[Photography] How to Use Fill Light in Photography

The post How to Use Fill Light in Photography appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by John McIntire.

What is fill light in photography? Why is it so important when shooting portraits? And how can you use it to capture more refined, professional images?

Fill light is one of those essential skills that every portrait photographer should master, whether they prefer natural or artificial light. In fact, as a professional portraitist, I use fill light all the time in my own work. Over the years, I’ve developed plenty of tips and techniques for beautiful use of fill light – and in this article, I lay them all out. Here’s what you can expect to learn:

• What fill light actually is (in simple terms)
• Why fill light will improve your portraits so dramatically
• Easy ways to generate fill light in any situation
• How to position your fill lights for flattering results

I also include plenty of examples, so you know exactly what fill light is capable of. By the time you’re done, you’ll be ready to shoot some stunning fill-lit portraits of your very own!

Let’s get started.

What is fill light in photography?

Fill light illuminates any unwanted shadows in a portrait. It’s a form of supplementary lighting you can add to any lighting setup, and it works alongside the primary lighting – that is, the key light – to create a flattering effect.

Fill light will give you complete control over the contrast and tonality in your images. If you can master fill light, you’ll be unstoppable!

More specifically, fill light:

• Enhances details in the shadow areas of an image
• Reduces the overall contrast in the frame
• Brings the final image more in line with how the eye sees the world (as opposed to the more limited view of the camera sensor)

Take a look at the two images below. The shot on the left lacks fill light, so the back of my subject’s dress is completely black. When I add a bit of fill light behind the subject, however, the dress gains detail and you get a more natural result:

The image on the left has no fill light; the image on the right includes fill light on the subject’s back; as a result, there’s a lot more detail on the back of the dress, as well as under my subject’s arm.

Now, you might be wondering:

Do you need to include fill light in every portrait photo? What if you want a dark, moody, contrast effect?

No, you don’t need to always add fill light to your images. Dark and contrasty images definitely have their place (I love them, myself!). However, fill light will create portraits that look more even and natural, so if you’re working with clients, I highly recommend it, even if the effect is very subtle. (The possible exception would be when your client is looking for something more artistic – but even then, fill light can help you better achieve the look you want.)

One of the final portraits from the shoot. Note how the far side of the model’s face is relatively dark, but there’s still a touch of detail thanks to the fill light.

Two simple ways to create fill light

While you can technically create fill with any method of illumination (including flashlights, neon signs, and even phone screens), there are two tried-and-true methods of filling in a portrait that I suggest for beginners:

1. Reflectors

Reflectors are the simplest, cheapest, most basic method of creating fill light. They’re also highly versatile.

A reflector is just a piece of reflective material – often white, silver, or gold fabric or card – so by positioning it carefully, you can bounce your main (key) light back into the shadows for a diffused fill effect.

Here’s a reflector fill light example. Note how my key light is on the subject’s left, while my reflector is positioned on the right to bounce some light onto the darker side of the subject’s face:

If you’re new to portrait photography, a reflector is often a great way to delve into fill light photography. For one, a high-quality reflector will only set you back a few dollars (you can even make one yourself using white cardboard or bedsheets). Plus, reflectors are very easy to position, they’re quick to set up, and they require a minimal learning curve, as you simply need to move the material back and forth next to your subject.

The biggest drawback to using a reflector for fill is that it’s not very flexible; since you’re completely reliant on the key light for illumination, you’ll need to work with its positioning – and intensity – to create the fill-light effect you want.

2. Flashes or studio strobes

You can always use one (or two, or many) standard speedlights or studio strobes as your fill light, in addition to your key light.

A dedicated fill light will do the same basic job as a reflector, but it is infinitely more controllable: You can fine-tune the exposure and shape of your fill light with a precision that reflectors just don’t allow.

However, if you’re currently working with a one- or two-light setup, you may need to shell out for an additional light, which can be pricey. Plus, the learning curve is more significant; a strobe fill light offers plenty of power, but you must learn to adjust the flash output and apply the right modifiers for the effect you’re after.

