Portrait Photography: Complete Guide

Portrait photography is both an art and a science. This comprehensive guide covers everything from shooting to editing to help you create stunning portraits.

Shooting Great Portraits

Lighting is Everything

Good lighting can make or break a portrait. Natural light from a window is often the most flattering. Position your subject at a 45-degree angle to the light source for dimensional, flattering illumination.

Choose the Right Lens

For portraits, lenses in the 50-135mm range work best. They provide flattering perspective and beautiful background blur (bokeh). Avoid wide-angle lenses which can distort facial features.

Focus on the Eyes

The eyes are the most important element in a portrait. Always ensure they're in sharp focus. If only one eye can be in focus, choose the one closest to the camera.

Editing Portrait Photos

Skin Retouching

The goal is to maintain natural texture while evening out skin tone and removing blemishes. Use frequency separation or healing tools for professional results. Avoid over-smoothing which creates an artificial "plastic" look.

Eye Enhancement

Brighten the whites of the eyes slightly and enhance iris detail. Add a subtle catchlight if needed. Be careful not to overdo it - eyes should look natural, not glowing.

Color Grading

Portraits often benefit from warm, flattering tones. Adjust white balance to remove color casts. Consider adding a subtle warm glow to highlights and cool tones to shadows for a cinematic look.

Dodging and Burning

This classic technique involves selectively lightening (dodging) and darkening (burning) areas to add dimension. Lighten the forehead, cheekbones, and nose bridge. Darken the sides of the face and under the chin to add definition.

Sharpening

Apply sharpening selectively to eyes, eyelashes, and hair. Avoid sharpening skin, which can emphasize texture and imperfections.

Common Portrait Mistakes to Avoid

• Over-retouching skin until it looks plastic
• Making eyes unnaturally bright or colorful
• Excessive vignetting that draws attention away from the subject
• Over-sharpening that creates halos and artifacts
• Ignoring color casts in skin tones
• Cropping at joints (wrists, ankles, knees)

Advanced Techniques

Frequency Separation

This advanced technique separates texture from color and tone, allowing you to retouch skin while maintaining natural texture. It's the secret weapon of professional portrait retouchers.

Color Lookup Tables (LUTs)

LUTs can quickly apply professional color grades to your portraits. Experiment with different LUTs but always fine-tune them to match your specific image.

Liquify Tool

Use sparingly to make subtle adjustments to facial features or body shape. The key word is "subtle" - obvious liquify work looks unprofessional.

Developing Your Style

Study the work of portrait photographers you admire. Notice their lighting, composition, and editing choices. Experiment with different styles until you develop your own unique approach.

Remember, technical perfection is less important than capturing genuine emotion and personality. The best portraits tell a story and connect with viewers on an emotional level.