My Top 3 Tips for Capturing Beautiful Portraits

Portrait photography is about capturing your subject's personality and story. Through the years as I was learning and developing my skills, I recognized what to look for. The following tips I provide here are a few (among others) that I have continually worked on within my craft to ensure I bring out the character and mood of my subjects, no matter the situation.

Direction is our job...always

I have heard of other photographers who will let the subject pose without much direction. That may work sometimes, but not usually, Even when I work with professional, experienced models I am still guiding and directing them. I have had regular clients and professional models tell me they appreciate being directed, especially when they can't see what we see through our cameras. Posing can make or break a portrait and one of the keys to successful posing is making my subject feel comfortable and at ease as they are being led throughout the session.

Simple, relaxed poses will create a mood in your images and help not only the subject without feeling awkward but also allow the viewer to relate to the image. 

Tip: Pay attention to the hands—they can look awkward if not posed correctly. Try Having your subject lightly touch their face or neck as an example to help create a more natural look. Learn more about natural-looking posing with my simple and to-the-point posing guide HERE where I discuss more on hands, eyes, body language and much more.

The Use of Lighting

Lighting is one of the most critical elements in photography. It shapes your subject’s features and sets the mood of the image. Although I do shoot in the studio as well, natural light is always a great option and a favourite of mine — I did not have the knowledge about studio lighting setups or budget to invest in lighting equipment when I was starting, so I had to learn to use the light given, no matter the situation. Even under street lights if needed and because of that, it helped me learn lighting hands-on. Feel free to check out my guide on using natural lighting in a variety of settings HERE

Tip: When shooting indoors, position your subject near a window to use the diffused light. For a more dramatic effect, experiment with side lighting or backlighting. Add reflectors or diffusers to manipulate and bounce the light as you would like.

Connecting with Your Subject

A great portrait tells a story and it’s essential to connect with your subject, especially if working with them for the first time. Try spending a few minutes chatting before the shoot to help them be comfortable with you. Ask about their interests or share a funny story to break the ice. During the session, keep the mood light and positive.

Tip: If your subject seems awkward or nervous, show them a couple of good shots as you go on the back of your camera (just a few here and there) and verbalize how happy you are with the shoot so far, let them know they are doing great. The more they relax and feel comfortable in your presence the better the images you will capture. Also, try playing some upbeat music to get them motivated (make sure they like the genre you play).

Do not show any frustration if things aren't going great or at least act like it's your fault, NOT theirs. Remember it takes a while for them to warm up to you and the camera.

Lastly, Some Words of Encouragement

Like any creative work, photography comes with its challenges. There will be days when things don’t go as planned, I have had many days like that and that’s completely normal. Every shoot should be viewed as a learning experience, and every mistake is an opportunity to grow. I learned so much through the years during a shoot by not paying attention to details at times, for example, when the girls would have their hair ties on their wrists and I didn't notice, I would have to edit that out in every shot I wanted to keep. Because of that among other things, I learned to scan the subject in advance before and during the shoot always checking the hair, wardrobe malfunctions, lashes falling off and whatever else to save me troubles in Photoshop later.

Also, your unique perspective will set you apart as a photographer. Trust your abilities, keep practicing, and more importantly, have fun. Your confidence will shine through in your work, and your portraits will reflect the beauty and emotion you see in your subjects (which will also develop more and more over time), your passion and dedication will lead you to create portraits that you will be proud of.

Believe in your vision, and don’t be afraid to push the boundaries of your creativity. Feel free to check out my guide on creativity HERE

Thanks for visiting the blog!

Amanda Diaz