7 tips to improve your portrait photography

Taking amazing photos of people can be tricky, especially if you're not used to it. Here are 7 tips that will help any photographer get better portraits:

Put your subject at ease

Even if someone isn't very experienced in front of a camera lens, making sure they feel comfortable can help you get great results from the shoot – simple things like talking them through what you're doing or letting them suggest poses can make a huge difference! Show them your personality. Make them laugh if you can. Getting them to love you will help increase the chances that they’ll love your photos.

Take time to observe them

Before you even put your camera in front of a person's face, take some time to observe them, their environment and their mood. This will help you think about how best to capture the personality of the subject, as well as allow for more creative angles and poses. If your photo tells a story, it will immediately become more unique and special to the customer.

Ensure you have great lighting

Natural light can be great to work with when photographing people, but don't forget about artificial lighting too! Whether it's from a lamp or flash, exploring the different kinds of lighting available will add depth and complexity to your shots. Bad lighting can ruin an otherwise fantastic photo.

Get close to your subject

Don't be scared to move in close when taking photographs of people - doing so can make all the difference between an average portrait and one that pops off the page or screen. A close portrait can really capture the emotion and individuality of a person. Although if you’re using a flash, it’s best to stay approximately 6 feet away so not to over expose your subject.

Use captivating backgrounds

When framing your shot and considering where your subject is standing or sitting, think about what would make a compelling background – this could include details like texture, color or shape which adds depth and interest to your photo composition. If you’re shooting at a particular landmark, don’t forget to frame that in the background perfectly, as well as your subject.

Have a reliable camera at hand

Nothing beats having a reliable camera in terms of capturing stunning portraits – choose one with good resolution and lenses suited for portraits so you can get quality shots every time you press the shutter button. Learn your camera inside out, and make sure you know how to adjust the aperture, ISO, focus etc to get the perfect pic!

Experiment & have fun!

Last but not least, don't be afraid to experiment with different techniques and settings - sometimes unexpected results come out better than expected ones! Enjoy yourself while shooting and always remember that photography should be fun! Sometimes the best photos are the spontaneous ones.

How can Pixme help you sell more photos?

Pixme is designed to help photographers maximize their income. We use facial recognition technology combined with an easy notification and purchasing process to ensure every shoot ends with as many photo sales as possible. Once you take a photo of a customer, just get them to sign up by scanning the QR code in the app. Once they’ve signed up, they’ll get a notification when you upload photos of them. Pixme handles all the purchasing process, so you can just upload your photos and leave the rest to us.

Join now and find out just how much you could be making as a photographer.