Creative Portrait Tips for Awesome People Pictures

Everyone loves a good picture of themselves. In an increasingly visual world, having a few on hand is practically crucial. Luckily, the folks at the COOPH have compiled a few guidelines on what it takes to tackle portraiture for any occasion:

If you’re like most people, the version of yourself that you bring to a job interview isn’t necessarily the version of yourself that you portray on Twitter or Instagram. Therefore, it makes sense to consider the purpose or destination of a portrait ahead of time.

Portraits for Social Media

Social media often serves as a venue for loosening up and being playful. Don’t be afraid to bring in that spirit when crafting a profile picture. Utilizing a Lensbaby can be a great way to add neat visual effects to an image in camera, and playing with perspective can often make for an interesting image.

By maxing out your camera’s aperture, you can completely obscure background elements and direct the eyes of digital passersby to you. To make the most successful image possible, you’ll also want to be sure that backdrops, outfits, and props don’t clash with one another—otherwise, they can quickly become the image’s focal point.

perspective portrait

Portraits for Job Applications

Naturally, you’ll want to portray the most professional version of yourself possible when taking a photograph for a job application. Opt for basic lighting and plain backgrounds—the simpler and more straightforward you can be with production and setup, the better.

With that being said, don’t be afraid to show onlookers a little bit of yourself in the images you forward. Think about the way the colors, tones, and lighting within an image can evoke certain moods and auras. Don’t be afraid to be a little creative; after all, you want an image that will stand out and grab the attention of potential employers.

job application portrait

Portraits for Creative Gifts

Few things hold the sentimental value of a photograph. For that reason, they make excellent gifts. The most important thing to consider when creating a photo gift is the multitude of available possibilities. Think outside the box—instead of gifting a framed print, it’s possible to create personalized bookmarks, gift cards, and coasters.

Because there are so many ways to gift a photograph, they’re great for elaborately planned scenes and detailed experimentation. Bring in elements or techniques that maybe you wouldn’t normally incorporate in a portrait. Bokeh, long exposure light painting, and reflections are a few options that are easy to start off with.

portrait using props

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