Make your subjects look their best with our professional portrait photography tips, covering lighting setups, location scouting and tips for working with models.
Ilko Alexandroff is a surreal fashion and travel photographer, born in Bulgaria but now living in Japan. His experiments with light—silhouettes, bokeh, patterns—have led him to step out in the rain every so often for a few creative self portraits. It takes a lot of prep to keep all his gear dry, but the results are pretty […]
Family portraits are warm and tell tons of different stories. They remind us of the most beautiful moments spent in the company of our loved ones and bring us back through time. The best family photos capture sincere emotion and illustrate our relationships. Here are some great examples: For more great ideas, check out tips […]
In a stunning example of creative portrait photography, Leo Rosas has shot a single model 11 times, using 11 different post-processing techniques to depict more than 160 years of photography. The video is less than two minutes, and worth a look: For those curious about what each type is and what years they’re replicating, here are the images with […]
In this instructional video, renowned portrait photographer Damien Lovegrove shows us how to achieve a striking effect using a reflective background with an on-camera flash. This technique works great for portraiture, fashion and beauty photography: Lovegrove has chosen a background of stainless steel with swirling patterns on it. Shooting with a Nikon D300, a 14-24mm f/2.8 […]
Setting up backdrops need not be a gladiatorial fight unto death with C-stands, clamps, tape, and the backdrops themselves. There are easier ways to set these up and enjoy the fruits of a professional looking backdrop. In this video, Jay P. Morgan shows us three simple ways to set up a backdrop: 1. Plumbing Pipes […]
In portrait lighting you can use one, two, or even three or more lights to create different effects, but if you’re a beginner, how do you know where to start? This short video by photographer Daniel Norton gives some great pointers: Key Light In portrait lighting, we usually start with a key light. This on […]
Meticulous planning and work ethic definitely sets you up for success as a photographer, but amazing, career-defining photographs aren’t always captured as the result of careful planning and dedication. Sometimes, you just get lucky. Sometimes, Mohammed Ali approaches you with a play punch and you just so happen to have your camera ready. Sometimes, lightning strikes just as a runner with the […]
Group portraits are paradoxical: How can you pose subjects in an interesting way while still keeping them all in focus? Shooting with a narrow aperture is one option, but that would lose the intimacy of the moment, keeping more of the background in focus. In this quick video, Tamara Lackey shows how to balance sharpness with aesthetics, keeping everyone in focus […]
Technical knowledge of photography is exceedingly important, but for the studio portrait photographer, nothing beats excellent interpersonal skills. Effectively communicating with your subjects sets them at ease, which automatically boosts the quality of your photographs. In the following video, photographer Daniel Norton discusses the five methods he uses to put subjects at ease during portrait sessions: […]
Portrait photography is an intimate art—so intimate, in fact, that the slightest changes can alter the entire image. In the video below, Gavin Hoey shows us three simple adjustments you can make to vastly change your portrait’s atmosphere: Hoey is working with a model posing as a boxer after a fight. Shooting with an Olympus E-M5ii and attached Olympus 12-40mm […]
