How to Take a Portrait Photo

Guide Note

Learning how to take a portrait photo requires a little bit of instruction and a lot of picture taking. Once you understand some basic camera settings, lighting elements and background choices, you'll make better decisions before you click the shutter and your photos will improve dramatically. After that, you can experiment further to find out what works best for you and when to artfully break the rules.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Step 1: Choosing a Backdrop
• Step 2: Lighting
• Step 3: Camera Settings
• Step 4: Capturing The Subject

Taking a Portrait Photo Tips

1. Take the photo in an open area with diffuse natural light for best results.
2. Avoid direct overhead light.
3. Find a simple, solid background.
4. Use the portrait mode on your digital camera.
5. Stand 10-15 feet away from the subject and zoom in.
6. Use a tripod if possible.
7. Fill 3/4 or more of the frame with your subject.
8. Use silliness and relaxed conversation to ease the subject's self-consciousness.
9. Experiment freely and take lots of shots.

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Introduction

• A portrait photo captures the likeness of a person, usually with an emphasis on his or her face and expression. Humans have been dabbling in the art of making portraits since long before the invention of the camera, using mediums such as paint and sculpture to celebrate, immortalize and remember each other. Like a good work of art, a good portrait photo can do more than record features; it can convey the essence of a personality, a mood or a moment in time. It isn't necessary to hire a professional to do this. You can learn to do it yourself with the right preparation and some practice.¹

Step 1: Choosing a Backdrop

(Creative Commons photo by terren in Virginia)

• The location of the portrait shoot is one of the most important elements in creating a memorable and well-composed shot. Placing the subject in the right environment can enhance the look of the photo and focus attention on the face. A poorly chosen background distracts from the subject and may ruin an otherwise perfect photograph.

Indoors

1. Choosing a still, neutral background is one of the easiest ways to ensure that your subject is the focal point of the picture. Some backdrop ideas:¹
   1. An uncluttered wall.²
   2. Closed, solid-colored curtains.²
   3. A bed sheet (wrinkles are fine, but iron out fold lines).²
   4. Material from a fabric store.³
   5. A painter's drop cloth.³
   6. A homemade backdrop using canvas or muslin.³
   7. Professional photography backdrops.⁴
   8. A homemade or store-bought green screen for altering the backdrop later with photo-editing software.^{5 6}
2. Pastels work best, but a black backdrop can add dramatic flair to your portrait.⁷
3. Position the subject several feet in front of the backdrop to avoid shadows.⁸
4. Remove any distracting items.⁹

Outdoors

1. Look for a simple, neutral background.² Some examples:
   1. Clear blue sky.
   2. A solid line of trees.
   3. A stone wall.
2. Examples of backgrounds that are too busy:¹
   1. Multicolored flowers.
   2. A crowded park.
   3. A storefront.
3. Place the subject as far from the background as possible to minimize it further.¹⁰
4. Make sure there aren't any distracting movements in the background.
5. Really see what's behind your subject.⁹
   • It's natural for people to tune out what isn't important to them. The camera won't do that. Notice the fence post behind your subject's head before the shutter clicks.

Step 2: Lighting

(Creative Commons photo by THOR)

• Lighting can make the difference between a healthy, happy looking subject and a pale subject with deep eye shadows. Lighting can also influence the mood of the photo, so it's a good idea to make adjustments to the light before taking your portrait.¹¹

1. Natural light is best for bringing out warm skin tones.¹
2. When possible, choose an open location with diffuse lighting. This helps prevent unflattering shadows from darkening the subject's face. Try:^{12 11}
   1. A park on an overcast day.¹²
   2. A building with high ceilings and skylights or large banks of windows.¹²
   3. A garage or shaded outdoor area.
   4. The inside of your home near a good-sized window or open door.¹³
3. The amount of light just after dawn or before dusk is especially good for portraits.¹⁴
4. Avoid direct overhead lighting or direct light from the side. This kind of light brings out details like wrinkles and small imperfections.¹¹
5. Try to keep the sun or other light source behind and to the side of the subject. It's important to keep it out of his or her eyes and away from interfering with the camera.¹⁰
6. If there is a lot of sun, use the camera's flash. This will minimize facial shadows and put a twinkle in the subject's eye.¹⁰
7. Shadows aren't always bad. When used intentionally, they can hide imperfections or create a mood.¹⁵

Reflectors

• Using reflectors can help you control the light and will give your photos a more polished, professional look.

1. Use reflectors to deflect light to the shadowed side of the subject or to softly light the face.¹⁶
2. Reflectors don't have to be a big expense. Use anything that will reflect light in the direction you want it to go.
   1. White cardboard or poster board.¹⁷
   2. A white sheet.⁷
   3. A full-length mirror.⁷
   4. White polystyrene or foam core.¹⁶
   5. A home movie screen.¹⁷
   6. Professional reflectors.¹⁸

Step 3: Camera Settings

(Creative Commons photo by German Meyer)

• The manual settings on both digital and film cameras can be a bit daunting to beginning photographers, but there are some simple adjustments that can be made to improve the quality of portrait photographs.

