200 Canon Tips - Portraits

Capture people shots full of flair and personality with a combination of technical and interpersonal skills

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SHOOT LIKE A PRO

Five ways to take your portraits from good to great, through lighting, framing and more

1 Help your subject

Your model can’t see what you can see: help them to understand the frame and how it looks with good communication.

2 Focus your light

Our eyes are typically drawn to bright areas in photos, so use your lighting to focus the viewer’s attention.

3 Get close

Being closer to your subjects allows you to connect better while you’re taking photos – shoot at 85mm, instead of 200mm from further away!

4 Fill your frame

Unless it’s an environmental portrait, use the entire frame to show your subject. They should always be the main focus.

5 Your position

Your position as the photographer is paramount; your position allows you to decide what kind of shot you want to create.

Top techniques for portraits

Three ways to get better results from your photoshoots

6 Embrace the environment

Environmental portraits can add to your narrative. Make sure your background is suitable for your subject and the image you want to create. You’ll need to shoot a little wider, too, but don’t lose your model within the frame.

7 Introduce off-camera flash