Portrait photography is one of the most popular and rewarding genres in photography—but it can also be one of the most intimidating when you’re just getting started. Capturing the essence of a person requires more than just pointing a camera at their face. It involves understanding light, composition, camera settings, posing, and, most importantly, connection.
In this in-depth guide, you’ll learn beginner-friendly tips to improve your portrait photography skills, whether you’re shooting friends, clients, or even self-portraits.
Why Portrait Photography Matters
Portraits tell stories. They convey emotion, identity, personality, and mood. Whether it’s a smiling child, a confident professional headshot, or a dramatic artistic portrait, capturing people is at the heart of meaningful photography.
Learning to photograph people will also improve your overall photography skills—it teaches you to see light, work with composition, control depth of field, and communicate with your subjects.
Tip 1: Understand Light—Natural Is Your Best Friend
Lighting is everything in portrait photography. The direction, quality, and intensity of light can make or break your image.
Use Soft Natural Light
For beginners, natural light is the easiest and most flattering source. The best times to shoot outdoors are during:
- Golden hour (an hour after sunrise or before sunset)
- Overcast days, which offer soft, even light
Avoid harsh midday sun, which creates unflattering shadows on the face. If you must shoot during harsh light, try to move your subject into the shade.
Use Window Light Indoors
Position your subject near a large window and turn off indoor lights for a natural-looking portrait. Add a reflector (a white wall, poster board, or actual reflector) on the opposite side to bounce light onto the shadow side of the face.
Tip 2: Choose the Right Lens and Settings
Recommended Focal Lengths for Portraits
- 50mm: Great all-around lens for portraits with natural perspective.
- 85mm: Ideal for close-up headshots with creamy background blur.
- 35mm: Best for environmental portraits and full-body shots.
Avoid wide-angle lenses (like 18mm), as they can distort facial features up close.
Suggested Camera Settings
- Aperture Priority (A/Av mode): Choose a wide aperture (f/1.8 to f/4) to blur the background and isolate your subject.
- Shutter Speed: Keep it above 1/125s to avoid motion blur, higher if your subject is moving.
- ISO: Keep as low as possible (100–400) for clean images. Raise it only in low light.
- Focus Mode: Use single-point autofocus on the subject’s eye.
Always shoot in RAW format (if possible) to preserve detail for editing later.
Tip 3: Learn Basic Posing Techniques
Posing doesn’t have to feel stiff or awkward. In fact, some of the best portraits come from natural, relaxed movements. But giving your subject some structure helps them feel confident.
Key Posing Tips
- Turn the shoulders slightly: A slight angle is more flattering than facing straight into the camera.
- Keep the chin forward and down: This elongates the neck and defines the jawline.
- Use the hands: Have your subject gently touch their face, adjust their clothes, or place hands in pockets.
- Direct the eyes: Looking just off-camera can create a candid feel; looking into the lens feels more intense or direct.
Help Your Subject Relax
Many people feel nervous in front of a camera. Your energy sets the tone. Be positive, give simple direction, and offer feedback (“That looks great!” or “Let’s try a few with a smile”).
Tip 4: Choose the Right Background
The background should complement the subject—not distract from them. Look for clean, uncluttered spaces like:
- Blank walls
- Natural landscapes
- Open shade under trees
- Urban backdrops with interesting texture
Use a shallow depth of field (f/1.8 to f/3.5) to blur distracting elements and bring attention to your subject.
Tip 5: Use Composition to Your Advantage
Follow the Rule of Thirds
Place the subject slightly off-center in your frame. Imagine a grid dividing the image into thirds both vertically and horizontally. Position key elements—like the eyes or face—along those lines or intersections.
Fill the Frame
Get closer to your subject to create intimacy and avoid unnecessary distractions.
Use Leading Lines
Use natural lines like roads, fences, or doorways to draw the viewer’s eye toward the subject.
Tip 6: Take Multiple Shots and Vary the Angles
People blink, move, or make awkward faces—so always take multiple frames.
Vary Your Shots
- Shoot from high, eye-level, and low angles
- Take full-body, mid-body, and close-up shots
- Change horizontal vs. vertical orientation
Even subtle changes in perspective can produce very different results.
Tip 7: Edit Your Portraits for a Polished Look
Editing helps elevate your portraits from “nice” to “professional.” But it doesn’t have to be complicated.
Basic Editing Adjustments
Use tools like Lightroom, Snapseed, or Luminar to:
- Adjust exposure and contrast
- Correct white balance
- Lightly smooth skin (avoid over-editing)
- Enhance the eyes
- Sharpen details
Keep edits subtle and natural. The goal is to enhance, not change, the subject’s appearance.
Tip 8: Practice With Friends or Yourself
One of the best ways to improve your portrait skills is by practicing often. Ask friends or family to model for you. You can also practice with a tripod and remote for self-portraits.
Ideas for Practice:
- Try a window-lit portrait at home
- Shoot in the same spot at different times of day
- Photograph one subject in multiple outfits or moods
- Compare photos at f/1.8 vs. f/5.6 to study depth of field
Tip 9: Respect and Communication
Portrait photography is not just technical—it’s personal. Always ask permission before photographing someone, especially in public or cultural settings. If you’re photographing someone for a project, share your vision and let them contribute ideas.
Make your subject feel valued and safe. That’s when the most authentic expressions appear.
Final Thoughts: Portraits Start With Connection
You don’t need the best gear to take great portraits—you need a good eye, an understanding of light, and the ability to make your subject feel seen.
As you develop your skills, you’ll realize that photographing people isn’t just about what they look like—it’s about who they are. And your job, as the photographer, is to bring that out in every shot.
So grab your camera, find someone willing to model, and start practicing these tips. Your first 100 portraits may not be perfect—but they’ll be part of your journey to creating truly unforgettable images.