Techniques for Photographing Portraits

Orientation

The orientation of the photo refers to whether it is taken vertically or horizontally. Most portraits are taken vertically, hence that orientation is commonly called "portrait." The horizontal orientation is colloquially known as "landscape." Photographers take very seriously which orientation they will use. Horizontal orientations are used when the surroundings of the subject are particularly important to their character. It can also add a refreshing spin on relatively conventional photographs.

Using the correct lens length for portraits is important to capturing the true essence of the subject. Lenses which are too wide (18 mm and under) can create a fishbowl look which stretches and distorts the features of the subject. The same is true of lenses which are too long (200 mm and over); these lenses can compress the visual space of the photograph and create a flat look for the subject. A 50 mm lens is supposed to represent the focal length which is closest to the human eye, so choosing something a little longer or a little shorter will give the photo a more stylized feeling.

Depth of field is directly related to the aperture of the camera, focal length and focus distance. It's a term which refers to how much of the space in a photo is in sharp focus. In other words, it refers to which parts of the photo will be in focus. For 99 percent of portraits, the subject is the part of the photo which will be most in focus. However, deciding whether the background will be in focus or not is important to the overall feel of the portrait. Using a depth of field calculator is a great way to understand how much of the portrait will be in focus.

Lighting sets the mood of the portrait. One strong light can make the setting feel moody and emotional, where as lighting a subject from all sides will give a comical or commercial look. Using natural light is extremely popular and trendy, so taking a portrait under a window is a great and cheap way to get pretty light. Creating your own studio set-up can also be a viable option under the right conditions.