Christmas FireplacePortrait photography: Ultimate Guide with Equipment, Basic Rules and Tips
Beginners in portrait photography start with the basics of photography, acquiring a good-quality DSLR or mirrorless camera, mastering its settings and the technical aspects of photography including lighting and the exposure triangle, collecting a wide range of portrait photography equipment, and gaining experience in the types of portrait photography you’re interested in.
Beyond essential camera skills for portraiture, this portrait photography guide for beginners addresses how to engage and properly pose subjects when necessary and the business side of starting a portrait photography business.
What Is Portrait Photography?
Portrait photography is a type of photography that seeks to show the essence of a person or group of people by capturing their personality and expression.
Also called portraiture, portrait photography can be artistic, seeking to portray the mood or emotion of the subject in order to produce a connection between the image and the viewer. Or it can be technical with the goal of accurately representing the person’s looks. In either scenario, the portrait can be formal or casual.
The most popular types of portrait photography include family portraits, black and white portrait photography, fine art portrait photography, business portrait photography, traditional portraits and candid portrait photography.
To produce the desired portrait, photographers compose the scene using lighting, backgrounds or backdrops, poses and props. With experience, photographers learn to use a range of techniques and variations in ISO, aperture and shutter speed to produce the image wanted.
Types of Portrait Photography
Here are the most common types of portrait photography and what they entail.
-
Black and white portrait photography: Shooting in black and white creates portraits that are aesthetically simple and highlight the subject’s form, features and expression without the distraction of color. Addressing the value of B&W photography, Canadian photojournalist Ted Grant famously said: “When you photograph people in color, you photograph their clothes. But when you photograph people in black and white, you photograph their souls!” Often artistically presented, black and white portrait photography requires skills in lighting and composition of the picture.
-
Family portrait photography: This type of group portrait photography tells the story of the members’ love for and connection to one another with the goal of portraying the family’s unique, collective personality. Settings can be casual or formal and range from the family’s home or yard, other natural outdoor setting, the studio or a family function like a wedding or reunion.
-
Environmental portrait photography: This subgenre of portrait photography captures the subject in a setting that tells you something about who they are, such as at their place of work or posing with objects related to a hobby or specific talent or accomplishment. As such, the background, the environment, is a critical part of the story told in the image.
-
Fine art portrait photography: Fine art portraiture produces visual artistry that moves the viewer, rather than simply capturing the likeness of the subject. Fine art portraits are produced using traditional and non-traditional lighting, editing, focus and post-processing techniques to exhibit creative freedom. Prime lenses from 35mm to 135mm are common depending on the scenario as is a macro lens, e.g., 100mm.
-
Conceptual portrait photography: This genre of portrait photography aims to tell a story or make a specific point, often creating an image as a visual, evocative metaphor. Conceptual photography embraces experimentation and employs symbolism through the use of makeup, hairstyle, props and costumes plus artistically arranged lighting and post-processing techniques to express the desired concept.
-
Business portrait photography: Business portrait photography is used to capture images for use on business websites or in social media and in marketing and advertising. It is more than just capturing an accurate likeness of the subject. When done well, business portraiture also presents the subject as desired – competent, professional, trustworthy, creative, hard-working, intelligent or compassionate. Business headshots are common, though shots of the entire subject are used as well.
-
Candid portrait photography: Candid portraits capture the subject in natural moments, exuding authenticity with minimal posing. The goal is to show the genuine, unguarded personality of the subject. A 70mm to 200mm lens allows the photographer to capture candid shots from a distance, and burst mode helps get the best moment. Candid portrait photography is a method used in other portrait photography genres like family portraits, street photography portraits, lifestyle portrait photography and pet portrait photography.
-
Intimate portrait photography: Intimate portraiture captures the essence of a person not typically seen by most people. More than boudoir photography, it may express sexuality, romance and emotion to display authenticity and vulnerability, but can also capture intimacy in non-sexual ways. Intimate portrait photography is similar to fine art photography in that it depends heavily on the artistic choices of the photographer. Shallow depth of field, soft or selective lighting and shooting in black and white are common techniques in intimate portrait photography.
-
Traditional portrait photography: This classic portrait photography genre emphasizes accuracy in capturing the likeness of the subject or subjects. It is often done in a studio setting using classic lighting and prime lenses like 35mm, 50mm and 85mm with wide f/stops. Solid backgrounds with a focus on the subject are key aspects of traditional portrait photography.
