Whenever you see a portrait what comes into your mind? It may seem like a great piece of art or it may seem ordinary to you. Most people who are into portrait photography miss out on a few points that they should keep in mind. The three general types of portraits are close-ups or facial shots, upper body shots, or environmental portraits.

Natural portraits look real and appear as though the subject is not looking at a camera. The trick involved in portrait photography is to capture the images when they are not doing anything, rather than facing the digital camera and smiling which looks very artificial. Its main purpose is to capture the essence of the subject. You get the best portrait when the subject is off guard and busy doing something else.

Close up portraits are done only to capture the face and shoulders. It captures your facial features and your glance. It should be taken when the day is cloudy so that there is a lot of diffused light and therefore no shadows. If the subject is brighter than the background and if there is no distraction, you will get excellent pictures.

Next up, upper body shots are a little less personal than close ups. The subject is a little more relaxed plus you can add a little background to your pictures. This kind of photography is done in birthdays, parties etc.

Lastly the environmental portraits depict a person’s life and their story. Mostly, photojournalists take these kinds of photos and write on their life and background. They look great if taken in a Black and White. All these minute details encapsulated in portrait photography leads to a great portrait. A great portrait leaves a lasting impact on your mind!