Five Components Of A Good Portrait
As a professional portrait photographer with over 20 years of experience, I have some great tips on taking good portrait photos that I’d like to share with you. What makes a good portrait is a matter of opinion, but the core elements discussed here will help you take great individual and family portraits.
Location
Location is important because it is the setting for your portrait photography, supporting the subject and contributing to the overall aesthetic of the picture. The location expresses the place, time, and mood of the portrait. Once you’ve found a meaningful location, look for lines to lead the eye, like fences, paths, branches, lines in landscaping, etc. Look for beautiful textures, layers, geometric shapes, and areas of open shade or backlit leaves if outdoors. Determine where you want your subject to be, allowing you to frame the photo. Then utilize ambient light if available, and frame the background for your composition.
Lighting
In portrait photography, lighting allows us to convey information and emotion in an image. The way light falls across your subject is one of the most important aspects of a portrait, and a terrific tool to create drama, accentuate features, and possibly hide problem areas. The most flattering light typically comes from slightly above a person, or from the side. Components of lighting include intensity, direction, diffusion and reflection of light, dynamic range, and light balance. Light patterns are the shadows that occur when light is directed at a subject’s face.
Framing
Where you situate your subject in portrait photography allows you to create pleasing compositions, and showcase points of interest along guidelines. The rule of thirds helps to direct the viewer’s gaze to the main focal point of an image, emphasized through composition. Note the lines you see when you crop an image on your phone. Points of interest should typically be along the intersections of these points to produce a well-framed photograph.
Portrait Composition
Portrait composition is the cropping, framing, and posing of the subject. All these elements determine the flow of the final image. Cropping is what the photographer chooses to include and exclude in composing your frame. Cropping must be done with care to create the most visually pleasing results.
Posing
The key to successful posing is knowing that body parts closest to the camera are accentuated, while areas further away are de-emphasized. This is the portrait photographer’s opportunity to accentuate strengths and downplay problem areas using angles and perspective. You can show the best side of your subject; and tell a different story with every frame. Posing, angling, and composition are the keys to beautiful portraits.
I consider these five components to be the most important in creating a great portrait. I should also add that it is crucial to direct people in portrait photography. They do not see what the photographer sees through the camera, so don’t be shy about letting your subject know how to best pose for your photographs!
If you are in need of a professional headshot, individual or family portrait photographer in the Fort Myers, Florida area, reach out to me. I would love to tell your story with beautiful portraits you will cherish forever.