Notes on portraits

A few quick notes on portraits while I have not internalized these techniques yet:

• Fill the frame. Depending on if the background is blurred out or not, the area filled by the person should vary between 65 to 90 %.
  
• Remember the 1/3rd rule.
  
• Do not use light straight from the camera. Or, use side-light. Do not shoot at noon.
  
• If the eyes are looking away or hands are stretched, position the subject so that the look or the hands are towards the emptier half of the frame. For example, if a subject is looking to her left, position the subject on the left half of the frame so her eyes are looking towards the "open-half" of the photograph.
  
• Keep the focal length between 100 & 150 mm, & stay at least 10 feet away from the subject. This might change depending on whether you want to keep the backdrop in focus or not.
  
• And most importantly, the subject should be completely at home with you. Humour is very useful to a good photographer.