Portrait Photography How To

People are among the most popular photo subjects. This month's lesson presents some easy ways to produce better people shots.

1. Don't Just Sit There...
Static portraits—with the subject just slouched there, or stiffly posed, are not terribly appealing. It generally pays to play director as well as photographer when you're photographing people.

A successful commercial/editorial photographer in Orlando, Florida, Eric Dusenbery says he was greatly influenced by his father when honoring World War II veterans in his book, Veteran Voices. According to Dusenbery, he grew up listening to his father's WWII experiences in the South Pacific. "He was in New Guinea, the Philippines, and eventually went to Japan for a...

All photos by Nick Kelsh

A veteran of nine photography books, Nick Kelsh offers photo guidance to the masses in a very appealing, reader-friendly manner, has provided beautiful nature images for a new edition of Rachel Carson's classic The Sense of Wonder, and has traveled far and wide to shoot compelling photographs for the A Day in the Life book series. His images...

Shooting a self-portrait is a challenging task, but can be very rewarding. The one person that most photographers probably photograph least is themselves, and this is true even with those who enjoy shooting portraits of others. However, taking self-portraits has several advantages: you'll always have a willing subject...

Try these for better people-pictures

1. Action Portrait
If a portrait subject has an active hobby, photograph him or her in action doing it. If the action is rapid, use a fast shutter speed or electronic flash (fill-flash was used for the skateboarder), and take lots of shots to enhance your chances of getting that...

During his 30 years as a photojournalist, PF Bentley has attained rare access to numerous political figures and sought-after news events. He's known for his skill for getting close to his subjects without intruding on the events he's recording. Of this special talent, Bentley simply remarks, "I can blend into any wall." He rarely uses strobe; instead, he...

All photos © Joyce Tenneson

As one of today's most successful and influential photographers, Joyce Tenneson has a unique gift for portraying a person's true character in her images. This ability to reveal the true persona in her portrait subjects has become her signature style--one that elicits an emotional response from the viewer.

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