Portrait Photography How To

A successful commercial/editorial photographer in Orlando, Florida, Eric Dusenbery says he was greatly influenced by his father when honoring World War II veterans in his book, Veteran Voices. According to Dusenbery, he grew up listening to his father's WWII experiences in the South Pacific. "He was in New Guinea, the Philippines, and eventually went to Japan for a...

As with an environmental portrait, you can capture revealing images of people by photographing them at work. The idea is to not only portray the individual, but to show what a person does with his/her life. Most occupations have distinctive tools, clothing, or settings that can be interesting to photograph. Some people who would...

Shooting a self-portrait is a challenging task, but can be very rewarding. The one person that most photographers probably photograph least is themselves, and this is true even with those who enjoy shooting portraits of others. However, taking self-portraits has several advantages: you'll always have a willing subject...

Several years ago, singer Paula Cole posed the musical question, "Where have all the cowboys gone?" Apparently, photographer Kendall Nelson has the answer. In her book, Gathering Remnants: A Tribute to the Working Cowboy, Nelson delivers a starkly beautiful pictorial essay on the lives of cowboys who live on working ranches in the American west. For about three and a...

During his 30 years as a photojournalist, PF Bentley has attained rare access to numerous political figures and sought-after news events. He's known for his skill for getting close to his subjects without intruding on the events he's recording. Of this special talent, Bentley simply remarks, "I can blend into any wall." He rarely uses strobe; instead, he...

It's fun to take pictures of our friends and loved ones having a good time. The trick is to have your camera ready—a point-and-shoot camera is ideal for this—and to be quick and spontaneous. Taking pictures of people at play means that you must be prepared to grab some fleeting moments on...

Helpful hints for better people-pictures

1. Use the Best Focal Length
The best lens for portraits is more often than not a short telephoto—85-135mm for a 35mm camera. Why? Because short teles produce a good head size at a shooting distance that produces pleasant perspective. If you use a wide-angle lens, you have to move very close to your subject to get a good head...