There is no denying that portraiture is an enduringly popular genre of photography, especially around Christmas. Many people want to commemorate this special time of year with a family photograph or with a snap of their children another year older. Some people look for a professional portrait of a loved one or relative to hang in their home or even prefer a picture of a beloved family pet. Portraits are a popular gift idea for celebrations and are a firm favourite in the festive season.

It’s a style of photography that emphasises the subject's personality, and it can even showcase the emotional connection between them and the photographer. This is why it’s so important to take the perfect portrait, and we have a number of top tips to help you in your pursuit of the perfect portrait.

How to Take the Perfect Portrait This Christmas

There’s a lot that goes into portrait picture taking, and it’s not simply a case of snapping away and hoping for the best. Below, we’ve listed some of our top portrait photography tips.

  • Avoid Direct Sunlight - Many people make the mistake of assuming that it’s a case of the brighter the better when it comes to lighting, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. One of the key things to remember in portrait photography is to avoid taking pictures of your subject in direct sunlight. Direct sunlight can be harsh and unflattering, and it can cause unsightly shadows on your subject’s face. Instead, find a shaded spot or take a photograph somewhere indoors where you can control the lighting.

 

  • Use a Textured Background - As the subject is the focal point of a photograph, it can be challenging to create intrigue and texture in a portrait. Simply, they can appear overly simplistic. To avoid this, have your subject stand in front of a textured background. This could be a brick wall or wood panelling, or a room with something going on in the background. For professional portraits, plain backgrounds are best, but you can have a little bit more fun with photographs taken for Christmas. Textured backgrounds will help create depth in your photos, which can make them more interesting to look at. You could even blur the background, allowing the subject to stand out even more.

 

  • Prepare Your Subject - Whether you are taking a portrait of the whole family or an individual, children or grandparents, it’s important to prepare them beforehand. There is a lot to be excited about when having portrait pictures taken at Christmas, but that doesn’t mean they won’t be a little bit nervous. It doesn’t matter how expensive and professional your camera is; even the best equipment won’t hide an uncomfortable or anxious subject. Many people don’t like to have their picture taken, which can come across in a portrait. As a photographer, it’s your job to show them that portrait photography can be fun and stress-free.

 

  • Don’t Be Afraid of Different Angles - Don’t be afraid to get creative as a portrait photographer and try out a variety of different angles. It might be tempting to use a standard ‘straight on’ angle, but you might actually capture a more flattering and natural image of your subject by doing something different. The same goes for how close or far away your subject is; you need to find an angle that is close enough to showcase details and unique features but far away enough that the subject is depicted in the best way.

 

  • Dress Your Subject Correctly - As a photographer, it’s not your job to choose your subject’s outfits, but you can offer them advice on what is best to wear from a creative point of view. It’s best if subjects wear neutral colours, especially those that are dark, as this helps their face to stand out in the image. Anything that’s too light could wash them out, and anything too colourful or patterned could be a distraction. It’s also a good idea to check your subject for anything that’s out of place before you start taking photographs, as this could stop the portrait from being completely perfect. For example, remove any fluff on clothes.

 

  • Think About Focal Length - Focal length greatly impacts how a portrait photograph comes out, and it’s important to choose a focal length that’s flattering to your subject. There’s no right or wrong focal length for a portrait, and it largely comes down to the style of photograph that you are trying to capture. For a lot of photographers, a 50mm focal length gives the most accurate representation of your subject. Anything under 50mm, and you run the risk of distorting the subject’s face in an unflattering way. If you choose a focal length of over 50mm, you could also end up distorting the subject’s face, but in a way that is much more flattering. This is why 80mm is a popular focal length for portrait photography.

 

  • Choose the Right Exposure - By changing the exposure, you can choose how bright or dark your photograph is, and it’s one of the most important aspects of portrait photography. You want to find a balance between a portrait being underexposed or overexposed, too dark or too bright. For portrait photography, it’s better to have a background that’s too dark or too bright rather than having your subject be too dark or too bright. This is because it’s a lot easier to change the exposure of the background without changing the entire portrait. You might have to try a few times to get the exposure right, but this is easy to change using the settings on your camera.

Cameras and Accessories for Portrait Photography

At CameraWorld, we have everything you need to take professional-looking portrait pictures this Christmas. Whether you need a brand-new camera or a lens that needs upgrading, you won’t find yourself short of choice. You can find out more about any of our products by getting in touch with the CameraWorld team.