Ultimately, the choice of fill light is up to you. If you’re serious about leveling up your skills fast, then feel free to go with the strobe. But if you’d prefer a simpler, more gradual path, a reflector might be the better option.

If you do decide to use a speedlight or studio strobe for your fill light, you’ll generally want to make sure that you’re diffusing it with a large modifier. Large softboxes and octaboxes offer a nice fill quality and plenty of flexibility, but they’re also expensive and more cumbersome to work with. Umbrellas, on the other hand, can produce beautiful light for cheap, and they’re easy to use in smaller spaces, but they tend to just throw light all around the room, which isn’t always ideal! Over time, you’ll likely want a collection of fill-light modifiers so you can pick the right tool for the job, but when you’re just getting started, you’ll want to make a careful purchase based on the type of images you plan to shoot as well as space and budget considerations.

How to master fill light photography: tips and techniques

In this section, I offer my favorite methods for working with fill light. Most of these techniques apply to both reflector and strobe fill lighting, but I indicate up front where the techniques are only applicable to one method.

1. Start by understanding lighting ratios

Lighting ratios might sound technical, but they’re really not. A lighting ratio simply tells you how bright one light is in relation to another light.

So if your key light is twice as bright as your fill light, the lighting ratio is 2:1; if your key light is four times as bright as your fill light, the lighting ratio is 4:1; and if your key light is eight times as bright as your fill light, the lighting ratio is 8:1. The greater the lighting ratio, the more contrasty (and dramatic) the resulting effect:

Left: The shadows are heavily filled, thanks to a 2:1 lighting ratio; this creates a low-contrast image.
Right: The lighting ratio is 16:1, which creates a contrasty image with deep shadows (though all of the detail is still present!).

Note: Fill lighting will always be underexposed in relation to your key light. If it’s even to your key light (i.e., if you have a 1:1 lighting ratio), you will get flat, no-contrast images as a result, which is rarely ideal. Instead, you want your fill light to be at least one stop darker than your key light.

How do you set this up? The easiest way is to use a handheld incident light meter. Take a test shot while metering off your key light, then take a second shot while metering off your fill light. Compare the two exposure values. Because a single stop of exposure corresponds to a doubling (or halving) of the light, a one-stop difference between the two lights indicates a 2:1 lighting ratio, a two-stop difference indicates a 4:1 lighting ratio, a three-stop difference indicates an 8:1 lighting ratio, and so on. Then you can adjust your lighting and re-meter until you get the result you want.

A light meter is the easiest and most accurate way to evaluate lighting ratios. However, they’re not cheap!

If you don’t own a handheld light meter, I’d recommend simply eyeballing the scene, and then adjusting your lights accordingly. The ratios are there to help, but they’re not an essential part of fill-lit portraits.

Just remember: The greater the difference between the key light and the fill light, the higher the contrast. So if you want less contrast, set your fill light one to two stops under your key light. If you want more contrast, go with three to four stops.

2. Use the right approach when adding a reflector as a fill light

Reflectors can create plenty of effects when used as fill. They’re impressively versatile, especially when you consider what they are!

If you’re set on using a strobe as a fill light, then you can skip this section – but as I emphasized above, reflectors are a great way to get started with fill lighting, and they’ll get you outstanding results with very little work.

Here’s what I recommend:

First, set up your key light so that it’s shaping and lighting your subject as desired. It’s a good idea to use a standard lighting pattern, especially as a beginner (e.g., loop lighting or butterfly lighting). Meter off your subject and determine the ideal exposure settings for your image.

Here, I positioned my softbox as a key light roughly in front of and above my subject.

Next, evaluate the shadow areas that your key light is creating. If you’re using natural light, continuous lights, or strobes fitted with modeling lights, you can do this by eye. Alternatively, you can take a test shot and review it on the back of the camera.

Here’s my test shot. While the lighting is soft, the shadows are very deep.

Third, place your reflector so that it’s roughly opposite your key light. In the next image, you can see that I’ve positioned my reflector close to the subject’s waist, pointed upward:

Adding a reflector beneath the key light raised the exposure in the shadow areas of the image.

