Prepare your portrait subject for shooting. Set up your portrait like a pro. Make sure your theme is well-lit. Blur the background in aperture priority mode.
I usually start by getting the pose right. In normal portrait photography at home, you want to rotate the shoulder line slightly diagonally toward the camera. Then you have to sit them up straight and hold your head up. If you take the photo lower than their eyes, they look more majestic and authoritarian.
If you take the photo slightly higher than at eye level, the eyes look bigger and there is a higher chance to reduce the potential double chin. This is also the correct position when taking that duck face photo. Tilting your subject a bit forward can give you a more thoughtful and personalized photo. If you lean forward, you can then disguise your double chin if you have one.
If you look at portrait photographs in Peoples Magazine or similar, you’ll be surprised to see that more and more portraits have been taken at wide angles, around 24 mm. In the sample photo below, I had white, almost transparent curtains that covered the window to soften the light during portrait photography at home
References:
- 10 Ways to Take Stunning Portraits (Portrait Photography Guide)
- 16 Top Tips for Portrait Photography 2022