1) Never shoot your subject head on! Did you know when you photograph a person with both of their shoulders and toes pointing at you, you are creating a very unflattering image? The body position creates a block to the flow of light. The broad shoulders add at least 10 pounds to your subject. If you are photographing a quarterback or linebacker, then go for it, but if not don’t do it! Instead, turn your subject at an angle away from the camera. If the head angle is correct, you should not be able to see the subject’s far ear.
2) Never have your subjects face into the sun! Why…squinting! Putting the sun behind your subjects provides a nice hair light and gives depth to your portrait.
3) Do not shoot up the subjects nose! You usually want the camera to be slightly above looking down on your subject. It is also ok to be the same height. Watch closely when framing your image.
4) Avoid large whites of the eyes! You want the subjects iris to be in the middle of their eye. Look at your subject. Ask them to keep their face toward you but look to the right with their eyes. Now all you see is white. That creates a very poor image. If you need to move your subjects head in off camera direction, have them focus on a mid point in front of them or gaze back at you with the eyes.
5) Never pose a subject so close to a background you get a hard black shadow. Most people think if they are not using flash, that shadows upon backdrops are not an issue. That is not true. Our own bodies will cast a shadow from the sun. It is important to let that light wrap around your subject to create a softer light. When you can, pull your subject 6 feet or more away from the backdrop.
6) Do not put your subjects in weird uncomfortable poses! Chances are if it doesn’t really “look” natural it’s not!
7) Avoid objects in the background that ruin your image! You framed your portrait, took the time to get the body angles right and the expression, then you take the shot. If you are only focused on the subject, you might miss the tree or flagpole that is growing out of the top of their head! You may or not be able to photo shop it, so get it right the first time and notice your background space. Is it ok?
8) Avoid glass glare! First, kindly ask your subject if they feel ok taking some shots without the glasses. If the do not where them all the time, it will work. If they wear them all the time or if their eye focus or squinting happens without them keep them on! If you have control over the lighting, take them outside in the shade and use a reflector. If you are indoors, bounce your flash from the ceiling or nearby wall to avoid the glare. If you are not able to bounce. Shoot from a bit more of a higher angle and ask the subject to sit or stand up straight, lean forward slightly, and maybe lower the chin a tiny bit. Do not lose the neck; if you do you are shooting too high.