a uniqueness which conveys a certain feeling, emotion, or message. Whether you like to take posed or spontaneous pictures, the following tips can help to ensure that your images are not boring or uninspired.

One of the most important decisions to make when taking a photograph is to choose the right perspective. If you were just to randomly hold out your camera at eye level and snap away it is unlikely that the results will be of a stand out quality. When taking a portrait consider how you can use perspective to add more life to your images, for example you could drop to one knee, lie on the floor, or stand on a stool.

If the person you are photographing looks straight into the camera, the images that result may appear as exciting and stimulating as a passport photo. On the other hand, if your subject’s eyes were not looking directly down the lens barrel, the result can be more mysterious and candid. When snapping a picture of a group of people, try and get each to stare in different directions or at each other, this can make the image jump off the page.

Using a standard lens is not going to allow your photographs to appear any different than those of everyone else. Instead of using a 50 to 85 mm lens why not opt for a 24mm. Though this may result in some distortion in the subject’s features, the overall composition can have a special feel to it. Whether to position the face in the center or edge of the frame would depend upon what emotion you are trying to capture.

As with any type of photography, the key can often be in experimenting. Try out a few different approaches and find out which works best for you. Remember that taking attractive portraits should first and foremost be fun.

Only if you are happy with your images can you expect others to feel the same. No matter what the subject, as long as you have an eye for detail and are clear on the emotion you want the viewer to feel, in time you should develop the skills necessary to do portrait photography and snap the most enigmatic of photos.

Capturing Expressions

An essential for a successful family portrait? Expression. Capturing expressions portrays emotion and adds dynamics to the photograph. Portraits can be left feeling incomplete without capturing the expressions that make the image more engaging. While traditional family portraits are posed (think school pictures), I feel expressions are best captured ‘un-posed’ in a candid portrait setting.

Some great tips on how to do this include avoiding using flash when possible and shooting from a distance. This isn’t to say that all successful family portraits are shot on a whim. It simply means that developing a rapport is important. Actively involve yourself in directing the subject(s) to pose naturally and comfortably – and you’ll find it can achieve a great deal!

Creating a Candid Look When Posing Subjects

Whether taking individual portraits or group photos, creating a candid look is a great way to create a different type of image. Get them laughing – engaging people in a friendly, open manner will get you those shots where the subjects have stopped being self conscious!

Another easy way to achieve a great looking candid shot that has been posed is to have your subject(s) look away from the camera. This type of ‘casual candid’ posing can also be used in larger group shots. Having everyone look at each other can create a unified mood to the photograph, a connection that the viewer can sense.

Photographing Children:

Props are also a great tool to utilize when photographing children. A child’s honest reactions to their immediate environment make them the very best candid portrait subjects. Even when aware of the camera’s attention – candid shots from children shine!

Try another Perspective

The general rule for family portraits is focus on the eyes and set a wide aperture to throw the background out of focus while keeping the faces/subjects sharp. While this is standard in the context of photography, consider occasionally photographing the subject from various angles and viewpoints. Sometimes changing your view helps emphasize mood and can help set the ‘expression’ of the photograph. Try photographing a family from behind, walking away. Perhaps a lifestyle type shot of everyone’s bare feet in the sand etc.

Change Your Framing

Many people think of portraits as a vertical photograph. Instead, try taking holding your camera horizontally and offset you’re subject to one side rather than the middle. Being conscious of switching from one framing style to the other can provide some pleasing results from the same pose.

Most photography generally insists that the horizon be a straight line. The same is not always necessarily true in portrait photography! Using the horizon line to add creativity and a fun ‘mood’ to the image can be a great way to step out of the box!