6 Ways to Create Unique Portrait Photographs

Conventional portrait photography generally focuses on the subject’s face and expression.  This produces the classic portrait photographs where the subject is either looking at the camera or at an angle.  However, experimenting with portrait photography can be great fun and can produce some truly visually stunning pictures.  Here are some tips if you like to experiment and want to create unique portrait photographs.

Perspective:  

To get unique or unconventional portrait photographs, avoid the usual eye level camera placement.  Try placing the camera above, below, or at different angles to come up with interesting results.
    

Eye contact

Again, avoid getting the subject to look directly at the camera.  You can get the subject to look at something outside the field of view.  This can create different expressions – the faraway lost look, the thoughtful look, the mysterious look, and so on and so forth.  Alternatively, you can have the subject look at an object or person in the field of view.  This kind of creates a relationship or tells a story.
    

Use of props

Props need to be used very carefully so that they do not take away the focus from the subject, but rather add to the overall impact of the portrait.  Use your creativity to choose and place the prop.  Props could be as simple as a flower or something as dramatic as a vehicle.  It depends on the image you are trying to create.  Props work extremely well with children’s portraits.  Props like toys, bubbles, sea shells, or even chocolates or ice cream work wonders.
    

Focus specifically on a body part

This is a bit radical but worth trying.  Instead of focusing on the subject’s face, try focusing on just one part, like for example, just the eyes or just the hands.  It can create a mysterious effect and be totally subjective.  Each viewer would interpret the portrait differently thus making it more interesting.
    

Challenge the subject

Remove your subject from their comfort zone.  Get them to do something they normally would not do in front of the camera.  It may be something silly like hanging upside down or something funny or dramatic.  The results can be amazing.
    

Take lots of pictures

Creating unique portrait photographs is all about trying out different aspects of photography.  So take lots of pictures, you never know which ones will turn out stunners.