Creativity makes a portrait photo stand out. Follow these tips to help your creativity soar.
Tell the story
Portrait photos record more than a person's appearance. A good portrait photographer tells a story that has the elements of a good novel: setting, plot, and, most of all, character. The portrait photo is really about the personality of the subject of the photo.
Lights
Morning light differs from afternoon light, which tends to be warmer. Bright lights can be cold and harsh, with soft or shadowed lighting intimate.
Natural lighting is nice for portraits, but not always possible. Artificial lights should be distributed to diffuse shadows and provide warm lighting that does not tint the skin. Check the white balance on your camera so colors come out correctly.
If you must use a flash indoors, use one that tilts, reflecting light from surfaces in the room. If you take a portrait outside, the flash reduces shadows. The flash is also useful for backlit situations, like a sunset. Be careful to minimize the flash, so that the sunset isn't washed out, though.
Camera
Zoom your lens into the range of 100-135 mm. This provides the best image for portraits. Don't let the camera decide your ISO: a lower ISO will give you more saturated colors with less grain, but a higher ISO will allow you to take low-light photos without a flash. Experiment.
Play with framing. A centered photo looks static, while one off center conveys action. Not all pictures need to be portrait or landscape. A photographer I know shows two photos of a girl dancing. One is portrait layout. The exposure is fine, the lighting works, she looks happy. However, the other is tilted at a sharp angle, the same girl, exposure and lighting. The portrait comes alive; the tilt gives her lilt.
Move in close to the subject. Many portraits show the whole body, head to foot or, at best, a head-and-shoulder bust. I have one I took that shows the face of a woman looking closely at leaves in a tree. Only part of her face is in the frame. The picture shows her seeing.
bMany people take a picture while standing. Try getting on the ground, going to a high place, shooting over another person's shoulder, and other interesting angles that help you convey your subject's personality.
Action
Rather than have the person sit or stand still, photograph the person at work or play, reading a book, speaking on the phone, in a conversation with a loved one, goofing around, fiddling with a musical instrument, etc. Be imaginative.
Setting
Artistic photos are not always posed in studios, but even when they are, the studio often resembles a stage set. Consider using the subject's space, home, work or recreation. Natural settings often work, as long as the subject remains the person.
Photo Retouching Services
Even the best portraits might reveal undesirable imperfections. Learn to use photo retouching services.
Creativity is the key to good portrait photos, so play.