18 Best Portrait Photography Tips For Better Shoots
Finding the best location for a photoshoot can feel overwhelming. With so many options, how do you know which setting will help you achieve your creative goals? Choosing the correct location for a portrait session can help capture your subjects' unique personality and style, so it's worth assessing your options. In this article, we'll share our best portrait photography tips for choosing the best location for photoshoot to help you get better images.
One way to make your location decision easier is to rent a home styled for photography. Home Studio List's curated collection of rentals makes it easy to find the perfect space for your vision, with beautiful decor and plenty of natural light.
What is Portrait Photography?
Portrait photography, also known as portraiture, focuses on capturing the essence of an individual or group. The main goal of portrait photography is to convey the personality, identity, and mood of the subject or subjects. Portrait photography can be approached in many different ways to achieve varying results.
For instance, a portrait of a corporate CEO may convey a feeling of expertise, trust, and professionalism. In contrast, a picture of an actor might be more geared toward evoking awe at the range of emotions they can express or appreciation for their beauty.
Emotions in Portraits
A grade school portrait may convey cheerfulness, while a university graduation portrait might try to represent hopefulness for the future. The element of storytelling and connection to a feeling or emotion ties all of these together.
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18 Best Portrait Photography Tips for Better Shoots
1. Use Natural Light Through a Window or Screen
Direct sunlight can be harsh and unflattering on skin tones. Instead, work with natural light that streams through a window or screen. The light will be softer and more forgiving, which will assist in making an excellent portrait shot. It’s also inexpensive compared to studio portrait lighting.
2. Shoot From the Right Height
To capture your subject's features accurately, you’ll want to photograph them eye-to-eye. To achieve this, use equipment to elevate your camera or physically get down low to the ground to get the best shot possible.
3. Shoot Flash From an Angle
On-camera flash gives a deer-in-the-headlights look, and while flat lighting may be the look you’re going for, it’s more likely than not not the look you always want. Try flash from an angle by using a set-up with a light stand or having a friend hold it.
4. Experiment With Overexposure
Generally speaking, overexposure is something that photographers try to avoid. But unique to portrait photography, an overexposed image can help achieve a clean and polished look. This is because in an overexposure, some details, such as flaws, are lost. The trick here is to use it with moderation, so you don’t overdo it.
5. Use Unordinary Angles To Tell A Story
For example, you can make a person seem more powerful by shooting from a lower angle upwards, a child not appear so small by photographing them face-on, or shooting from afar to emphasize solitude or insignificance.
6. Shoot Candidly
Sure, you’re standing in front of your subject with a camera in hand, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get a candid photo. Try distracting your subject with conversation, either with you or a friend. You can also give them a task or a photograph from afar.
7. Use A Prop
A prop has all kinds of power over changing up your image. It can introduce a pop of color, create a story, or add something of visual interest. Think of something as simple as an umbrella or a stepstool, to something more unusual.
8. Use A Wide-Angle Lens
Traditionally, a wide-angle lens isn’t the lens most portrait photographers choose because it distorts whatever you place in front of it. While most photographers use a 50mm standard lens, shooting with a wide-angle lens (something under 50mm) will challenge you to get creative. Find examples in this on wide-angle portraits and using fisheye lenses!
9. Focus On Who Or What’s Closest
When taking a group portrait, focus on the closest person to the camera while shooting with a larger aperture. If you don’t, the front person will be out of focus, even with a large aperture.
10. Don’t Make Your Model The Center Of The Photo
This technique in particular challenges your sense of composition. You might bring in elements of architecture, backdrop, or props. For a step up, brush up on the rule of thirds.
11. Use Color For Mood
Color, or the lack thereof, has plenty of power over the feeling in your photo. Consider asking your model to wear a particular color or scout a location ahead of time to get the scheme you’re looking for. Familiarize yourself with the color wheel to understand what colors complement each other and which clash.
12. Check Your Background
Can you imagine anything worse than taking a stunning portrait only to find out that a cat awkwardly propped itself on a fence in the distance? A cat can make for a great portrait subject, but ensure you know what’s happening in the background, so your excellent shot isn’t ruined.
13. Prep Your Lens
Know what conditions you’ll be shooting in ahead of time. Are you experimenting with a wide-angle a la #8? Maybe you’re shooting from afar like in #6. Think about the kind of shot you want first, and be prepared.
14. Know How To Use Your Equipment Like The Back Of Your Hand
If you have to fumble to change a setting, then you may lose a second, and in photography, seconds can be the difference between a good shot and an excellent shot. Being able to quickly change the settings on your camera or make edits to your equipment will allow you to get better photos actively!
15. Stay Committed, Keep Shooting
The best way to improve is by getting as much experience as possible. If you’re new to the game, invite friends for photo shoots. Ask your friends, family, or colleagues, get the camera in your hand, and offer it for free until you’re phenomenal.
16. Fill In The Frame
Unless you shoot an environmental portrait, make your subject take up as much of the frame as possible, even if this means cropping hair or the top of their head. You want them to be the shot's center and primary focus.
17. Embrace Shadows
What we don’t see in an image can be as telling as what we see. Use shadows to help draw attention to these more subtle moments; it all works to elicit emotion from your viewer.
18. Shoot In RAW And B&W
Their ability to produce amazing yet unique photos sets experienced portrait photographers apart from beginners. Try shooting in monochrome or in black and white to give your photos more drama and highlight different textures within the image. You can also try shooting in RAW rather than the compressed JPEG format.