-
Lifestyle portrait photography: This genre of portraiture seeks to depict people in their everyday lives in a way that tells the viewer their story or who they are. For best results, the photographer should spend significant time with the subject to get to know them and choose an environment that reflects their day-to-day life. Tips are to shoot the subject moving, engaging in their normal activities, using natural light and a fast shutter speed with a prime or zoom lens.
-
Formal portrait photography: Formal portraiture emphasizes classic pose in a well-composed, structured image. Using a medium telephoto lens is common for best results. The pose is typically natural with focus on the face, especially the eyes. Three-point lighting (main light, backlight and fill light) creates lighting balance.
-
Street photography portraits: Street portraits emphasize spontaneous, candid shots that capture the subject unposed in an environment that tells their story. Subjects in street portrait photography are often moving, so the use of a fast lens, wide aperture like f/1.8 to f/3.5, and a 35mm or 50mm lens are common.
-
Close up portrait photography: Facial details are the subject of close up portrait photography with an emphasis on skin tone and texture, eye shape and color and the person’s expression. The goal is to capture their essence, and a shallow depth of field preferred using a wide aperture and set off the person from the background. A medium telephoto lens is a good choice in capturing the face so that it fills the frame.
-
Pet portrait photography: This genre of portraiture seeks to capture the personality of a pet in its daily life. Fast shutter speed, a simple background and shallow depth of field assist in capturing the essence of the pet in a natural setting.
-
Long exposure photography portrait: This unique genre of portrait photography captures images using a slow shutter speed to produce artistic effects including blur and light trails. A tripod is commonly used, and many photographers experiment with lighting and shutter speed to get the effect they want.
-
Glamour portrait photography: Glamour photography is all about stylizing the beauty of the subject. Essentials are controlled by dramatic lighting, perfect hair, makeup and clothing, poses designed to optimize beauty and elegance, and the goal of creating a compelling, attractive shot.
What Kinds of Equipment Are Needed for Portrait Photography?
Here is a guide to the best kinds of equipment needed for portrait photography – cameras, lenses and lighting.
-
Cameras: A quality mirrorless or DSLR camera is the place to start. Most major manufacturers like Nikon and Canon have been discontinuing (e.g. Nikon D3500 and 5600) or not updating their DSLR camera models, and so mirrorless cameras, aka mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras (MILC), are becoming increasingly popular. Top portrait photography cameras include the mirrorless Canon 1D X Mark 111, EOS R5 and R6, mirrorless Sony A7 and the Nikon D5600 (DSLR) and Z6-Z9 (mirrorless).
-
Lenses: Select a prime lens with proven sharpness and a range of f/stops including wide apertures. Good combinations for portrait photography are 35mm at f/1.4 and f/1.8 for street, environmental and candid portrait photography, 50mm at f/1.2 to f/2.8 for versatility and 85mm at f/1.2 and f/1.4 for close up portrait photography such as headshots and fine art/macro portraiture. You might also want to add a standard zoom lens like a 24-70mm or 70-200mm or a telephoto zoom lens like a 70-200mm f/2.8 lens to your essential portrait photography equipment.
-
Lighting: Pro photographers use a range of lighting depending on the scene. Natural lighting creates a natural look. Studio lighting is essential, and LED panels and speedlights like the Nikon SB-5000 AF and Canon Speedlite EL-5 are popular. Strobe lighting is an advanced choice for dramatic shots.
What Kinds of Accessories Do I Need for Portrait Photography?
Consider these kinds of accessories for portrait photography in addition to a camera, lens and lighting.
-
Lighting accessories: Common light reflectors and modifiers include a 5-in-1 or 7-in-1 reflector, Westcott Rapid Box Octa and lighting umbrellas.
-
Backgrounds and backdrops: A range of seamless, high-quality backdrops are essential equipment for any studio or portable portrait photography. Start a collection of backdrops for holidays, seasons, events such as weddings, and styles including bokeh, beach, landscape, flowers, etc.
-
Tripod: Stability is essential for sharp images and those that use a long exposure. Top brands affordable enough for most photographers include Vanguard, Takama, Induro and Manfrotto.
Experienced photographers also make use of a comfortable camera strap, remote shutter release and lens filters that enhance color, reduce glare and filter UV.
What Editing Software Do I Need for Portrait Photography?
Adobe Photoshop is the most commonly used pro tool for retouching and editing portrait photos. PortraitPro with AI features is designed for portrait photography. Capture One is designed for raw processing. Adobe Lightroom is a great beginners option, and you might also want to consider Serif Affinity as an alternative to Photoshop, and ACDSee Gemstone.
How to Take Great Portrait Photos?