For a low-contrast effect, bring your reflector in as close as possible. For a higher-contrast effect, move it away. Once everything is in place, evaluate the effect of the reflector (either by eye or with a second test shot).

The goal is to bring up the shadows without eliminating them. If your shot looks good, then go ahead and start shooting. If your shot is too contrasty, then you’ll need to move the reflector closer and take a third test shot; if your shot is too low-contrast, then you’ll need to move the reflector farther away (and, of course, take another test shot!).

Here’s my final result. The shadows are still present, but – thanks to the reflector – the overall contrast in the image has been reduced.

It can take quite a lot of practice before you learn to see the subtle changes a white reflector provides. The key is to shoot as much as possible and spend time observing the different effects created by various reflector positions.

If you’re struggling to evaluate the effects of the reflector and you want to get better, fast, do this simple exercise: Start with a distant reflector, then move it closer to the subject, taking shots as you go. Compare the shots on a large monitor and try to see the difference between each setup. Pretty soon, you’ll notice even the most subtle shifts in the light!

3. Learn to work with a second light

You can create varying degrees of contrast between your shadow and highlight tones by adjusting the power of your fill light.

As you become an advanced portrait artist, you’ll probably want more control over your lighting. That’s where strobes come in handy; while they’re harder to use for fill lighting, they do offer more control.

A second strobe serving as fill gives you maximum control over your shadows.

To get started with a dedicated fill light, place your key light in the desired position, set the power, and determine the proper exposure. (For the sake of instruction, I’m assuming that your aperture is set to f/8 and your shutter speed is set to a fixed 1/200s.) Take a test shot.

I’ve placed my softbox 45 degrees from the subject.

Using your test shot as a reference, place your fill light so it’ll beam light into the main shadow areas on your subject. Set the power output so that the light will be underexposed.

(How much you underexpose is entirely up to you! If you want a stop of fill, then you can adjust the power until you get a proper fill light exposure of f/5.6. If you want two stops of fill, then adjust the power until you get a proper fill light exposure of f/4. Of course, if you cannot calculate the exact aperture amounts via a handheld light meter, then just eyeball it!)

I added my second light – modified by a parabolic umbrella – about 10 feet away. I set the exposure at two stops under the key light.

Take a test shot and see if you get your desired effect. If the result is too contrasty, then increase the fill light’s power output; if the result is too even, then decrease the fill light’s power output. Make sense?

Here’s my final result (right) compared to the image before I added the fill light (left):

Note how the shadows are still present but the result is more detailed and less dramatic.

4. Learn to work with multiple fill lights (and think outside the box!)

Basic fill light setups require a single light, but you don’t need to limit yourself. You can use multiple fill lights in a single shot to illuminate your subject from different directions. You can also mix lights and reflectors for different fill light strengths.

You can design fill lighting however you like. Feel free to use multiple light sources in different sizes and shapes!

Once you start to feel restricted by the basics, it’s really just a matter of experimenting. Ultimately, you can do whatever you want when creating a lighting setup. You’re only limited by the equipment you have at hand and your own imagination.

Using multiple fill lights allows you to control every bit of contrast in your images.

Also, don’t be afraid to think outside the box. I’ve discussed the two most popular methods of fill lighting – reflectors and strobes – but any light source can be your key and your fill. You can even use natural light as fill while your main light is provided by flash.

Here, the key light is a large window to camera right. The fill light is provided by a strobe. You can mix light sources to achieve your fill lighting!

5. Pay attention to your catchlights

Here’s one final tip for you, and it’s a big one:

Catchlights – that is, the spots of reflected light that appear in your subject’s eyes – matter a great deal. Images with zero catchlights look terrible, but images with too many catchlights, or oddly positioned catchlights, can also look bad.

If you’re struggling to achieve any catchlight at all, then your light sources are too far behind your subject, and you need to move them forward (or have your subject tilt their head) to achieve the right reflective angle.

This portrait features a single clear catchlight at the top of the eyes.

However, if your subject has one or more catchlights but you don’t like the look, you’ll want to make other adjustments. Consider repositioning some of your lights so they no longer reflect in the eyes, or switching modifiers to create different shapes, or adjusting the light outputs and positions so they reflect at different intensities and in different parts of the eye.

