5 Elements of a Good Photography Portrait

Background

A background for a portrait does not have to be a solid sheet of paper hanging in a studio. The background can be anything from an office setting, forest, mountain landscape or a designed backdrop. A backdrop should not be brightly colored or so busy that it competes with the subject. If using a backdrop in a studio, select one that is either a light or dark solid color and not the same color the subject will be wearing. If choosing a printed backdrop or shooting the portrait in a natural setting, set the camera to blur the background while keeping the subject in focus.

The lighting used in a portrait can make the portrait look soft and warm. However, it can also wash out faces and make items appear too bright. If shooting portraits in a studio, use lighting umbrellas to soften the flash of light when shooting the photo. If you are shooting outdoors, add some lighting to reduce the amount of shadows or reflect lighting using reflective surfaces, such as aluminum foil placed on cardboard.

When composing the photo, try to use the rule of thirds to properly position the subject. The rule of thirds refers to the division of a portrait frame into thirds by equally dividing the frame with three horizontal lines and three vertical lines forming nine boxes. When shooting portraits, try to keep the subject's eyes, head and shoulders in the top third of the frame.

Your subject should be captivating and her smile should be sincere and not forced. A child should look innocent, such as tilting her head down while looking up at the camera through her eyelashes. Subjects should be sitting in a natural position without looking uncomfortable or stiff.

Props, including blocks, phones and presents can be used to capture kids interacting and being themselves in a portrait. Students can use props for graduation photos, such as a cap and gown, diploma or books. New parents can use the newborn as a prop in a portrait to remember the baby shortly after he has been born.