Portrait Photography How To

Toby Harvard calls himself a “fetish photographer” and he takes an unconventional approach to portraiture with his neon-lit images. His vibrant photographs often break the rules of composition, which is one reason his work is so interesting.

Wouldn't it be great if we could all just go to the beach right now? And it'd be even better if we could bring our cameras, meet up with a gorgeous model, and shoot stunning swimsuit images in sunny locations.

No need to be shy anymore when photographing people on the street. In the below video from Pierre T. Lambert, he offers three easy street photography tips for taking pictures of strangers on the streets.

Photography “hacks” videos are great fun because they help you shoot unique, attention-getting photos using ordinary household items. In the below video from Jessica Kobeissi, her five hacks involve using something you see all the time: glass.

Do the subjects in your portraits look a little stiff and unnatural? Your problem might not be the person you’re photographing but, rather, your choice of camera settings.

One of the things beginning portrait photographers often have difficulty with is getting their subjects to pose for photographs in a way that shows them in their best light. This is the very essence of portrait photography and posing can really make or break an image.

As a photo rep, I have always had great admiration for the portrait photographer. You are catching people at their worst (“I hate having my picture taken!”) and at their best (“Yes, this is really who I am!”). Whether it is a toddler, high school senior, or CEO, you are responsible to keep people calm, work fast, overcome technical and travel obstacles, and manage all the details of composition and lighting. In this column, we talk about all these issues as well as marketing your portrait photography business, the skills required for business success.