All budding photographers, as well as those who have been shooting for a while, are looking for the same thing. They want to take striking photos that capture the “wow” factor. It is not an easy thing to do, as beauty is in the eye of the beholder. However, it is not impossible and more than following rules, sometimes it is necessary to break them. Be random and boldly follow your instincts to find that special image that will make everyone stop and take notice.

1. Change the perspective – Almost all portraits are taken with the camera at eye level. Change the perspective by changing the angle from which you are shooting. Stand tall over your subject for effect. From that perspective, you can see an even more interesting aspect. Experiment with your composition.

2. Play with the eyes – Eye contact or the direction your eyes are looking greatly affects the portrait effect. Looking directly at the camera is not always the most interesting way to photograph someone. It can be more intriguing if your subject is looking to the side, drawing viewers to wonder what’s there, off-camera, unseen. But be careful how you do this, as taking the viewer’s eyes to the side also takes them away from your subject.

3. Stay focused within the frame – In other words, having your subject hold an object, such as a woman holding a baby, or a child holding a toy, keeps the viewers’ eyes focused within the frame and on the subjects. It creates a second point of interest and helps create a story within the frame with the subject.

4.Rules of composition – The composition rules listed in the portrait photography tips are meant to be followed and broken. Rules are great to know and use, but stretching or pushing them to the outer limits makes the art of portraiture more interesting. Learn the rules, get comfortable using them, then learn how to break them for the most eye-catching result.

5. Experiment with lighting – The possibilities are endless with lighting. The only thing holding you back is your imagination and your ability to be creative. There is no good and bad. So go ahead and play around with the lighting. You may surprise yourself. Sidelight, backlight, silhouette, the possibilities are endless.

6. Make the subject move – Interesting portraits happen when you take your subject out of their comfort zone. Get them moving. Put them on clothing or in an environment where you wouldn’t normally find them. Surround them with things that say who they are, but make them react differently. For example, put them in business clothes in an office, but ask them to jump up and down or read a book upside down. Once again, be creative.

7. Don’t stage the photo – Taking candid shots is better than posing your subject. People, and children in particular, tend to tense up and hide rather than reveal their personalities when the image is set up and they are asked to pose. Photograph your subjects at work or children at play. Try to catch them reacting naturally to their surroundings.

8. Using accessories – Enhance your shot by creating another point of interest with a prop. For example, if you shoot a doctor, let him wear a stethoscope or hold a skull. Be careful not to let the prop dominate the image, let it be part of the image and tell part of the story.

9. A part of the whole – Try to focus on one part of the whole, for example, instead of shooting your subject’s head and shoulders, take a picture or two of their hands, or their back, or maybe even a shoulder with a special tattoo, keeping face in shadow Be dramatic and bold. Sometimes what’s left out of the shot is just as important as what’s inside.

10. Variation on a theme – Hiding the theme to focus on a particular aspect also works well. In other words, wrapping a woman in a shawl leaving only her eyes visible and looking at the camera. Possibly match the shawl to the subject’s eyes for a dramatic color statement.

The possibilities for taking creative and dramatic photos are limited only by your ability to think outside the box. Know the rules, know how to work them, and then learn how to break them for more creative effect. Lastly, take a series of shots…not just one…shoot often and fast…sometimes to get what you want.

I hope you found these portrait photography tips useful.