How to Do Amateur Portrait Photography

Humans are a self-obsessed species, fascinated by their own image, which is reproduced in all manner of media and art. Photographic portraiture is almost as old as photography itself. Eighteenth century daguerreotypes, for which the subject had to sit still for hours on end as the photo developed, have given way to cutting-edge digital photography and computerized editing. Certain techniques for making photo portraits, however, remain timeless, even if you're an amateur photographer.

Instructions

Zoom in on the subject for greater emotional effect. Generally, the closer a shot is, the stronger the degree of emotion. Or, if you're aiming for a less emotionally intense portrait, zoom out a little and take a full-body or medium shot.

Manipulate depth of field to isolate the subject. Depth of field refers to how much of the visual field is in focus. By blurring the background but keeping the person in focus, you can imbue the photo with a dramatic, visually appealing effect. Or you can go for a deeper depth of field, keeping everything in focus and showing the subject against the background or environment.

Emphasize the subject's eyes. The eyes are often the most expressive facial feature and this translates well to portrait photography. Getting a clear, centered, up-close shot of the eyes conveys greater expressiveness in the portrait.

Pose the subject or have him strike his own pose. Body language is important in portrait photography. Instruct the subject to assume different positions like hands on hips, arms outstretched, sitting or dancing. Also direct the direction of his gaze. Photos in which the subject looks straight into the camera more directly engage the viewer, but looking away can achieve a different effect.

Choose the background. In portraiture, a background can serve to emphasize something about the subject or present a contrast. For example, if your subject is a musician, you can photograph him in a concert hall or music studio; or, conversely, show him in an incongruous setting, like a baseball stadium or landfill. You can also simply frame the subject in an aesthetically pleasing environment like a pretty park or garden.

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