Fun Portrait Photography Tips & Ideas for 2024

Whether you’re trying to learn how to become a photographer or you’re just having fun and improving your selfies, learning some portrait photography basics can be both helpful and enjoyable. You can take your photos to the next level, and it’s easier than you think! Are you ready to up your photography game?

With a new camera and a bit of practice, you can start taking professional-quality headshots or just simple portrait photography for Pinterest, Instagram or even dating apps. 

But what are the rules for portrait photography? What does a portrait photographer do? Let’s answer those questions and more. Read on to learn all about portrait photography for beginners. 

Jump to Section 

• What is Portrait Photography?
• Portrait Photography Tips for Beginners
• Professional Portrait Photography Tips
• Unique Portrait Photography Ideas
• How to Take Portrait Photos at Home
• Famous Portrait Photography Artists
• Great Portrait Photography Galleries to Explore

What is Portrait Photography?

What is considered portrait photography, anyway? 

Portrait photography is a genre of photography that focuses on capturing images of people or groups. Typically, the images have an emphasis on the face, expression, and personality of the subject.

Portraits tend to be close-up or medium-range shots. They can be either posed or candid. While portraits are often shot in a studio or controlled environment, they can also be taken in natural or outdoor settings (and are often more effective that way).

Portrait photography encompasses various styles, including headshots, which are close-up shots of the face often used for professional or business purposes. Full-body portraits, which show the entire person in a posed or staged setting, are another type of portrait photography. Candid portraits, which capture spontaneous and natural shots of the subject, and environmental portraits, which show the subject in their natural environment or surroundings, are also popular styles. 

Overall, portrait photography aims to capture the essence and personality of the subject, and can be a powerful way to tell stories and convey emotion. There’s no one “right” way to take a portrait. 

Portrait Photography Tips for Beginners

You have to walk before you can run. In this case, you have to learn the basics before you can start having real fun with your portraits. Don’t worry, photography is meant to be fun and creative. So while the learning curve can feel steep, you should have fun while you progress. Here are some basic beginner photography tricks to get you started.

1. Understand Your Camera

Whether you’re using a phone, a cheap point-and-shoot, or a “real” professional camera, you need to know what you’re working with. Familiarize yourself with your camera's settings and modes. Know how to use aperture, shutter speed, and ISO to control the look of your images.

If you’re using your phone, explore “portrait mode.” What is portrait mode photography? It mimics a shallow depth of field to put more focus on the subject of your photo. 

Regardless, take some practice shots before you start taking real portraits so you can get the hang of your camera. 

2. Pay Attention to Lighting

Light is crucial for good portrait photography. The light can make or break a photo. Spend some time learning how light impacts the final result of the portrait.

Natural light is always a winner. Shoot near a window or outside during the golden hour (the hour just before sunset) for soft, flattering light. If you’re shooting with artificial lights, learn how they all reflect against the subject or change the colors of the surroundings. 

3. Experiment With Angles

Don't be afraid to try different angles and perspectives. Shoot from above, below, or at an angle to add visual interest. Many people start by taking simple portraits head-on.

While this can be good for more practical portraits, like headshots, photographers should feel empowered to think outside of the box and see how portraits look when taken from a different perspective. 

4. Focus on the Eyes

Some people say the eyes are the windows to the soul. Make sure they're in sharp focus and well-lit in most cases. If you have several subjects, make sure they’re all looking where you want them to look. This may not always be at the camera. If you’re taking couple’s portraits, for example, you may want the subjects to look at each other instead. 

5. Work With Your Subject

When you’re taking portraits, your subject is a living and breathing person with their own ideas of how they want the photos to come out. Direct your subject, but also let them relax and be themselves. Encourage natural expressions and poses.

If the portrait is meant to truly “capture” them, you want to give them the space to be themself rather than stick them in strict and unnatural poses (unless those poses are absolutely necessary). 

6. Keep It Simple

Avoid cluttered backgrounds and distracting props. Let your subject be the focus, at least when you first get started.

