Portrait photography aims to go beyond mere representation and capture the essence of the subject, conveying their emotions, personality, and story through the image.

Rembrandt lighting, named after the Dutch master painter, creates a distinctive triangular pattern of light and shadow on the subject's face, adding depth and drama to the portrait.

The rule of thirds is a compositional guideline that divides the frame into nine equal parts by two equally spaced horizontal lines and two equally spaced vertical lines. Placing key elements along these lines or their intersections often creates a more visually appealing and balanced image.

Aperture, denoted by f-stops, determines the size of the lens opening, controlling the amount of light that reaches the sensor. A wider aperture (lower f-stop) results in a shallower depth of field, blurring the background and isolating the subject, while a narrower aperture (higher f-stop) increases the depth of field, keeping both the subject and background in focus.

Eye contact is a powerful tool in portrait photography. It creates an immediate connection between the subject and the viewer, drawing them into the image. It also adds depth and emotion to the portrait, helping to convey the subject's personality and story.

In a head-on pose, the subject faces the camera directly, creating a straightforward and intimate connection with the viewer. This pose is often used for formal portraits and headshots.

The background in a portrait plays a significant role in shaping the overall image. It provides context and setting for the subject, helping to tell their story. It can also enhance the mood and atmosphere of the portrait, and be used to draw attention to the subject by creating contrast or visual interest.

Frequency separation is a non-destructive editing technique that allows photographers to adjust the skin tone and texture of their subjects without affecting the overall image quality. It involves separating the image into high-frequency and low-frequency layers, allowing for precise adjustments to each layer.

Candid moments in portrait photography are highly valued because they capture the subject in their natural state, without the posing or self-consciousness that can come with posed shots. These moments often reveal the subject's true personality and emotions, adding authenticity and naturalness to the portrait. They also help to tell a more compelling story, as they provide a glimpse into the subject's life and experiences.

The ideal lens focal length for portrait photography depends on the desired perspective and composition. Wide-angle lenses can create a more environmental portrait, including the subject's surroundings, while normal lenses offer a more natural perspective. Telephoto lenses allow for tighter framing and isolation of the subject, compressing the background and creating a shallow depth of field.

Experimenting with different angles and perspectives in portrait photography is essential for creating visually interesting and engaging images. By shooting from different angles, such as high or low angles, or by using creative perspectives, photographers can add variety and depth to their portraits. This can help to create more dynamic and compelling images that tell a more engaging story about the subject.

ISO is the camera setting that controls the sensitivity of the sensor to light. A higher ISO value (e.g., ISO 1600) makes the sensor more sensitive to light, allowing you to shoot in darker conditions or with a faster shutter speed. However, higher ISO values can also introduce noise into the image.

A reflector is a versatile tool in portrait photography that serves multiple purposes. It can be used to bounce light back onto the subject, reducing harsh shadows and creating a more even distribution of light. It can also be used to add a touch of warmth to the image by reflecting warm-toned light onto the subject.

The rule of thirds is a composition technique that divides the frame into thirds, both horizontally and vertically. Placing the subject off-center along these lines or their intersections often creates a more visually appealing and balanced image.

Capturing the subject's eyes in focus is crucial in portrait photography. It helps to convey the subject's emotions and personality, as the eyes are often considered the windows to the soul. It also creates a more visually appealing image by drawing the viewer's attention to the subject's eyes, which are often the most expressive feature of the face. Additionally, ensuring that the subject's eyes are in focus helps to establish them as the main focus of the portrait.