Let’s Face It: You Want Your Friends to Look Good in Photos
You’ve tried taking portraits of your friends before, but somehow you always manage to make them look like they’ve just woken up from a week-long nap. And then there are the awkward angles, bad lighting, and the strange grimaces they swear they never make in real life. Don’t worry, it’s not your fault (well, mostly). Portrait photography is an art, but with a few easy tricks, you can go from “please delete that” to “wow, you should be my personal photographer!”
So, how do you take flattering portraits that don’t make your friends hate you or block you on social media? Grab your camera, and let’s dive into the steps that will make you the favorite in the friend group (at least until you ask for gas money).
Step 1: Lighting—The Key to Not Looking Like a Vampire
Lighting can make or break your portrait faster than your friend can say, “Is this really how I look?” The wrong lighting can make your subject look harsh and unflattering, while the right lighting can make them look like a movie star. So, how do you harness this magical force?
- Use Soft, Diffused Light
Harsh, direct light (like the noon sun) is the enemy of portraits. It creates unflattering shadows, makes people squint, and brings out every blemish like it’s auditioning for a role in a close-up. Instead, aim for soft, diffused light. The best options are:- Natural window light: Position your friend near a window where the light is soft and even.
- Golden hour: This is the sweet spot right after sunrise or before sunset when the light is warm and flattering.
Actionable Tip: When shooting indoors, position your subject near a window and let the light fall gently on their face. You can use a white curtain or sheet to diffuse harsh light if it’s too strong. Outdoors, seek shade or shoot during the golden hour for that magical glow.
- Avoid Overhead Lighting
Unless you want to make your friend look like a raccoon, avoid overhead lighting at all costs. It casts shadows in all the wrong places—under the eyes, the nose, and the chin.Actionable Tip: If you’re stuck with overhead lighting, use a reflector (or even a white piece of paper) to bounce light back up onto your subject’s face and eliminate those shadows.
Step 2: Angles—Because Nobody Likes Double Chins
Finding the right angle is critical for taking a flattering portrait. Spoiler alert: The wrong angle can add extra chins, distort facial features, and make people look, well, weird.
- Shoot from Eye Level or Slightly Above
Shooting from a low angle is great if you’re trying to make someone look like a superhero, but for casual portraits, it’s a no-go. It can make your friend’s chin more prominent and their body look out of proportion.Actionable Tip: Hold your camera at eye level or slightly above. This is a flattering angle for most people and helps elongate the neck and emphasize the eyes.
- Turn Shoulders Slightly Away from the Camera
Having your friend face the camera head-on can make them look wider and less dynamic. Instead, ask them to turn their shoulders slightly away from the camera. This creates a more natural pose and helps avoid that awkward “passport photo” look.Actionable Tip: Ask your subject to shift their weight onto one leg and angle their shoulders about 30 degrees from the camera. This simple adjustment adds dimension and flatters their figure.
Step 3: Posing—A Little Movement Goes a Long Way
When it comes to posing, stiff and unnatural poses are your worst enemy. The key to a great portrait is to make your subject feel comfortable and relaxed—like they’re not even posing at all.
- Give Them Something to Do
Instead of asking your friend to “just stand there and smile,” give them something to do with their hands. Have them adjust their jacket, hold a prop, or lean against a wall. This adds an element of movement and makes them feel more comfortable in front of the camera.Actionable Tip: Suggest natural actions like fixing their hair, walking toward the camera, or even pretending to look off into the distance. These candid moments often result in the best, most natural-looking portraits.
- Encourage Interaction
If you’re shooting couples or groups, get them to interact with each other. Have them joke around, talk, or even share a funny story. Genuine laughter and interaction are much more flattering than stiff smiles.Actionable Tip: Tell a joke, ask them to playfully tease each other, or have them do something silly. Candid moments of laughter or affection always come out more natural than forced smiles.
Step 4: Focus—Sharp Eyes Are Key
The eyes are the focal point of any portrait, and if they’re not sharp, the whole image falls apart. Even with perfect lighting, angles, and posing, an out-of-focus portrait will never look professional.
- Focus on the Eyes
Make sure the eyes are sharp by using single-point autofocus and locking the focus on your subject’s eyes. If you’re shooting at a wide aperture (like f/1.8), be extra careful because a shallow depth of field means only a tiny part of the image will be in focus.Actionable Tip: Use your camera’s single-point autofocus and place the focus point on the eyes. If you’re shooting with a shallow depth of field, take extra care to make sure the eyes are tack-sharp.
- Back-Button Focus for Precision
Want to really step up your game? Try back-button focus, where you separate the focus from the shutter button. This gives you more control over when and where you lock focus, and it’s especially useful in portrait photography.Actionable Tip: On most cameras, you can enable back-button focus in the settings. Once it’s set, use your thumb to lock focus on the eyes, then recompose your shot without losing that sharp focus.
Final Thoughts: Make Your Friends Love You (and Their Photos)
Portrait photography doesn’t have to be intimidating, and it certainly doesn’t have to result in your friends begging you to delete every photo. By mastering lighting, angles, posing, and focus, you can create portraits that flatter your subject and make them look their best.
Now go out there, make your friends look amazing, and maybe even score yourself a few free meals as a thank you. Just don’t forget to give them a little direction so they don’t end up looking like deer in headlights.