Photographing people, especially friends and family, is a lot of fun. Now it’s time to get creative and take your portrait photography skills to the next level. These tips will help you turn snap-shots into photographs you will cherish.

1. Placing your subject in the middle of the frame is generally a bad idea. The reason being is because it makes for a very uninteresting photograph. Try placing your subject in the left side or the right side of the frame, because now you are including some background in your photo, adding context.

2. In regards to lighting, you want a soft light on your subject’s face. You will usually want the light source to your back, because if the light source is behind your subject, they will end up being very dark (sometimes you may want this effect) and you will lose detail in their face. Outdoor lighting (natural light) is always best, and that is generally before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m.

3. Your camera may have a „Portrait“ setting, creating a blurred background because it sets a shallow depth of field, blurring the background. This feature is very useful, and it will allow the viewer to focus on the subject. If you want to create this effect manually, set your aperture below 5.6

4. Try getting close to your subject. Zoom in; feel free to fill the frame with your subject’s face. You may want to have them look in different directions rather than directly into the camera. The most important thing is that your subject is comfortable and having fun.

5. Portraits are not just about a person’s face. Experiment capturing your subject without actually photographing their face. What can you say about someone by photographing their hands, feet, possessions? Can you photograph them in their element, where they work, or where they enjoy spending their free time?

6. Be creative. Try tilting the camera, or have the person move around. In low lighting (and using a tripod), you can use a long shutter speed to create streaking effects.

There are no set rules, so just have fun. Your subject may have some great ideas for specific shots or locations. It is always nice to send your subject a great photo of them after the photo shoot.