Many beginner photographers make the mistake of trying to do too much in a photo and it ends up looking like an “I Spy” puzzle. There’s a time and place for creative clutter, like the highly stylized portrait photography of David LaChapelle, but beginners should stick to the basics and let their subjects shine without competing with the background.

Even if you want fun things in the background, make sure the focus is on your subject. If you’re in a garden, for example, remember you’re doing portrait photography and not flower photography.

7. Learn About Composition

Understand the rule of thirds in photography, leading lines and framing to create visually appealing images. Beginners should do their best to follow the “rules” of portraits when they’re still learning. After they’ve accustomed themselves to the rules, they can start getting more creative. 

8. Practice, Practice, Practice

The more you shoot, the better you'll become. Take your camera with you and keep practicing whenever you can. Take photos of your friends, your pets, dolls and even yourself. It may feel silly sometimes, but if nothing else you’ll end up with plenty of captured memories to look back on later. 

Professional Portrait Photography Tips

So you’re no longer a beginner and you’re ready to start enhancing your skills beyond the basics. You can hold your camera, you know the “rules” of good portraits and you’re ready to try something new. Now what? Here are a few tips that can help you elevate your photos and potentially help you to start taking on real photography clients. 

1. Experiment With Composition

When you were a beginner, you had to learn and follow the portrait photography rules. You learned how to use the rule of thirds, leading lines and framing to create nice and well-balanced photos that look, for all intents and purposes, “correct.”

Once you’ve spent time learning, don't be afraid to break the rules and try unconventional compositions. Many great photos don’t follow conventional rules, but the photographer has such a strong eye for composition that they’re able to make it work. 

2. Shoot In RAW

Many photographers will capture images in RAW format to have more flexibility during post-processing. This allows them to take advantage of the increased dynamic range and color depth. If you want your photos to look more “professional,” shooting in RAW is a good idea.

RAW photos aren’t compressed and they retain more detail than common JPEGs, which often leads to more vibrant photos. If you do not plan on editing, this piece of advice may not help you. Import your photos into an editing tool to see the difference. Use these awesome Canva hacks to see how far you can stretch your images. 

3. Edit With Intention

So what if you do plan on editing your photos? There’s nothing wrong with that! Most professional photographers edit their photos in some way. However, unless you’re making a specific stylistic choice, try not to overedit. It’s best to aim for a natural look that enhances the image without altering it unless you’re taking artistic portraits that require more creativity.

Use editing software to refine the image, not to drastically change it. It’s best to use professional-level software, like Photoshop, rather than most forms of free editing software, as the results tend to look more refined. 

4. Master the Art of Lighting

Learn how to create complex lighting setups using multiple light sources. Once you’re aiming for professional shoots, shooting with only natural light may not cut it anymore. You need options.

Imagine you’re shooting an engagement and the light isn’t right. Now what? Learn how to use light modifiers, such as softboxes and umbrellas, to control the light so you have more power over your photos in less-than-ideal lighting conditions. 

5. Work With Depth of Field

Use your camera’s aperture to control the depth of field and create a sense of intimacy or isolation in your portrait photography. This is how you control light and focus in your photos and create that “blurry background” effect that you often see in professional portraits.

Experiment with selective focus to draw attention to specific parts of the image, even if it’s not the subject’s face. For example, in an engagement shot, the focus may be on the subject’s hand for the engagement ring. 

6. Pay Attention to Posture and Movement

Direct your portrait photography subject to adopt poses that convey confidence and relaxation or whatever “vibe” you’re trying to create. Instead of forcing your subject to hold as still as a statue, capture movement and gestures to add dynamism to the image and give your subject more life.

Static poses look stiff, but gentle movement adds life to portraits. Instead of fighting your subject’s posture and movement, work with it.

7. Stay Up-to-Date With Industry Trends

Follow the work of other photographers and stay inspired by new portrait photography ideas and techniques. If you’re able, try to attend workshops and conferences to stay current with industry developments.

