Photofocus

Copyright Scott Bourne 2010 - All Rights Reserved - Overexposed

It’s easy to get into a rut when making portraits. Sometimes all it takes to get out of that rut is to try something different. Here are three simple tips that may give you an idea or two of your own.

1. Overexpose

Overexpose against a high-key background to get an otherworldly – angelic effect. It’s also a technique that you can use when a subject has bad skin, scars, etc.

Copyright Scott Bourne 2010 - All Rights Reserved - Color

2. Use Color

While you don’t have to go to the extreme that I did here of hiring a professional body painter to paint this model, find ways to inject bright colors into your portraits. We’re all used to seeing the serious, fine art black & white portrait so color shakes it up a bit.

Copyright Scott Bourne 2010 - All Rights Reserved - Pose

3. Learn How To Pose For Effect

I bet there are some out there who think it’s anathema to pose your portrait subject. It’s not. People can still look comfortable when they are posed. The trick is doing it right. Simple things like turning the subject’s feet away from the light source, positioning the feet about shoulder width apart, shifting the subject’s weight to the back foot and asking them to lean toward the camera with their chest can make a dull portrait look interesting.

Portraiture is a big part of photography. Even people who don’t consider themselves “portrait” photographers end up taking pictures of friends or family. So try applying these ideas or use them to jumpstart your own, and make a good portrait of someone this week.

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This post sponsored by the Digital SLR Store