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If you’re one of those people who looks back at your photos of people and wants to take future shots to the next level, these tips might be just the thing to get you started.

1. Keep the background simple and uncluttered
2. Leave space between the subject and background. Having a shadow show up right behind the subject usually looks unflattering.
3. Use the rule of thirds, and place the subject’s face at one of the intersections.
4. Get the light off the camera (or bounce it off a wall).
5. Angle the body. A flat-as-a-board subject makes for a boring portrait
6. Try different lighting setups. Move lights around and see how they affect your portrait.
7. Lose the boring pose. Shake things up a bit and put some dynamism in your poses.
8. Choose the right lens. Short lenses will elongate the subject’s features and keep the depth of field larger. A longer telephoto lens will frame up the subject closer and make them stand out from the background.
9. Try different apertures. A wide open aperture (with a lower number) will blur the background and make the subject stand out. A smaller aperture (with a higher number) will make the whole scene come into better focus.
10. Try different camera heights. Eye level is the traditional height, but don’t be afraid to try something new. Just be careful of angles where you’re looking up at the subject, as this can make normal chins look like double chins!

So if you’re stuck in a rut and want to take your next set of portraits to a new level, try on a couple of these tips for size. You might like what you see. And as always, join up and post your work to the Sublime Light photo pool so everyone can enjoy your work.

If you’re new to taking photos of people and want to learn how to do it like a pro from the ground up, be sure to check out Portrait Lighting For Beginners. The series has been underway for a few weeks now, but there’s lots of content to come.