The best tips for taking great portraits include engaging the subject for authenticity, pose the subject when necessary to achieve the look you want, use the right lens for the scene, master exposure with aperture and shutter speed, pay attention to background and get the light right for the intended effect.
-
Make a connection with the subject: People skills are essential for getting the subject comfortable in front of the camera, which will make them photogenic and ensure you get the shot you want, whether casual, formal or candid. And you’ll get them to express themselves in a more genuine and authentic manner for a shot that will capture their essence.
-
Focus on the subject’s eyes: Viewers are drawn to the eyes in a picture, and so the eyes should be in sharp focus. This is challenging at f-stops below f/2.8 and can be achieved using a central autofocus point. In headshots and traditional portrait photography, the subject’s eyes should be looking at the camera or following the direction of their nose.
-
Pose the subject in some portrait photography styles: For formal, family, pet and traditional portraiture, directing your subject into the “right” pose for the shot you want is essential. Consider the best angle, and if you want to avoid making them look heavier than they are, turn their shoulders into the camera and keep them at slightly different heights. Posing isn’t used in street portrait photography and candid shots.
-
Select the right lens for the situation: There is a learning curve here too. While 85mm lenses are considered classic portrait lenses, they aren’t right for closeups because they force you to get very close to the subject. Longer focal lengths compress the image, and facial detail is lost. In reality, professional portrait photographers use telephoto lenses much of the time to get more control over the presentation.
-
Try black and white: Monochrome is ideal for portraits seeking to capture the features, expression and personality of the subject. Black and white portrait photography can be applied to environmental, conceptual, candid, intimate, street and long exposure portrait photography.
-
Experiment with aperture, shutter speed and ISO to master exposure: It takes thousands of shots to master the exposure triangle of aperture, shutter speed and ISO. Work in aperture priority and shutter priority modes with various ISO settings to learn how each setting looks. And consider a camera with program mode that offers preset combinations that produce similar exposure but different looks.
-
Choose the right background, including bokeh when effective: While keeping the subject the focal point, place them in front of a background that enhances them, not distracts from or overwhelms them. Plainer, even bland, backgrounds are often best, or one that captures their environment or lifestyle without detracting from the subject. And learn to use bokeh in a shallow depth of field to isolate your subject when that will improve the scene.
-
Optimize natural and artificial lighting for the look you want: Knowing how light works is central to all photography. If shooting outdoors, for example, visit the site in the days ahead to know what the light will be like at the time you plan to shoot, preferably in the golden hours of early and late light. Learning about natural and artificial lighting is a long-term experience for even pro photographers.
-
Pick a great location: There is no perfect location for all types of portrait photography. The best location will be different for each type such as black and white, environmental, business, casual, lifestyle, formal, street, traditional, or intimate portrait photography.
-
Use complimentary colors: In formal and traditional portrait photography, subjects may have favorite colors that they want to dress in but that clash with their skin tone or the preferred background for the shot. You’ll need to speak up to get them to wear the colors that work best for their overall look and for the scene.
Achieving Good White Balance in Portrait Photography
You can achieve good white balance in your portrait photography by using light reflectors, creating a custom white balance using a white card, shooting in RAW and adjusting white balance in post-processing.
A popular technique for excellent white balance is to direct light back onto the subject’s face with a reflector. Most photography reflectors are produced in multiple surfaces including white, gold, silver, translucent and black. Look for 2-in-1, 5-in-1 and 7-in-1 reflectors that come in round, oval and curved shapes. A reflector stand will prove invaluable too.
A white card allows your camera to adjust white balance to the current lighting conditions. Choose a setting called “WB Set” or “custom white balance,” take a picture of the card, and the camera will set white balance for that lighting.
Shooting in RAW captures the most data on color, and this gives you the ability to make greater adjustments to white balance in the image.
These white balance tips are essential because your camera’s built-in auto white balance can be led astray by extraneous light reflecting onto the person, their clothing or shade in the scene.
What Focal Lengths Are Suitable for Portrait Photography?
Prime lenses from 35mm to 135mm and zoom lenses are suitable for portrait photography. Here are the options and how to use them in portrait photography.
An 85mm lens is the most common lens for portrait photographers. Its shallow depth of field provides enough bokeh to isolate the subject, and the compression of an 85mm lens is just right for capturing faces in their best light.
Many use a 35mm for versatility, group portraits, and broader scenes. A 50mm lens is often used for half to full portrait shots. And it is versatile enough for many types of portrait photography including traditional, family, pet, environmental, street and candid. If you’re shooting headshots and closeups, a 135mm lens is ideal.
