Portrait Tips

We rarely consider photographing shadows, but oftentimes the long shadows created in early morning or late afternoon light are so dramatic that they can actually become interesting subjects for our photos.

Shadows exist wherever light exists, but we tend to overlook them, partly because our eyes are drawn to light--and...

In his day, Father Ambrose Mattingly ministered to the Native Americans in the northern Great Plains, and had a small photography studio in South Dakota near the mission at Village Stephan. From 1895--1905, this Benedictine monk took pictures of various tribes in his studio and at several South Dakota Indian reservations, including...

All Photos by Lara Jo Regan

As an award-winning photojournalist, Lara Jo Regan traveled widely on assignment for magazines like Time, Newsweek, and LIFE to document riots, slices of Americana, and some of the nation's poorest families. Her mother, a former socialite, once...

As with an environmental portrait, you can capture revealing images of people by photographing them at work. The idea is to not only portray the individual, but to show what a person does with his/her life. Most occupations have distinctive tools, clothing, or settings that can be interesting to photograph. Some people who would...

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...