Comments on: How to Photograph Natural Looking Portraits

By: Abul Bashirullah

Abul Bashirullah — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 04:10:25 +0000

Hi Natalie,
I appreciate very much your tips. I like photography but hardly I go out to photograph. I will follow your advice now. I am interested to know the best lens for outdoor portrait photography. Should I use a zoom or Macro lens?
Thanking you,

By: Abin Joboy

Abin Joboy — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 15:08:05 +0000

Really thanks I’m not a pro , but I like photography. Thanks again it’s a nice post

By: Elfin Woman

Elfin Woman — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:47:35 +0000

I’m totally infatuated by your expertise. Would you mind terribly if I used your site link on my Blogger? I’ll keep you in my favorites until I receive an answer. Thank you in advance.

By: Lisa-Marie

Lisa-Marie — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 20:33:53 +0000

Thank you for the tips, there are some of them I’ve already used for some years now.

3 words I’ve always found that gets a sure smile from most of my clients are YES, MONEY and SEX! Yes I mean the word sex, however, it also depends on the clientele. If you’re working with business oriented clients , money’s the word. I only use sex when it’s close friends or how well I know the client & I’ve found the word yes works best with kids.

There’s something very natural in the smiles these 3 words bring about & helps loosen up the subject(s) a bit more.

By: Caroline

Caroline — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 04:43:52 +0000

This is an awesome post! I don’t do anything professionally or even semi-pro, but I do take my kids’ pictures instead of buying them from the school… a lot of these tips will come in handy. No more trying to mirror what is done at school! Time to get them in all their natural glory! :)

By: Steve G Bisig Photography

Steve G Bisig Photography — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 01:58:49 +0000

Great article. This will be a big help for my next portrait session. I’ve been doing a few of the tips already and this brings to my attention what I still need to work on to improve. – Steve

By: Denis

Denis — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 13:01:57 +0000

Nicely said! I’ll try being more “myself” and getting “connected” with the subject as you stated.
This is so much more than I expected from the title (after reading all there is about portraits)….but this post stands alone ! And really gets you to do what the title promised ! Thanks a lot! Happy shooting to you too!

By: George

George — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 19:32:31 +0000

When I started photography some 45 years ago, I was very much like you suggest being. Some where in the past 30 years, I’ve lost it!

Thank you very much for bringing it to my attention.

PS: I like the way you put it, “…my feet are my zoom.” LoL

By: fiona

fiona — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 16:06:38 +0000

Suzanne–My mum taught me to use the “think of someone you love” trick about 50 years ago (yes, I’m that old!), and it has never failed to work for me!

Natalie, you’re so good in every facet of your work. How DID one person get so much talent??

By: Marie

Marie — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 13:57:57 +0000

Great tips! I hope this will start me on the road to better portraits.
And Victor, I love the idea of giving the subject the camera– I know when I gave my nephew my camera to ‘play’ with he got much more comfortable letting me ‘play,

Thanks. I love this site

Marie