Look for local photographer meetups so you can exchange ideas with local talent. You can have your own portrait style, but trends come and go. By staying up-to-date with them, you’ll be able to update your portfolio book for clients looking for trendy and modern photo styles. 

Unique Portrait Photography Ideas

Once you have the basics down and have advanced to pro, it’s time to think outside of the box! Sure, simple headshots and basic portraits can be compelling, but if you want to have more fun with portrait photography, why not experiment?

Here are a few quick unique portrait photography ideas for you to try that don’t have a high barrier to entry. 

1. Water Portrait

Looking for a unique way to take a whimsical photo? Capture your subject submerged in water, creating an ethereal and dreamy effect. There are a few ways to do this. If you have a waterproof camera, you can literally go underwater and create portraits that seem to defy gravity.

If not, you can create the appearance of an underwater shot with a pane of glass that you splash water onto. Your subject can lie underneath the glass and you’d take the photos from above. With a bit of editing, it looks somewhat realistic. 

2. Nighttime Illumination

Challenge yourself to use light in a unique way by trying portrait photography in the dark with unconventional light sources. Use neon lights, glow sticks, fire or sparklers to create a vibrant and whimsical ambiance. Experiment with how different light sources impact the appearance of your subject. 

3. Double Exposure

Double exposures are very cool. In film photos, they can be accidental. In digital photos, they’re a stylistic choice. Two images are layered over each other to create a specific feeling or vibe.

For example, a photo of your subject may be layered with macro photography of flowers to create a soft and natural vibe. As long as the second photo doesn’t “drown out” the subject, this can be an effective and creative portrait photography technique. 

4. Reflections and Refractions

Experiment with reflective surfaces like glass, metal or water to create intriguing reflections and refractions. For many photographers, this is the first “creative” method they experiment with.

Reflective surfaces are easily accessible and there’s so much you can do with them in the world of portrait photography. If you’re using editing programs, your options open up further. 

5. Unconventional Angles

Experiment with extreme angles, like looking up from the ground or shooting from a low or high perspective. Try angles that are so unusual that the subject almost becomes abstracted. If you have a drone, you can also try using that for extreme distance shots that are otherwise difficult (if not impossible) to capture in the world of portrait photography.

How to Take Portrait Photos at Home

We don’t always have the ability to find unique settings and travel for our photos. Luckily, you can take portraits anywhere. You don’t need anything unique or expensive to practice portrait photography for Pinterest, personal use or even for paying clients once you know what you’re doing.

Here are a few quick tips for turning your home into a DIY photography studio without breaking the bank. 

1. Create a Simple Background

Use a plain wall, curtain, or sheet to create a clean and distraction-free portrait photography background at home. If you have a lot of clutter, try to clear just enough space for your subject. You don’t need too much room, but you want to avoid unprofessional distractions.

If the shoot is supposed to look homey, however, you can leave clutter strategically. You can also use a portable background stand or a pop-up background.

2. Get Creative With Props

Use props like hats, scarves and jewelry to add interest and personality to your portraits. Keep props simple and avoid cluttering the frame. You don’t need to go out of your way to buy props. You can use things you already have around the house. This will force you to get more creative with your portrait photography. 

3. Pay Close Attention to Lighting

Place your subject near a window with soft, indirect light if you’re taking photos inside. Avoid harsh direct sunlight, which can create unflattering shadows, unless that’s the look you’re going for.

If you want a softer look to your photos, use lamps, candles or string lights to create warm and cozy lighting. Avoid using the flash on your camera unless you have to because it can also create harsh and unnatural shadows.

4. Use What You Have

Experimenting with portrait photography at home is all about creativity. Whether you’re brainstorming birthday photo shoot ideas for an at-home party, planning a steamy boudoir shoot or just practicing, it’s a good idea to focus on the resources around you, as few and far between as they may be.

Instead of buying new lights, move the lights around inside and dredge up old holiday lights. Or purchase inexpensive bulbs for your lamps at home to play around with the different colors and light strengths. Find unique framing elements and create distinct scenes without leaving home.  

