They say that a good portrait provides a window into the soul. It's very true. Great portrait photography is timeless, and captures the character of your subject like nothing else can. But making a great portrait requires more out of the photographer than most other types of photography.

A Comfortable Subject

While your mind still has to be focused on lighting, exposure, and technique, with a portrait you also need to ensure that your subject is comfortable and relaxed. Having a good rapport with your subject, even if no words are exchanged, will allow them to open up to you.

Keep the setting calm, and if you're having technical problems try not to freak out. Your subject will pick up on your vibe. They're probably already nervous about having their photo taken, and you don't want to build on that nervousness.

If you're photographing a stranger, the worst thing you can do is try to sneak a picture. Body language says more than words, and if you're sneaking around, your subject will pick up on you and be instantly suspicious of your motives. Rightly so. Approach with a friendly smile and most often you'll be welcomed.

Keep it Simple

If you're still building up your technical skills, keep things simple. That way your concentration will remain on your subject and putting them at ease.

For a really simple portrait setup, find some shade with a nice, plain background. The lighting in the shade is soft and will generally keep your subject from squinting. With a simple setup like this, your attention will remain on your subject rather than on the technical side of things. Both of the photographs on this page were made with this simple shade setup.

Lens Choice

Lenses in the telephoto range of 80-135mm are considered perfect portrait lenses. Wide angle lenses are not recommended for close-up portraits as they show considerable distortion by stretching out your subject's face. Even a normal 50mm lens is too short for a face shot, as it will elongate your subject's nose and distort other facial features.

Using a telephoto lens for a single subject portrait has other benefits. For one, the shallow depth of field from a telephoto lens will focus the attention on your subject. The lens also gives you some physical distance from your subject. You won't need to be right up close, which will help ease the tension with a subject who isn't completely comfortable being photographed.

Other Lighting Options

In general, a good portrait is always made with soft light. Shade, window light, or a diffused or bounced flash are good options if you don't have professional lighting equipment.

Another option used by many professional portrait photographers is to use a reflector to fill in the light on your subject. A reflector can be something as simple as a piece of white poster board held near the subject by an assistant to fill in shadows. Gold-colored reflectors are also used to warm up the light.

Getting in Close

A good portrait is often made by getting in really close to your subject. When working in really close like this, you may have to crop into the top or bottom of your subject's face. Keep their chin in the frame when faced with this decision. It's much more visually acceptable to lose some hair or forehead than to lose the chin instead.