Basics

Studio-quality portraits are easier than most people think. Here you will find five important things to consider before snapping that photo.

Chances are if you own a camera you've tried your hand at taking portraits. And, chances are that you may have been disappointed with some of the results. You can better your chances of getting great results every time you snap the shutter just by using some very basic tips that are already old news to professional photographers. Here are four of the most important ones to consider:

1.) Lens Length

One of the easiest ways to get good portraits is with a longer lens. With a longer lens, you can stay back from your subject while still being able to fill the frame. If you move in too close, not only will your subject become uncomfortable, the closeness will also result in distorted features. You don't want a wide-angle lens to make the subject's nose appear to be the biggest thing in the shot.

With a longer lens, you can put space between you and your subject, which will put them more at ease and will result in more natural portraits.

Another reason to use a long lens is that they tend to throw everything behind the subject out of focus. This brings us to another trick of the trade, which is focus.

2.) Focus

When taking portraits, focus is one of the most important aspects of a good photo.

First, you want to make sure that you focus on the eyes of your subject. With a longer lens, as recommended earlier, your depth of field is much narrower. This means that the depth of the focused area may be so narrow that the hair could be in focus while the eyes are out of focus. Since the eyes are the attention getters, it is always important that they are in perfect focus.

And, another way to use focus is by having the subject in focus while the background and surrounding areas are out of focus. This draws attention to the subject and makes unsightly things in the background disappear into a blur. This, in turn, will make your subject stand out and results in a very pleasant photograph.

3.) Composition

Composition is, without a doubt, one of the most important secrets to getting great photos. A good eye for composition is why some can take super photos with inexpensive cameras while others can't take a decent photo with the most expensive camera in the world. There is just no substitute for good composition in the world of photography. The good news is that anyone can learn to compose a great photograph.

First, if you are taking a full body shot, remember to keep all arms, legs and feet in the shot. Cutting off someone's feet in a full-length shot makes the photo unpleasant to look at. If you can't get back far enough to include the whole body, consider an upper body or head and shoulders shot.

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With an upper body shot, you can cut the subject off at the waist and still have a nice photo. Just remember to keep the arms in the shot. If they are leading out of the shot, that's where the eyes of the viewer will want to go too.

With a head and shoulders shot, you want to keep the arms out of the shot. If too much of the upper body is shown, then the arms will once again lead the eye away from the subject. Concentrate your attention on the face and the turn of the shoulders and you should get excellent results.

When photographing children, make sure you get down to their eye level. Too many shots of children are from above their heads, which make them appear small and insignificant. If you snap the picture from a kneeling position, or even while lying down, you get a photo that is much better composed than one taken from above the subject.

4.) Lighting

Knowing a few basic lighting secrets is the next step to great portraits. All light is not created equal in the world of photography, and knowing the differences in lighting and how to use them will turn so-so pictures into prize-winning photos.

First, remember that straight-on flash photography is not the best way to get good portraits. It flattens the features and makes a dull photo. If you must use a flash, try to bounce the flash off of the ceiling or some other surface. A bounced flash will give much more pleasing light without robbing the face of its character.

Natural light, however, is a favorite of many photographers. Under the right conditions, the outdoors is the perfect portrait studio.

Remember, though, that harsh midday light can wash out the color in your photos. Early or afternoon light is best, since it is softer. Also, the light comes from the sides giving depth to a photo and accentuates the subject's features.

One thing to watch out for when taking outside photos is strong backlighting. While backlighting can result in some stunning photos, as when the hair has a halo effect, backlighting can also cast strong shadows onto your subject causing their face to be silhouetted against the bright light. To avoid this, you may want to use a fill flash to cast extra light onto the subject's face, bringing their features out of the shadows.