Shooting in RAW format produces “digital negatives” that preserve detail and produce high-resolution photos that are much easier to edit later. This means you can correct overexposed photos, edit unattractive blowouts, and salvage portraits that you can use for huge prints.
Shoot-Ready Spaces for Creatives
Home Studio List connects photographers and brands with beautifully styled homes and photography studios available for hourly rentals across 40+ states, eliminating the need to haul props or hunt for perfect natural lighting.
Our curated spaces are styled and shoot-ready, with on-site hosts to ensure a smooth experience from booking to production day. With streamlined booking managed by our Reservation Managers, creatives can focus on their craft while we handle all the logistics:
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Why Location Plays a Crucial Role in Portrait Photography
A carefully chosen location does more than just serve as a backdrop; it becomes part of the visual narrative. Some thought and planning can elevate your portraits from good to truly compelling when selecting your shoot location.
Mastering Natural Light
If you're working with natural light only, your location must offer soft, even light. North-facing window light is ideal, free from the harsh glare of direct sun, and it provides flattering, painterly illumination that echoes the work of classical portrait artists.
Skylights or overhead windows can also deliver beautiful light, often creating dramatic shadows and highlights. A reflector can be essential to bounce light back onto your subject’s face to avoid losing detail in those shadows.
Choosing the Right Setting
The correct setting depends on your subject and the mood you aim to capture, especially when photographing a young, fashion-forward individual. An urban environment with a shallow depth of field can give punchy, editorial-style portraits while blurring the busyness of the street.
For subjects drawn to a grittier aesthetic, worn textures, like peeling paint or weathered metal, can create a compelling contrast against fresh, expressive faces. Meanwhile, natural settings like gardens, beaches, or wooded parks feel warm and authentic for more emotive sessions like family or couple portraits.
Bokeh and Golden Hour Magic
One of the simplest and most effective tools you have is bokeh, a blurred background achieved with a wide aperture. This can transform nearly any location, even less-than-perfect ones, into a beautiful, creamy canvas that focuses entirely on your subject.
If you rely solely on available light, consider the time of day. Shortly after sunrise or before sunset, the golden hour offers a soft glow perfect for portraiture. In contrast, midday sun can be harsh and unflattering unless you’re shooting in shaded areas or using a scrim or diffuser to tame the light.
Creative Control with Flash
Flash users have more flexibility. On-camera and off-camera lighting allows for greater control indoors, even after dark. You can precisely manipulate your environment, combining artificial light with ambient light using techniques like “dragging the shutter, " which balances flash and natural light to avoid blown highlights or deep shadows.
This approach takes some practice, but when done right, it creates polished, well-lit images that look effortlessly natural.
Let the Setting Speak
Ultimately, the location should support the story you're telling, reflect the personality of your subject, and align with the overall creative vision. From gritty alleyways to airy studios, your setting is an active component of the portrait; treat it as such.
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5 Basic Essentials for Great Portrait Photography
1. Camera Gear That Works for You
You don’t need the most expensive equipment, but the right gear makes a real difference. Many successful portrait photographers started with entry-level DSLRs like the Canon XSi, paired with versatile kit lenses. As you grow, investing in a prime lens such as a 50mm f/1.4 or 85mm f/1.2 can transform your portraits with better sharpness, beautiful depth of field, and creamy bokeh.
Longer focal lengths (like 85mm to 200mm) tend to be more flattering for portraits, offering compression that enhances facial features and separates the subject from the background. Before purchasing, try renting different camera bodies and lenses to see what best fits your style and workflow.
2. Quality Education and Practice
Owning great gear is just the beginning. What counts is learning how to use it effectively. Explore books to master the exposure triangle, aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. Supplement your learning with YouTube tutorials, photography blogs, and online platforms like Fstoppers that offer technique-driven training.
Understanding your camera’s settings and how to control light will help you move from “lucky shots” to consistently strong images. The more you know, the more intentional your photography becomes.
3. A Willing Subject
You need someone to photograph; often, it’s friends or family who step in first. These early sessions are crucial for refining your posing skills, camera settings, and interpersonal approach. Most people you’ll photograph won’t be professional models, so guiding them confidently through poses and expressions is essential.
You can also make model calls or collaborate with aspiring models who want to build their portfolios. The key is to shoot often and analyze what works and what doesn’t after every session.
4. A Great Location
Not every portrait needs a studio. Natural environments can often elevate your shots. Local parks, historic buildings, botanical gardens, or even textured urban settings offer many possibilities.
Check for permissions, especially on private property or public places with regulations. Great locations complement your subject and provide context. As you develop your eye, you’ll see possibilities for portraits everywhere, often in the most unexpected spots.
5. Good Lighting
Lighting can make or break your portrait. For natural light photographers, golden hour, shortly after sunrise or before sunset, offers the most flattering results. Midday sun tends to be harsh, but shooting in open shade or using reflectors can help soften it.
Position your subject near large windows for gentle, directional light if you're working indoors. Eventually, you may explore off-camera flash or continuous lighting. Learning to shape light, even with simple tools like a reflector or foam board, can dramatically improve your portraits.
Browse Our Spaces for Your Next Shoot Today
Home Studio List connects photographers and brands with beautifully styled homes and photography studios available for hourly rentals across 40+ states, eliminating the need to haul props or hunt for perfect natural lighting.
Our curated spaces are styled and shoot-ready, with on-site hosts to ensure a smooth experience from booking to production day. With streamlined booking managed by our Reservation Managers, creatives can focus on their craft while we handle all the logistics:
Simply browse
Book
Show up to shoot
Browse our spaces for your next shoot today!
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