Photography is one of the most technical yet versatile art forms out there. Photographing people is a hugely popular hobby, and people’s photographs generally fall into two categories: candid and portrait.
Both types of photography get easier when you know a few simple tips. Our photography experts have put together several proven ways to improve your portrait photography.
This article is written to help improving creative skills of portrait photographers. If you are new to portrait photography and don’t have basic technical knowledge on camera equipment you may want to start out with technical tips for portrait photography.
No matter the distance between you and your subject, understanding the finer points of technique and composition can help you take stunning portrait photographs.
5 Ways to Improve Portrait Photography
Check out these tips and tricks from our photography experts to learn the best ways to improve your portrait photography. If you want more inspiration, take a look at the world’s best portrait photographers.
1. Close the Distance
Not being close enough to the subject is one of the most common mistakes photographers make. This matters most when you’re photographing a person or a small object. The subject might be big enough in the frame, but the photo can still feel disconnected.
Viewers can usually tell when distance is a deliberate artistic choice versus when it just weakens the picture.
It’s a good idea to build a strong rapport with your subject. That way, they’ll feel comfortable and cooperative, and you can get closer without making things awkward.
2. Find the Right Setting
Beyond the subject itself, the setting where you shoot matters a lot. The background is a great way to add depth and context. The right setting also helps tell a clearer story through your photograph.
Always make sure your portrait background is relevant and clean. It should add visual context so viewers immediately understand the story you’re telling.
Just keep a good balance when highlighting the subject so the background doesn’t get completely blurred out.
3. Make Yourself Unobtrusive
Taking great portrait photographs gets easier when the photographer goes unnoticed. This is especially true when you’re trying to snap candid shots of people at work, like vendors in a market, or fans at stadiums and theaters.
A few simple strategies can help you stay out of sight. First, decide on the theme and message you want your photo to convey.
Next, find a spot with a good view of the subject and scene you want to capture. Standing in the same place for a while will naturally make you less noticeable to people around you.
To keep your subject unaware, try using a long lens and putting some distance between you and them.
4. Predict a Pattern of Behavior
Knowing how your subject will react in their familiar environment is extremely important for getting excellent candid portrait shots.
When you can anticipate behavior ahead of time, it’s much easier to predict when the right moment for a perfect picture will arrive.
That perfect moment might last only a split second, so keep your camera aimed and ready.
If you already know the setting, go ahead and adjust your camera settings (shutter speed, aperture, etc.) before you get into position.
5. Anticipate Actions Within the Frame
One of the best ways to get great at people photography is understanding basic human nature so you can predict how your subject will behave.
For example, if the subject is sitting in a restaurant, you can expect them to look up and smile when the waiter arrives at their table.
At a party or special occasion, you can count on the subject smiling when they open a present or greet loved ones.
Once you can predict these simple human reactions, it becomes incredibly easy to know when the perfect moment for an ideal portrait photograph is coming.
Wrapping Up
These tips and tricks have helped thousands of amateur photographers reach a professional level. Hopefully these ways to improve portrait photography work just as well for you and help you capture your best shots every time.