Many people, probably most, first get a camera to take pictures of their family and friends.

As a result, there are literally thousands of web sites and books that explain various portrait techniques. However, most of the advice boils down to a few simple do’s and don’ts covering pose, composition and lighting.   These six tips will cover the essential basics:

Portrait Tips:

• A lot of people are camera shy and don’t like their photograph taken. As a result they tend to sit in rigid, unnatural poses and you can see the fear in their eyes. To help your subject to feel comfortable, remember that not all portraits need to be formal or even posed. Why not take photographs of your loved ones as they go about their daily lives. Not only will the results be more natural, but it will put them in the context of their lives and interests.  After you get some good shots, if you show them to your subject, it may bring up some good ideas.

• Don’t seek perfection before you start shooting.   Start shooting, then move and adjust to improve.  Watch for unexpected gestures or looks, and try to capture them as they happen.

• With portraits, the golden rule is to focus on the eyes.   Lighting-wise, adjust so that there’s light getting into the eyes.  For tight compositions, you can crop out the forehead and hair, or the chin, but keep the eyes.

• Holiday snaps of your family don’t need to be embarrassing hideous shots which will never see the light of day. Remember the basic rules of:

Lighting – daylight or off camera flash is best

Composition – try to avoid clumsy and unnatural looking poses

And posing – make sure that your sitter is comfortable with how they are posed. Nothing ruins a portrait like a subject looking uncomfortable and uneasy.

• Remember that natural, diffused daylight is the most flattering illumination for portraits.  For interior portraits, seek locations where your subjects are close to big windows, with the light hitting them to the front and side.

• Use reflectors to fill dark shadows when shooting with a single light source.  White fomecore or matte board, or silver auto windshield sunvisors, are a couple of readily at hand items to make reflectors.

Whether you are taking serious portraits or simply snapping friends and family, these tips will make sure that whoever you shoot will be delighted with the results and you will have images that you will be proud of too.

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