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Writer's pictureYaxin Duan

Top 5 Portrait Photography Composition Tips

Composition is a crucial element in photography. It can make or break a photo by conveying the photographer's emotions and captivating the viewer's attention. There is no right or wrong way to compose a photo; it all depends on whether it looks good or not. Here are five landscape composition techniques and how they can be applied to portrait photography.


1. Long-shot composition:

This technique focuses on the scenery, with the person as an embellishment. It gives the photo a broader artistic sense, capturing a wider view. The person is placed according to the rule of thirds and dichotomies to create balance, with the figure occupying a small part of the image.

2. Medium-Long Shot composition:

This composition showcases the person's entire body as the main part of the picture. It's perfect for capturing a specific atmosphere, and other composition techniques such as bisection should be used to ensure the person is fully displayed.

3. Medium composition:

Half-body pictures above the knees are captured using the mid-shot composition, allowing for the person's movements to be highlighted. It is one of the most used techniques in portrait photography.

4. Medium Close-Up composition:

This composition is used to express the person's emotions, such as happiness or sadness, where the upper edge of the shot is positioned above the subject's head and the lower edge is approximately halfway between the waist and the head.

5. Close-up composition:

This technique captures the character's face or above the clavicle to express their inner emotions, making it a primary composition method for emotional portraits. The figure's close-up composition above the clavicle occupies the entire picture.

By incorporating landscape composition techniques into portrait photography, you can become more skilled in composing photos. Keep practicing and experimenting with different techniques until you can confidently take professional portrait photos.

In conclusion, composition is essential to photography, with the ability to convey emotions and captivate viewers. Landscape composition techniques, including the long-shot, medium-long shot, medium, medium close-up, and close-up composition, can be applied to portrait photography. As you practice and experiment with different techniques, you'll become better at composing photos, resulting in professional and emotive portrait photography.



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