The definition of a portrait is a formally posed picture. Outdoor portraits are often posed against relevant or beautiful backgrounds, and are known as "location portraits." Fine indoor portraits can easily be made by window light. Flash can be added to fill dark shadows in portraits, but if flash is used as the main light source, it should be off-camera and diffused by a bounce card for best results.
Choose a fine-grain film for almost all formal portraits. Overexpose by about V2 f/stop to minimize skin flaws. Use at least an 80mm lens or zoom setting for closeups of heads, because shorter focal lengths tend to exaggerate the size of noses. 28mm or 35mm lenses or zoom settings work well for location portraits showing, say, a landscape in the background.
The aim of most portraits is to capture a flattering likeness, plus show something of a personality on film. Some portraitists have a strong personal style while others are unobtrusive. The best way to relax anyone and get spontaneous expressions is to talk about whatever you can bring up that interests your subject. During the course of a session, there may come moments when silence is appropriate, but, in general, don't ever let people stiffen up and start worrying about their appearance in front of the camera. Talking is good; having music in the background is relaxing, too.
Soft lighting works great for most portraits. A carefully angled reflector may be helpful to "fill" (lighten) the shadows on the dark side of a window light or outdoor portrait.
With 35mm cameras, single portraits call for vertical compositions. Suggest and shoot several different poses - some with the subject's eyes looking into the lens, and some with the eyes looking slightly right or left.
Everyone can be made to look interesting in a portrait. Do this by angling the subject so the existing or added lighting is flattering, and by keeping your finger on the shutter release so you can capture fleeting animated expressions.
Some helpful tips: Pose a big person with his or her left shoulder turned away from the camera, but with the head facing the camera in order to create a slimming effect. If someone has a big nose, photograph him looking straight at you. If he has big ears, shoot a three-quarter profile view. Aiming slightly down on everyone except bald men is flattering.
For someone who is truly a model type, photograph the person from all possible angles. Some of those pictures should be good for exhibit or your portfolio. Take plenty of pictures in any portrait session. Shots that were made near the end of a shoot are usually the best because, by then, both you and the subject are warmed up and relaxed. You will soon learn to sense when you have caught what you want in the camera.
Whenever you are shooting formal portraits, it is best to mount your camera on a tripod. With a tripod, you can preselect and compose backgrounds in advance. A tripod also helps hold your focus, eliminates blur caused by camera shake in low light and windowlit situations, and frees you to concentrate on nuances of expression. In addition, using a tripod leaves you free during the shoot to talk to your subject(s) and put them at ease.
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