Consider a 70-200 zoom lens, the choice of many professional photographers, for versatility when you want to shoot at various focal lengths depending on the scene and the portraits you want.
What is the Basic Rule of Thumb for Portrait Photography Poses?
The basic rule of thumb for portrait photography poses is to present the subject looking their best in a genuine, comfortable pose. In other words, the goal of posing a subject is to make the shot look unposed and natural.
These rules of thumb for portrait photography posing apply.
-
First, develop a rapport with the subject to help them relax. This is the best way to ensure that their expressions will be natural and comfortable.
-
Next, encourage them to stand or sit with their back straight, chin slightly down and either point at the camera or slightly to the side – take shots in both poses to capture the image they prefer. A slight tilt to the head creates visual interest, as long as it looks natural. Looking right at the camera produces a connection with the viewer and elicits trust; looking away from the camera looks contemplative and creates intrigue.
-
Their body should be at an angle to the camera of about 45 degrees. That’s one-quarter of the way to them having their back to you (180 degrees). The best portrait pose is often achieved by placing most of the subject’s weight on the back leg.
-
Hands should be comfortably held or in pockets, not clasped behind their back or hanging at their sides.
-
Finally, take a lot of shots, including burst mode, and then get feedback from the subject. Keep working the pose until you’re able to capture exactly what the subject wants their portrait to be.
What Are Portrait Photography Tips from Professional Photographers?
These tips from professional portrait photographers will improve your results.
- Engage the subject on a personal level, which will encourage them to relax and open up to the camera. “When I say I want to photograph someone, what it really means is that I’d like to know them.” Annie Leibovitz shows her style in a image with Leo DeCaprio.
- Shoot in RAW: RAW files contain all the data captured by the camera, and this gives you the control to use it to produce dynamic portraits of the highest quality. RAW is the standard for pros like Sue Bryce who says, “RAW files allow me to have complete control over the final look of my images. I can adjust everything from exposure to white balance to contrast with precision.”
- Encourage movement: “Hold still” is often heard in portrait studios, but many pros like Irina Bg break the mold. She shares, “In most cases, I give my models freedom to move. That way, you’ll be able to see their inner beauty and charm.” To capture the best of your moving subject, consider shutter priority mode set to a fast shutter speed.
- Carefully prepare the shot: Photographer legend Ansel Adams said, “You don’t take a photograph, you make it.” And pro Alexsey Malikov adds, “It is better to spend two hours preparing and fifteen minutes shooting.”
- Be ready to shoot: This tip applies to portrait photography types like family, environmental, candid, intimate, lifestyle, street, and pet portrait photography. Professional photographer Steve McCurry reminds us, “The best pictures are uninvited. They are suddenly there in front of you. But they are there only if you are there.”
- Be patient – don’t be in a hurry to get the shot: This is a great pro tip for all types of portrait photography. McCurry adds, “If you wait, people will forget your camera and the soul will drift up into view.” And the soul is what you hope to capture.
Who Are Some Famous Portrait Photographers?
Here are famous portrait photographers of this generation and previous generations.
- James Van Der Zee: (1886-1993) This African American photographer is famous for his portraits of black residents of Harlem. His work reflects outstanding artistry and unique documentation of the times. See this link 8.-Young-Woman-1935_v3-scaled.jpg (2053×2560) (wp.com).
- Dorothea Lange: (1895-1965) Lange was an early documentary photographer known widely for her images of the Great Depression, especially her Migrant Mother photograph.
- Yousuf Karsh: 1908-2002 Karsh is considered one of the best portrait photographers of the 20th C. His work exhibits brilliant composition and use of lighting. Celebrities were among his favorite subjects.
- Richard Avedon: (1923-2004) Avedon was a fashion photographer who worked in minimalist black and white portrait photography.
- Steve McCurry (born 1950): McCurry shot the iconic “Afghan Girl” portrait in his work as a portrait photographer and photojournalist.
- Annie Leibovitz: (born 1949) Leibovitz is best known for her work with Rolling Stone magazine and her iconic photo of John Lennon and Yoko Ono on the day he was shot to death.
You may also benefit from exploring the work of portrait photographers Irving Penn, Henri Cartier-Bresson, and Diane Arbus.
How to Become a Portrait Photographer
Here are steps to becoming a portrait photography:
-
Grow your passion for portrait photography: You can do this by looking at the portraiture of the “greats” both past and present.
-
Master the basics of photography: Get familiar with the exposure triangle and how each element of shutter speed, aperture and ISO affect the shot. Learn your camera’s settings and what they do. Develop your composition skills. Understand the importance of lighting and its possibilities.