Bottom line: As you set up your lights and reflectors, check your subject’s eyes. Make sure the catchlights look flattering. If necessary, adjust the lights until you get the effect you want. Only then should you move on with your photoshoot.

Fill light in product, still-life, and food photography

Throughout this article, I’ve discussed the power of fill light in your portraits, and I’ve offered various portrait fill-lighting examples. But it’s important to emphasize that fill light is not just restricted to portraiture. You can use fill light to enhance any type of photo, especially product photography, where you’re often working in a controlled environment and need to carefully balance the lighting on the subject.

Still-life and food photography are two other genres where fill light can be hugely helpful. You can use that second light to fill in shadows for a beautiful effect!

Fortunately, my approach to shooting with fill light is broadly applicable – so even if you don’t do portraiture, you should still be able to capture amazing photos by following the instructions I’ve shared above!

Fill light in photography: final words

Hopefully, you can now confidently get started with fill-lit images. Controlling the contrast in your images is a fundamental skill, and it’ll instantly give your images an extra level of depth.

So do some practicing. Start simple and go slow, and pretty soon, you’ll have mastered the basics!

Now over to you:

What type of images do you plan to capture using fill light? What setups do you plan to try first? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Table of contents

Portrait Photography

• GENERAL
  • 15 Common Portrait Mistakes to Avoid
  • 10 Ways to Direct a Portrait Shoot like a Pro
  • How to Photograph People: 7 Tips for Photographers Who Never Photograph People
  • 10 Crucial Things You Need to Think About for Portrait Photography
  • 5 Portrait Photography Rules You Should Probably Ignore
  • Five Budget Portrait Photography Hacks to Save You Money
  • 8 Lessons Learned from My First Attempt at Portrait Photography
  • How Self-Portraiture Makes You a Better Photographer
  • The Photo Critique: Portrait Edition
  • 10 Shots, 10 Portraits, 1 Focal Length: Take this Photography Challenge
  • How I Got The Shot: Portrait Style
• PREPARATION
  • Tips for Preparing for a Portrait Session
  • 8 Tips to Help Make People Comfortable for Their Portrait Session
  • Clothing for Portraits – How to Tell your Subjects What to Wear
  • How to Plan a Successful Sunset Portrait Session
  • 5 Secrets for Finding Great Indoor Photoshoot Locations
  • 10 Christmas Portrait Locations (with Bonus Lighting and Composition Tips)
  • How to Build a Bench Prop for Great Portrait Photos
  • A Beginners Guide to Taking Portraits of Elderly Clients: Part 1 – Preparation and Rapport
  • How to Scout for Portrait Shooting Locations
  • The Importance of Location for Outdoor Portraits
  • How to Choose Urban Landscapes for Portrait Photography
• SETTINGS
  • The Best Camera Settings for Portrait Photography
  • How to Achieve Blurred Backgrounds in Portrait Photography
  • How to Bypass the Portrait Mode on Your Digital Camera and Get Great Portraits
  • Understanding the Focus and Recompose Technique
  • Overcoming Depth of Field Problems in Portraits
  • 9 Ways to Ensure You Get Sharp Images When Photographing People
  • Stunning Portraits: Manipulating White Balance
  • Shooting for HDR Portraiture
  • How [Not] to Take a Self Timer Portrait
  • How Focal Length Changes the Shape of the Face in Portraiture
• LIGHTING
  • 5 Tips How to Set Up a Home Studio for Dramatic Portraits
  • Simple Portrait Setups You Can Create on a Tight Budget
  • How to Eliminate Reflections in Glasses in Portraits
  • Portrait Photography: How to Photograph People in the Harsh Midday Sun
  • 4 Ways to Shoot Portraits in the Middle of the Day
  • 6 Portrait Lighting Patterns Every Photographer Should Know
  • 3 Lighting Setups for Photographing Headshots
  • 6 Ways of Using Reflector to Take Better Portraits
  • How to Create and Shoot Night Portraits
  • How to Make Beautiful Portraits Using Flash and High-Speed Sync
  • How to Make a Low Key Portrait (Step by Step)
  • Fill Flash Photography: How to Get Beautiful Portraits (Even in Bad Light)
  • A Lighting Ratios Guide: How to Make (or Break) Your Portraits
  • How to Mix Ambient Light and Fill-Flash for Outdoor Portraits
  • How to Photograph Fantastic Portraits with One Flash
  • DIY How to Build and Use a Reflector to Take Better Portraits
  • Understanding Light for Better Portrait Photography
  • Tips for Doing Natural Light Headshots and Portraits
  • 3 Reasons to do Headshots with Natural Light
  • A Beginners Guide to Taking Portraits of Elderly Clients: Part 2 – Lighting and Posing
  • How to Create Stunning Wide-Angle Portraits (Using an Off-Camera Flash)
  • Tips for Making the Most of Morning Light for Portraits
  • 5 Ways to Use a Beauty Dish Light for Portraits
  • Beginners Tips for Sunrise Portraits : Part I
  • Getting to Grips with Fill Light in Portrait Photography

