People Photography Ideas

Set Subjects at Ease

• One of the most common problems with photographing people is making them comfortable in front of the camera. Even the most outgoing person can freeze up the second you point your lens in their direction, resulting in awkward, stiff photos. To catch your subject in a natural moment, set them at ease by bringing in familiar elements. Have them bring along a spouse or partner to chat with, perform an activity they love or play with a prop. By taking the focus off the camera, you can make better shots.

Flattering Angles

• For a photo subject, there's nothing worse than getting captured from an unflattering angle: suddenly, there are double chins and extra pounds. To make your subjects look their best, choose angles that will flatter their faces. For most people, a photo taken looking up at the face is the least flattering. For women, a top-down angle makes faces and bodies look slimmer. According to the Digital Photography website, shooting from just below a person's eyeline flatters a wide range of people.

Lighting

• Lighting is a crucial part of a portrait shot. Whether you are shooting indoors or out, you can manipulate light to make the most of your subject's features. Avoid light that washes out the subject's face, making them look wide and flat; instead, use light to create shadows that emphasize the person's individual facial characteristics. Indoors, use a soft box light (or a sheet in front of a work light, if you're working on a budget, paired with a smaller light and experiment with different positions until you get shadows that are just large enough to give the face depth in a photo. Outdoors, you can make the most of the natural light by shooting in bright shade and using a reflector to make the most of the light.

Include Surroundings

• When photographing a person, the surroundings can enhance the meaning of the photo. Instead of isolating your subject against a simple background, include elements that inform viewers about the person's interests, activities, passions, work or struggles. You do not have to give the environment equal importance; a shot with an in-focus subject and a blurry background can give the right amount of information. If you are shooting an artist, for example, you might shoot from above, with the person standing amid her materials. The focus of the photo should be the face and upper body, but the materials will let viewers know why she has paint on her hands, for example, or explain her clothing choices.