1. Turn off the digital zoom on a digital camera. Using it will make the whole shot blurry.¹⁰
2. If your portraits are still too blurry, turn up the ISO setting and/or use a tripod.¹⁹
3. When taking the photo with a digital camera, press the shutter button halfway down to allow the auto settings to kick in. Then press down fully to get the shot.¹⁰

Sharpen the Subject, Blur the Background

1. The easiest way to sharpen the subject and blur the background is to use the portrait scene mode on a digital camera. Almost all digital cameras have this.¹⁰
2. Many photo-editing programs have an option that allows you to blur the background if it wasn't blurred by the camera.²⁰
3. To manually create a portrait scene mode with a digital or film camera, use a wide aperture (low f/stop) and zoom into the subject from a distance.²¹
4. Zooming into the subject from a distance has many benefits:
   1. De-emphasizes the nose.²²
   2. Creates more background blur.¹⁰
   3. Less intimidating for the subject.
5. The ideal lens length for a sharp subject and blurred background is 90-135mm.²³

Step 4: Capturing The Subject

(Creative Commons photo by Chunyang LIN)

• When taking a portrait photo, the goal is not only to get a clear shot of the person's face, but also to capture his or her personality, mood and unique qualities. There are a number of steps you can take to maximize your chances of getting both.²⁴

Getting a Good Shot

1. Have your subjects choose darker toned, solid-colored clothing.²⁵
2. Give them access to a mirror, hairbrush and/or makeup bag, so they can freshen up.
3. Make sure the subject fills 3/4 or more of the frame.²⁶
4. Shoot only the subject's head and shoulders unless there is a compelling reason to shoot more.¹⁰
   • Feel free to leave a little room for cropping if you plan to edit the photos later.
5. Make the eyes your focal point.²⁷
6. Look closely when you take the shot. For example:²⁸
   1. Is there anything that might enhance the subject's appearance or de-emphasize flaws?
   2. Could wrinkled clothing be smoothed?
   3. Would a different stance be more slimming?²⁹

Getting the Person

(Creative Commons photo by freeparking)

• Pay attention to your subjects before you photograph them. Notice the quirks that make them unique, the behaviors and movements that catch your eye and the things you like most about them. Think about how you can incorporate these into a photo.²

1. Help your subjects to loosen up and have fun with the shoot.
   1. Stay upbeat and smile.
   2. Tell jokes or do something to get them to laugh—this has the added benefit of bringing out an authentically happy facial expression.³⁰
   3. Engage your subjects in conversation on a topic of importance to them.³⁰
   4. Encourage silliness.³¹
2. Add a prop. If well-chosen, a prop can highlight significant aspects of a subject's personality and make your photo more exciting. Imagine these examples:³¹
   1. A child smiling dutifully for the camera vs. a child smiling at a kitten.
   2. Your friend making a face vs. your friend making a face and waving a lightsaber.
3. Photograph your subjects in their natural habitat.²⁴
   • Try unobtrusively taking shots while they go about their day-to-day business. These shots can be quite revealing.²⁴

Taking Lots of Pictures

1. Taking more pictures increases the odds that you'll have a good one when you're done.¹⁰
2. Taking shots between poses can catch the subject in a relaxed state, for a better, more genuine photograph.
3. Practicing makes you a better photographer.
4. Experimenting with facial expressions, angles, backdrops and stances improves your skills.^{31 32}

Conclusion

• Taking portrait photos is a great creative outlet and can be fun for both the photographer and the subject. Trial and error is the key to learning to do it well, so give yourself permission to take a lot of pictures. With a digital camera, the costs of doing this are minimal, and you'll gain a useful skill you can enjoy for the rest of your life.

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References for How to Take a Portrait Photo

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} Families.com: Shooting the Perfect Portrait (January 29, 2008)
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4} Black's: Portrait Photography Made Easy
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} Studio Lighting: Homemade Backdrops for Portrait Photography (March 2, 2005)  
4. ↑ B&H Photo Video: Background Search
5. ↑ Media College.com: How to Make a Green Screen
6. ↑ Adorama Camera: Serious Magic 5' x 7' Flexible Green Screen, Double Sided
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2} Scrapjazz: Taking Great Portrait Photos From Home (September 30, 2003)  
8. ↑ BetterPhoto.com: Backgrounds for Portrait Photography (September 30, 2003)
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} Digital Photography School: Getting Backgrounds Right
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 10.7 10.8} Lifehacker: How to Take Great Digital Portraits (March 9, 2006)
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1 11.2} Kodak: Lighting for Portraits
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1 12.2} Photo.net: Portrait Photography (January 2007)
13. ↑ Kodak: Groups and Portraits
14. ↑ Black's: Portrait Photography Made Easy Pg. 3
15. ↑ Expert Village: Creating Mood with a Single Light in Portrait Photography (Time: 1:34)
16. ↑ ^{16.0 16.1} Black's: Photography Made Easy Pg. 2
17. ↑ ^{17.0 17.1} University of Minnesota Extension: Investigating Portraiture
18. ↑ B&H Photo Video: Reflectors
19. ↑ Photoxels: What is... ISO
20. ↑ CreativePro.com: Photoshop How-To: Lens Blur with Alpha Channels (January 18, 2005)
21. ↑ HP Digital Photography Center: Focusing Basics: Using Depth of Field
22. ↑ Photo.net: Portrait Photography Pg. 2
23. ↑ Google Books: Digital Landscape Photography - A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Perfect Photos Pg. 15
24. ↑ ^{24.0 24.1 24.2} Video Jug: How to Take Portrait Photos (Time: 2:21)
25. ↑ Digital Photography School: What Clothes to Wear in Portraits
26. ↑ Digital Photography School: 6 Tips for Perfect Composition in Portrait Photography
27. ↑ Adobe: Digital Kids Club: Tips: Family Portraits
28. ↑ Impulse Adventure: Photo Techniques - Portrait Photography
29. ↑ Digital Photography School: Posing Tips - Waistlines, Thighs and Bustlines
30. ↑ ^{30.0 30.1} Digital Photography School: The Human Side of Photography - 4 Tips for Natural Looking Portraits
31. ↑ ^{31.0 31.1 31.2} Digital Photography School: 10 Ways to Take Stunning Portraits
32. ↑ Digital Photography School: 10 More Tips for Stunning Portrait Photography

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