    • What is fill light in photography?
    • Two simple ways to create fill light
    • 1. Reflectors
    • 2. Flashes or studio strobes
    • How to master fill light photography: tips and techniques
    • 1. Start by understanding lighting ratios
    • 2. Use the right approach when adding a reflector as a fill light
    • 3. Learn to work with a second light
    • 4. Learn to work with multiple fill lights (and think outside the box!)
    • 5. Pay attention to your catchlights
    • Fill light in product, still-life, and food photography
    • Fill light in photography: final words
    • What is fill light in photography?
    • Two simple ways to create fill light
    • 1. Reflectors
    • 2. Flashes or studio strobes
    • How to master fill light photography: tips and techniques
    • 1. Start by understanding lighting ratios
    • 2. Use the right approach when adding a reflector as a fill light
    • 3. Learn to work with a second light
    • 4. Learn to work with multiple fill lights (and think outside the box!)
    • 5. Pay attention to your catchlights
    • Fill light in product, still-life, and food photography
    • Fill light in photography: final words
  • How to Use Flash for Night Portraits
  • What Size Beauty Dish is Right For Your Portrait Photography?
  • How to Create Catch Lights in Your Natural Light Portraits
  • Tips for Using Golden Hour Light for Portraits
  • Side-by-side comparison between reflectors and diffusers for portraits
  • 6 Tips for Taking Better Natural Light Classic Portraits
  • How to Use a Small Softbox With Your Flash to Transform Your Portraits
  • Simple Tips for Positioning Your Portrait Subject to Leverage Natural Light
  • The Importance of Shadows in Portrait Photography
  • So You Have No Model? Here are Ways to Practice Your Portrait Lighting With Toys
  • How to use Colored Gels to Create Unique and Creative Portraits
  • 3 Steps to Professional Looking Headshots Using One Flash
  • How to Use Two LED Lights to Achieve Moody Portraits
  • Made in the Shade – Why Taking Portraits in the Shade Can be Ideal
  • What Is Good Light? (And How to Use It for Beautiful Portraits)
  • How to do Accent Lighting for Portraits
  • Tips For Great Indoor Portraits Using Natural Light
  • 5 Reasons for Doing Natural Light Portraits
  • Review of the Westcott Eyelighter for Headshots and Portraits
  • How to Use Angle of Light in People Photography for Added Punch
  • High Speed Sync Versus a Neutral Density Filter to Overcome Bright Sunlight in Portraits
  • 5 Creative Portrait Lighting Tricks Using Only Phone Light
  • How to Use Off-camera Flash to Fix Lighting Problems for Outdoor Portraits
  • How to Create Awesome Portrait Lighting with a Paper Bag an Elastic Band and a Chocolate Donut
  • Tips for Using Speedlights to Create the Right Lighting for Outdoor Portraits
  • How to use a Gobo to add Depth to Your Portraits with Subtractive Lighting
  • How to Use Hard Lighting to Create a Dramatic Portrait
  • Portrait Comparison – Flash Versus Natural Light
  • Stealing Light – Using Street Lights for Portraits
  • Five Places for Perfect Natural Portrait Lighting
  • How to See the Light for Portraits: A Quick Tip for Beginners
  • Shooting with Available Light – Lifestyle Portraiture
  • 5 Ways to Light Your Christmas Tree Portraits This Festive Season
  • A Simple Lighting Technique for Couples Portraits
  • Awash In Light: High Key Portraiture
  • A Portrait Lighting Project for a Rainy Day
  • Simple Portrait Lighting Setup: Gorgeous Result
  • How to Achieve Great Portraits with Window Light
