Portrait photography has been one of the most significant genres in photography since the day the camera was found. Portrait photos are the best way to express people’s feelings instantly. 

Recently, with the development of technology and the proliferation of smartphones, it has become easier to take portrait photos. Everyone can now take a self-portrait under the name “selfie.”. However, when we look at portrait photography, you can see that it is not so easy to perform it, and it requires knowledge and professional techniques.

How to take portraits?

For portrait photos to look good, we need to focus primarily on the face and shoulder parts of the person you are going to shoot. It is because that portrait photos comprise the type of photo that most clearly expresses the feelings of the model. In successfully shot portrait photographs, you see the very deep senses and even empathize with the person who has been photographed. So, how to take an intimate portrait photo? Now, I will try to give you the answers to this question.

You definitely have to be extremely patient when taking portraits. Portrait photos require a lot of effort, sometimes you can spend hours to get a good shoot. You may be a little intimidated by what I’m mentioning, but there are also some advantages over other types of photography. One of them, for example, is that you can take beautiful portrait photos with a medium-quality camera or even with a smartphone camera. Another advantage of portrait photography is that it does not require editing. Photographers do not edit the portrait to reflect the personality of the person as it is. 

The natural beauty in portraits 

Portrait photography is good when it is completely natural. Therefore, contrary to widespread belief, the person you take in portrait photos should not pose. In this category, the setting is also a terribly crucial factor. If you are not taking photos in a studio environment, you should take pictures where the person you are photographing will feel comfortable. This will allow that person to act natural, and the photos will come out better. If you are taking photos in a studio environment, you should use a background that is not distractive. As with any type of photography, light is a very important issue in portrait photography. The dominant theme of the portrait photo is the facial features of the person so adjusting the light to the person you’re going to photograph is an immensely essential element. If the light does not feel the way you want, you can apply the reverse light method using the flash. Another way to adjust your light correctly is to choose your distance very well. You shouldn’t go too close to the person you’re photographing. To find the best distance, you must be quite patient and be unhasting at times. In portrait photos you should definitely focus on the face. In direct proportion to the distance, you choose the most substantive issue to consider in portrait photography is perspective. Perspective is a valuable element that completely changes the composition of your photo. Many issues affect the perspective, such as the distance and light between you and the model. You should adjust your perspective by paying attention to all these issues. In doing so, you should definitely seek the person you are going to photograph for your opinion. Taking a photo from the wrong perspective will bother that person, and you should pay attention to it.

I think it would be a pleasing thing to disclose some objective information after this kind of technical knowledge. The lens you require to choose for portrait photography should typically have a focal length between 35 and 200 mm. Never use a wide-angle lens when taking portrait photos. This may cause twists in your photo. If you are an outdoor shooting person, you can use lenses with apertures f/1.8 and f/1.4. In this way, you can also do well in more difficult light conditions.

I have compiled for you the topics to be considered in portrait photography. By applying the points mentioned, you can express the beauty and feelings of your loved ones more beautifully and clearly. 

I’ll see you guys on the next topic!

Take care 

Anıl Uzun