-
Invest in equipment: Start with a quality mirrorless or DSLR camera. Then acquire a tripod, good zoom lens, a reflector, lighting equipment, filters and other accessories as you are able.
-
Practice and experiment: Take thousands of portraits using various camera modes until you intuitively know each one.
-
Expand your capabilities into all portrait photography types and genres including black and white, environmental, family, fine art photography, conceptual, candid, business, street, lifestyle, pet, etc
-
Become expert in editing software: Editing and post-processing is essential to good portrait photography. Your best software choices are Adobe Photoshop, the standard for pros.
-
Take work and make work: Take any work that clients bring to you. And when you’re short on work, invite interesting subjects to pose for you.
-
Build your portfolio: Select the best portraits you’ve taken and highlight them in the portfolio.
-
Make connections and market your services: While it is important to gain professional connections with other photographers, they are often your competitors. Also build relationships with schools, churches, businesses, wedding chapels/venues and other organizations that use portrait photographers. A presence on Facebook, Instagram, X and a personal website are essential.
-
Keep up with trends: Like any profession, portrait photography evolves. Keep up with trends to stay ahead of the curve – be ready when there is a demand that you can meet.
How to Start a Portrait Photography Business?
Here are keys to starting a portrait photography business.
-
The first step in starting a portrait photography business is to become a portrait photographer, as outlined above. And continue to develop your skills.
-
Develop a diverse portfolio of various types of portraiture. Do this even if you have to offer your services free to the subjects in order to get great portraits.
-
Rent or purchase studio space. Look at spaces in high-traffic areas. The best options are in the arts district or shopping district in your city or a high-volume strip mall. You will pay a higher lease cost, but the return on investment will likely be much higher than in a low-traffic area with cheap rent.
-
Market your portrait photography business online through: Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter and a portrait photography website.
-
Set up a booth at art fairs, holiday bazaars and similar community gatherings where you can shoot a free family/personal/pet portrait and email it to the subjects. This is a cheap way to advertise your services and to develop an email list and text list for marketing purposes.
-
Offer your services free to organizations like schools, churches, synagogues, youth sports leagues and clubs to provide free portraits for their digital directory, or a simple printed portrait free or at low cost, and develop an email list and text list from that too.
-
Develop relationships with gallery owners that might be willing to display your best works of portraiture.
-
Take business cards and a portfolio around to offices, pet groomers, restaurants and other kinds of businesses that use portrait photos.
As a portrait photographer, you’re a creative person. These suggestions might get your creative juices flowing, and you’ll begin to think of exciting and effective marketing methods as you start your portrait photography business.
Is Backdrop Important for a Portrait Photography Business?
Yes, the right backdrop is very important for portrait photography. Choose a portrait photograph background consistent with the image you want to express. Become familiar with local, natural backdrop options and invest in a range of backdrops for shooting in the studio.
How Do You Price Portraits in a Photography Business?
The key to setting a price for portraits in a photography business is to know what other portraits are being sold for – what your competitors are charging. This will help you establish the market value of your portraits.
For clients that come to you seeking portraits, price your portrait photography based on how much time you spend on these factors: Consultation, photography session time and travel time, post-production/processing time, and your overhead cost for equipment. Build into your costs a margin for marketing and advertising.
However, if you are taking portraits for creative purposes as an art form and the images will be sold at galleries or at your display, for example, then pricing portraits depends on your reputation, the quality of the work, its style and what is currently in vogue.
What Are Common Portrait Photo Sizes?
Common portrait photo sizes range from 4x6 inches to 24x36 inches or larger. Here are your options and uses.
-
4x6 inches (10x15 cm): Small, personal prints used in types like family, business, traditional and closeup portrait photography.
-
5x7 inches (13x18 cm): Great for small frames on the wall and tabletop. This common portrait size is used for business, family, candid, lifestyle, street and pet portrait photography.
-
8x10 inches (20x25 cm): A popular portrait size for framed pictures, this portrait photo size is ideal for all portrait photography genres and especially black and white, family, environmental, intimate, pet, traditional and street photography.
-
11x14 inches (28x36 cm): Portrait photography photos this size are used for group, family, environmental, fine art, conceptual, candid, lifestyle, and street portrait photography.
-
16x20 inches (40x50 cm)/20x24 inches (50x61 cm)/24x36 inches (61x91 cm): Large and extra-large portrait photographs allow for more detail and context. They are used in personal portraits for promotional purposes and most other types of portrait photography especially environmental, conceptual, fine art, lifestyle, intimate, boudoir and street portrait photography.