  • A Simple Exercise on Working with Natural Light in Portraits
  • Small Flash Portraits on Location with Adorama TV
  • Portraits on an Overcast Day? Use a Reflector
  • Tips for Using Flash for Beach Portraits
  • How to Find and Use Natural Reflectors for Portraits
  • How to Create Dramatic Portraits with Shadow Photography [video]
  • Tips for Portrait Photography in Overcast Weather [video]
  • How to Photograph People Outdoors Without Using a Reflector
  • How To Use an Outdoor Studio for Natural Portraits
• POSING
  • Female Poses: 21 Posing Ideas to Get You Started Photographing Women
  • Glamour Posing Guide: 21 Sample Poses to Get You Started
  • Posing Guide: 21 Sample Poses to Get You Started with Photographing Men
  • Good Crop Bad Crop – How to Crop Portraits
  • How to Pose and Angle the Body for Better Portraits
  • Posing Guide: 21 Sample Poses to Get You Started with Photographing Groups of People
  • Posing Guide: 21 Sample Poses to Get You Started with Photographing Couples
  • Your Guide to the Best Poses for Engagement Photos
  • How to do Gentle Posing: A Collection of Prompts to Get You Started
  • Tips for Posing Large Families and Groups
  • How to Pose People for Headshots
  • Tips for Posing People in Outdoor Portraits
  • 20 Tips for Getting People to Smile in Photos
  • How to Avoid Fake Smiles in Your People Photography
  • Tips for Posing Muscular Female Body Types
  • Your Posing Guide for Maternity Sessions
  • Handiwork: How to Pose Hands
  • Your Guide to Posing Bands in Photography
  • Posing Tip for Portraits – Which Way Should Your Subject Lean?
  • Posing Tips – Waistlines, Thighs and Bustlines
  • 3 Posing Tips for Young Siblings
  • What Everybody Ought to Know About Posing for Portraits
  • Poser: Achieve Perfect Portrait Expression
  • Capturing Better Portraits Between Poses
  • A Posing Technique from A Girl With a Pearl Earring
  • Tips for Posing Men
• COMPOSITION
  • 6 Types of Portrait Backgrounds for Creative Images
  • 6 Tips for Perfect Composition in Portrait Photography
  • How to Find Great Backgrounds for Outdoor Portraits
  • How to Make Colors Pop in Your Portraits – Without Using Photoshop
  • How to Use Foreground Framing to Improve Your Portrait Photography
  • How to Use Negative Space in People Photography
  • 3 Simple Ways to Use Framing and Layering in Portraits
  • Is Portrait Formatting always best for Portraits?
  • Portrait Tip: Don't Fill the Frame
  • How to Use Portrait Angles More Creatively: A Visual Guide
  • How to Use Facial View and Camera Angle to take Flattering Portraits
• GEAR
  • Comparing a 50mm Versus 85mm Lens for Photographing People
  • Comparing a 24mm Versus 50mm Lens for Photographing People
  • 3 Tips for Taking Portraits with a Kit Lens
  • Best Fujifilm X-Series Kit for Urban Portraits
  • 3 Ways to Get Killer Portraits Using a Tripod
  • Photographing Portraits with Classic Lenses (includes Example Images)
  • Portrait Photographers: Do You Really Need a 70-200mm Lens?
  • Essential Portrait Photography Gear You Need When Starting Out
  • Portable Portrait Studio in a Bag: Now You Can Take Portraits While on the Road
  • How to Choose the Perfect Portrait Lens
  • Which 50mm Lens is Best for Portraits?
• ADVANCED GUIDES
  • 13 Tips for Improving Outdoor Portraits
  • Create Beautiful Indoor Portraits Without Flash (NSFW)
  • 10 Tips for Photographing Great Headshots
  • 3 Simple Ways to Create Stunning Eyes in Your Portrait Photography
  • 11 Tips for Photographing High School Senior Portraits