5. Get Outside

Just because you’re stuck at home doesn’t mean you have to be inside your home. Outdoor portrait photography can be so magical, even if you’re only on your balcony or in your backyard. Don’t feel like you have to confine yourself within the walls of your home. 

6. Use a Tripod

A tripod will make your portrait photography so much easier, especially if you’re dealing with questionable indoor low-light situations. Tripods minimize your movement so you can capture clearer photos. In the absence of a real tripod, you can use anything that your camera can balance on in a pinch. Just make sure your makeshift tripod is leveled. 

Famous Portrait Photography Artists

If you need some portrait photography inspiration, look at famous photographers of the past and present. These photographers made names for themselves and worked their way up in the art world.

They have had the opportunity to photograph notable figures and have had their work featured in museums and major publications. Here are a few unique and famous portrait photography artists to learn from. 

Annie Leibovitz

Known for her portraits of celebrities, Annie Leibovitz's photographs are featured in magazines like Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair and Vogue. She captures striking and haunting images that have strong emotions behind them. Even simple fashion shoots look creative and multi-layered with her vision. 

Her most famous shots include a pregnant Demi Moore, a naked John Lennon with a clothed Yoko Ono, Whoopi Goldberg in a tub of milk, a painted Keith Haring and a giant rose-covered Zendaya.  

Richard Avedon

Richard Avedon's minimalist style is celebrated in the world of fashion and portrait photography. His work for Harper's Bazaar and Vogue redefined how we perceive beauty in fashion photography.

From candids of street performers to haunting images of war victims, he was able to capture something powerful and deeply moving in all of his portraits. Many modern photographers aspire to be like Avedon. 

Diane Arbus

Diane Arbus's photographs depict people on the fringes of society, challenging societal norms and perceptions of beauty. Her work is both haunting and captivating.

Rather than photographing models and celebrities, she photographed carnival workers, strippers, people with disabilities, middle-class and lower-class families and others who, at the time, may not have been deemed “worthy” of the luxury of photography. She provided a view of the world that many people would have otherwise never seen. 

Cindy Sherman

Most photographers photograph other people. Cindy Sherman does something different. Sherman is known for her self-portraits in which she transforms herself into different characters and personas.

Her work explores the idea of identity and the performative nature of gender and societal roles. She becomes her own subject, and changes herself substantially between shoots to keep images fresh and interesting, as if she were working with different models.

If you love self-portraiture, but don’t know how to keep it interesting, a glance at her portfolio may be beneficial. 

Yousuf Karsh

Yousuf Karsh is considered one of the greatest portrait photographers of the 20th century. He was a master of capturing the character and personality of his subjects, which often consisted of notable figures.

His famous portrait of Winston Churchill, where he made the iconic "bulldog" expression, is a testament to his skill in revealing the essence of his sitters. His photos are like windows into the “spirits” of his subjects. 

Great Portrait Photography Galleries to Explore

If you want to check out some wonderful portraits, there are photography galleries both online and out in the world for you to explore. These curated galleries are perfect for finding inspiration for your own photographic work. 

National Portrait Gallery 

The National Portrait Gallery in London is home to the most extensive collection of portraits in the world. There are over 220,000 works within the walls of the gallery, dating all the way back to the 8th century. Of course, many portraits are painted, but there are many thousands of photographic portraits as well. 

National Gallery of Art

The National Gallery of Art is home to many portraits, both photographed and painted. It's in Washington D.C., and it’s free to the public. It features many artistic and lesser-known portraits that capture unique moments in history. 

Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery

The Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery is also in Washington D.C. in the United States. As one of the Smithsonian institutions, it is free to visit and browse. Within it, you can see some of the oldest available photos of notable figures like politicians and celebrities, alongside lesser-known subjects. 

It’s time to get your camera ready and start shooting. These photography tips and ideas can help you with your craft whether you’re shooting portraits for fun or trying to start a new career. 

For even more fun photography ideas, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!