GREAT PORTRAIT PHOTOS

Great Portrait Photos
Basic Tips for Avoiding "Boring" Portrait Photos
By Kyle Schurman , About.com Guide

If you think portrait photos have to be boring shots that all end up looking the same, you aren't really thinking about all of the possibilities. Using some imagination, you can try a lot of different angles and settings to make your portrait photos stand out from the crowd. Try these tips to make your portrait photos unique.

    Try zooming in very close on the subject's face. By removing any distractions in the background, the image really becomes about the subject and his emotions in the photo.

    Don't always shoot the person's head at the same vertical angle. Try having the subject tilt his head at a 30-degree angle or even a 45-degree angle to give the portrait photo a much more relaxed and less formal look. However, always try to keep the subject's eyes in the upper third of the frame in a close-up portrait photo. You don't want the subject to tilt her head so much that one of her eyes is in the lower half of the frame.

    If you decided to "zoom out" a bit and shoot the portrait photo so that you can see the subject's entire body along with the background, consider keeping the background simple. Perhaps try a subtle nature scene that will not distract from the subject.

    If you think the background is going to be a distraction in the portrait photo, consider using it to your advantage by having it "frame" the subject. For example, if you have a large window in the area, have the subject sit in front of the window, which makes the window appear as through it is "framing" the subject, drawing attention to the subject. You can make the photo appear less formal in this instance by not having the subject centered in the window that you're using as the "frame."

    Make sure the subject's clothing color stands out from the background.

    Consider using a small depth of field to blur a distracting background while keeping the subject in focus. A blurry object in the background with a sharp person's face in the foreground will make the subject appear to "pop" out of your photo. This technique tends to work best when zooming in close on the subject's face or upper body.

    If you can't seem to eliminate the distracting objects in the background, try adjusting your angle of photography to hide those objects, moving left or right, or even up or down. With a new angle, you'll also give your portrait an interesting look.

    Finally, look for an emotion from your subject. Rather than the standard "smile and say cheese," look to capture the subject laughing, crying, or showing another emotion.

MY THOUGHTS

I think coming out with great portrait photos is the most challenging of all.