  • Tips for Doing Fall Portraits
  • 6 Tips for Photographing Large People
  • 7 Tips for Black and White Portrait Photography
  • How to Create Environmental Portraits (Tips and Examples)
  • Capturing Unenthusiastic Teens: Forget the Perfect Pose and Get Photos You Truly Love
  • Tips for Taking the Torture out of Extended Family Portrait Sessions
  • Self Portrait Photography Tips
  • What the Mona Lisa Can Teach You About Taking Great Portraits
  • 5 Tips for Musician Portraits (So You Can Hit All the Right Notes)
  • 5 Tips to Help You Take More Natural Looking Portraits
  • 15 Tips for More Powerful Portraits
  • How to Create Dramatic Portraits in Your Garage
  • 9 Tips that Make Couples Happy During a Portrait Session
  • 5 Tips for Taking Better Portraits in Nature
  • Snow Portrait: Behind the Scenes
  • Tips for Creating Dance Portraits
  • How to Take Better Beach Portraits at Any Time of Day
  • The Introverts Guide to Photographing People
  • 6 Ways to Take a Candid Portrait of Somebody You Know
  • 3 Body Language Hacks to Improve Your Portrait Photography
  • 5 More Tips for Making Better Black and White Portraits
  • Tips for Planning and Capturing a Creative Portrait
  • 5 Tips for Creating Romantic Portraits of Couples
  • 10 Tips to Create Emotive Portraits
  • 7 Tips for Photographing a Bridal Portrait Session
  • 3 Lessons I Learned by Doing a Self-Portrait Project
  • The Ultimate Guide to Photographing People for the Shy Photographer
  • Tips for Getting Yourself to Relax as a Photographer and Have More Successful Portrait Sessions
  • Tips for Taking More Natural Engagement Portraits
  • 6 Tips for Better Portraits on Location
  • 7 Ways to Take Advantage of Autumn in Your Portrait Photography
  • 7 Tips and Etiquette for Taking Portraits in Public
  • How to Make a Unique Portrait in the City at Night
  • 3 Tips for Creating Outstanding Portraits, Inspired by the work of Dutch Artist Van Gogh
  • 5 Keys to Taking Beautiful Maternity Portraits
  • Photographing People: To do Styled Portraits or Not?
  • 7 Steps to Capturing Truth in Your Portraiture
  • Engagement Portrait Shoots: 7 Professional Tips to take your Engagement Shoots to the Next Level
  • Personalities and Portraits – and Getting Them to Mix
  • 3 Reasons to Have Your Own Portrait Taken
  • 5 Tips for Photographing Portfolio-Worthy Costume Portraits
  • 3 Critical People Skills Portrait Photographers Need
  • The Essence of Masculinity – Portraits of Men
  • 5 Corporate-Style Portrait Techniques
  • 5 Tips for Doing Portrait Photography in Busy Locations
  • Tips for Great Beach Sunset Portraits
• CREATIVE TECHNIQUES
  • How to Create Portraits with a Black Background
  • How Using Props in Portraits Can Make Your Photos More Interesting
  • How to Take Unique Crystal Ball Portraits
  • How to Create a Hollywood Film Noir Portrait
  • How to Create this “Fight Club” Inspired Portrait using One Light
  • Dragging the Shutter for Creative Portraits
  • 5 Secrets for Creating Perfect Silhouette Portrait Photography
  • How to do Tilt-Shift Portraits
  • Copper, Prisms, and Orbs, Oh My! – 3 Creative Techniques for People Photography
  • Portrait Tip: Add Interest and Movement into Your Shots with Wind
  • Glitter Portrait: How I Took It
  • How to Create a Unique Bokeh Portrait for Under $10
  • 5 Ways to Use a Piece of Glass for Unique Portraits [video]
  • Room with a View: How to Create this Window with Blinds Portrait Anywhere
  • 7 Steps to Perfect White Portrait Backgrounds in the Studio
  • How to Make Unique Portraits Using Light Painting
