How to Shoot a Portrait

It can be difficult to take a unique, original portait.

Shooting a portrait can be as simple as a plain mugshot or as complex and artful as dressing the subject in a full costume and hanging her from the ceiling while you shoot her as she spins. Artful photography is interesting in that while there are rules to follow in order to get "good" pictures, they are made to be broken. When those rules are twisted, sometimes it can result in the best pictures of all.

Instructions

1. Shoot candidly. Sometimes when subjects pose for a picture, it can have a forced, fake look. Try to capture people as they are in life. Take pictures of them as they work, cook, play or talk. This will help them look natural and relaxed, and will give your portraits a more authentic appeal.

2. Alter your shooting angle. Most pictures are taken with the camera at a perpendicular angle to the subject's face. Change it up by getting on the floor and shooting upwards, or, alternatively, go high and aim low. Even coming at an odd side angle can make people give "normal" pictures a double glance.

3. Move your subjects out of their comfort zone. Taking pictures of a mother in a kitchen, or a skater in a half-pipe is one thing, but put that same mother with an apron on a surfboard, or the same tattooed skater sitting behind a big office desk and suddenly you have art. Taking your subjects and making them feel a little awkward in the situation they are in can produce some shots that are pure gold.

4. Experiment with lighting. Side-lighting, back-lighting, and silhouetting are just a few of the endless ways for you to play with the way your subject appears. Lighting has an emotional response right off the bat, and is often the first thing that is noticed in a portrait. For instance, a subject that is lit from the bottom to hide certain facial features can create a feeling of mystery and intrigue in the viewer.

5. Play with eye contact. Most portraits feature a subject who is looking directly at the lens, as this creates a feeling of relation and connection in the viewer. However, having a subject look towards something off frame can create an equally powerful response in a viewer if done correctly -- especially if the subject looks like he is laughing, surprised or angry. It makes the viewer wonder what exactly she is looking at that is so funny, and makes her want laugh, too.

References

• Digital Photography School: 10 Ways to Take Stunning Portraits