200 Canon Tips - Portraits

Capture people shots full of flair and personality with a combination of technical and interpersonal skills

SHOOT LIKE A PRO

Five ways to take your portraits from good to great, through lighting, framing and more

1 Help your subject

Your model can’t see what you can see: help them to understand the frame and how it looks with good communication.

2 Focus your light

Our eyes are typically drawn to bright areas in photos, so use your lighting to focus the viewer’s attention.

3 Get close

Being closer to your subjects allows you to connect better while you’re taking photos – shoot at 85mm, instead of 200mm from further away!

4 Fill your frame

Unless it’s an environmental portrait, use the entire frame to show your subject. They should always be the main focus.

5 Your position

Your position as the photographer is paramount; your position allows you to decide what kind of shot you want to create.

Top techniques for portraits

Three ways to get better results from your photoshoots

6 Embrace the environment

Environmental portraits can add to your narrative. Make sure your background is suitable for your subject and the image you want to create. You’ll need to shoot a little wider, too, but don’t lose your model within the frame.

7 Introduce off-camera flash

The use of artificial lighting can dramatically change your style. By removing your flash from your camera, you can begin to shape the light and create beautiful contours across your model’s face and body more effectively with side lighting.