• POST-PROCESSING
  • 11 Steps for Basic Portrait Editing in Lightroom – A Beginner’s Guide
  • Five Common Portrait Retouching Mistakes to Avoid
  • How to Create a Dramatic Cinematic Style Portrait Using Photoshop Color Grading
  • How to Edit Corporate Headshots in Lightroom
  • How to Create a Dark and Moody Rembrandt-Style Portrait In Lightroom
  • How to Retouch a Portrait with the Adjustment Brush in Lightroom
  • Photoshop: Red Eye Fix for Difficult Cases in People and Pets
  • 3 Steps to Photoshop Retouching for Natural Looking Portraits
  • How to do Frequency Separation Portrait Retouching in Photoshop
  • Basic Portrait Post-Processing Workflow Tips to Help You Save Time and Stay Organized
  • How to Add a Grunge Effect to Your Portraits Using Lightroom
  • How to Create Twinkle Lights for Christmas Tree Portraits in Photoshop
  • How to Enhance Portraits Using Gray Layers to Dodge and Burn in Photoshop
  • How to Blur the Background of a Portrait Using the Magnetic Lasso Tool in Photoshop
  • How to Use Photoshop Blending Modes for Fine Art Portraiture
  • Stylized Techniques for Editing Portraits Using Lightroom
  • How to Make a Bubble Portrait using Photoshop CS3
  • Creating a Black and White High Contrast Portrait Edit in Lightroom
  • How to Create a “Soft Portrait” Preset in Lightroom 4
  • Basic Photoshop Tutorial – How to Add Creative Overlays to Your Portraits
  • 3 Essential Photoshop Tools for New Portrait Photographers
  • How to Make Creative Lightroom Develop Presets for Portraits
  • 5 Reasons to Use Lightroom for Portrait Retouching
  • Advanced Portrait Retouch on a Male Subject in Lightroom 4 – Part 1 of 3
  • 3 Ways to Make Selective Color Portraits Using Lightroom and Silver Efex Pro 2
  • Correcting For Under Exposure and Boosting Dynamic Range with an Environmental Portrait in Lightroom 4
  • How to do Portrait Retouching With Luminar
  • Tips for Portrait Processing with ON1 Photo RAW 2018.5
  • 5 Tips to Cut Your Portrait Editing Time in Half
• BUSINESS
  • Portrait Consultations: Two Questions That Make A Big Difference
  • How to Shoot a Self Portrait to Support your Brand Identity
• INSPIRATION
  • 5 Examples of Beautiful Simple Portraits
  • DISCUSS: When you Photograph People in Black and White, you Photograph their Souls
  • 21 Inspirational Natural Light Portraits
  • 24 Photos of Perfectly Posed Portraits
  • 19 More Creative Mirror Self Portraits
  • 18 Stunning Self Portraits
  • Interview with Fine Art Portrait Photographer Bill Gekas
  • 11 Influential Portrait Photographers you Need to Know
  • Black and White Portraits a Set of Images to Admire
  • Nadav Kander on Portrait Photography [VIDEO]
  • 21 Spooky Portraits
  • Inspiring Portraits of Women – a Collection of Images
  • 12.5 Years of Daily Self Portraits [VIDEO]
  • Interview with Self Portrait and 365 Photographer – Anna Gay
  • Triptych Portrait Series
  • 8 Striking Portraits from Photograph Einar Erici [Shot in 1930]
  • An Interview With Underwater Portrait Photographer Sacha Blue
  • Masters of Photography – Yousuf Karsh Portrait Photographer
  • 21 Fun Images of People Laughing
• RESOURCES
  • Portrait Photography: Secrets of Posing & Lighting [Book Review]
  • The Luminous Portrait: Book Review
  • The Portrait Photography Course by Mark Jenkinson – Book Review
  • The Perfect Portrait Guide – How to Photograph People – Book Review
  • Improve Your Portraits with these Courses from Ed Verosky
  • People Photography and Portraits: Best Resources Toolbox

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