Portrait Photography Tips
for BOTH Sides of the Camera

We've covered many photography tips throughout this site.

The common thread has been to help you take better photographs.

Well, isn't it time you get your pretty mug before the camera too? These portrait photography tips address all the things you need to know for TAKING great portraits of others, as well as HAVING your own beautiful portrait taken, you cutie, you.

Clothing & Beauty Related
Portrait Photography Tips

• Avoid clothes that make you look like a geek. For those non-geeks, we're talking wild checks, stripes, and very busy patterns; especially if worn together!

• Avoid clothing extremes. Generally, turtle necks and V-necks are good, as long as they don't over-power the subject's face. Bottom line, the subject should dress to feel comfortable.

• Schedule the photography session when you're in your prime (some people are morning people, others aren't).

• Whether you are the photographer or the subject, have personal care items on premises, such as brush, comb, hairspray, chainsaw (for those really bad hair days), make-up, lipstick, mirror, hair clips, etc.

• The star of the portrait photography session should bring at least one additional change of clothes (and shoes, if appropriate). Two or three are even better.

• Have fashion accessories on premises, such as scarves, jewelry, hats, flowers, etc.

• Plan to be at the location at least 15 minutes early so you can put your hair in place (in my case... all 6 of them), adjust your clothes, and RELAX. If you are frazzled feeling, it will come across in the portraits.

• Avoid bare arms where possible. Opt for long-sleeve shirts/blouses rather than short-sleeve.

• Everything in the portrait photography session should be geared toward drawing attention TO the subject's face, not AWAY FROM IT! Therefore, if women are being photographed full-length, they should wear pants, a long skirt, and/or dark stockings.

• The color of the clothes:
  • Avoid bright reds and orange (they battle the subject's face for attention)

  • Darker colors are generally better than light colors

  • Colors like white, yellow, and pink tend to over-power the face and make the subject took too pale

  • In general, the best colors are medium shades of blue, green, burgundy, and rust.

• If taking a group portrait, everyone should wear complimentary colors. The outfits don't have to be duplicates to look good; however, you don't want everyone in light blue and one person in bright red.

Most camera owners are very intimidated about how to take group photos, and that's understandable.

After all, you need to decide on the best location, find a good background, effectively pose everyone, deal with lighting, the composition, depth of field... the list goes on and on.

Even though these points are true, there is a better way to take group photographs than telling the group to "Move over there and smile." That better way is our No-Sweat Approach to Taking Great Group Photos.

By following the "By-the-Numbers" approach in our book, I can guarantee that your group photos will be at least TWICE AS GOOD as they have ever been (even if you've never held a camera before).

To find out how we created an approach that is just as effective for an experienced photographer as it is for a beginner, look here for a real eye-opener!

Posing Technique Related
Portrait Photography Tips

However, there is a huge gap between "stand over there and I'll take your picture" to the magazine model. Let's address some things you can do to close the gap.

• Position the body and head to face in different directions. Do not take a picture of the subject positioned at right in front of the camera while looking straight at the lens (can you say booooooring!).

• Fingers should not be intertwined and should be bent at every joint (never laying flat like a dead fish)

• As a general rule, men's hands should be more closed and women's more open.

• Begin with head shots, move to heads on hands, and end with either 3/4 or full length photographs

• For groups of people...
  • Stagger the heights of everyone's heads, even if they all are exactly 6 feet tall.

  • Have the men appear taller than women, whether they are or not (remember, you can pose individuals laying down, on one knee, sitting, standing, or anywhere in between)

  • Have everyone touching or in very close proximity to each other

• For outdoor portrait photography sessions, "grass stains" on clothing is a common complaint. Although it produces the best photo, it can increase the cleaning bill.

  If it becomes an issue, either pose on a non-grass surface (such as concrete), or use a very large blanket or tarp that covers the entire area within the camera's frame, and have the color not clash with the colors of the surroundings or the subjects' clothing.

Miscellaneous
Portrait Photography Tips

• If you are having a portrait taken with your pet, bring an additional person to handle the pet while photos of you alone are being taken. Don't assume the photographer has pet cages/containers.

• Men should have their hair cut about 5-10 days before the session. Women should have their portraits taken when they feel their hair looks best. Just ask them; they'll know.

Simple Photography Portrait Tips that Everyone Can Apply

How to Create Effective Portrait Backgrounds

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