HOW TO MAKE A GOOD PORTRAIT - FEW RULES

Today's entry is the answer to the constantly emerging question of how to take good portrait photos. The tips that I present below are my thoughts based on the experience I have gathered so far.
I do not focus only on a portrait like everyone has in mind (face, bust) but on broadly understood photographing people at photo sessions. So, treat the post below as a collection of my advice on how to photograph people well.
There won't be a word about the equipment this time. I focus only on practice; cooperation with the photographed person, observation of the surroundings and light.

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Interaction, relaxation, good atmosphere, trust and meeting a person.

The first and one of the basic principles. The person we photograph must feel good and at ease. She can't be tense and nervous. Such photos end badly.
Even if I work with professional modeling people, sessions are always preceded by a conversation. Usually initiated by electronic means and continued at the photo session.
The situation is similar with beginners. I always explain that I will help them in the right setting and if something goes wrong I will correct it right away. It is very important for them because they do not feel confident enough to "sweep" in front of the lens. That's how I build trust.
I always talk during the photos. A simple matter that will allow you to move sessions to the subconscious level. Then the person photographed often completely relaxes and thus it is easy to pick up very natural poses that look best. Often during such chats I will catch a great setting of the person standing in front of the lens and if I don't manage to take the picture I ask for such a setting again. Then I know that this is an attitude in which this person feels great.

The right choice of place, style and time.

Another very important aspect, which is worth devoting a few longer sentences. Without the right place, even the best and most beautiful model will not help. This rule applies when the background blur shows elements of the environment in such a way that they affect the reception of photographs.
When choosing a place, always choose the person you are photographing or vice versa; person to the place. I can't imagine photographing a woman in a long dress against a graffiti background. Unless photography has a specific message, e.g. on the basis of contrast. As I mentioned, the place is best chosen for the person photographed. So that it fits this location. She identified with her to some extent. To all this you need to add a stylization that fits into the whole.
If we work with professional models and we have a project / vision to implement, the place must be selected in terms of stylization, while the model must feel the atmosphere.
It varies with time. It can be matched to the concept of the session. I did so in the morning session at steaming joints. However, if the time does not matter, it is worth photographing during the golden hour or at any time on a cloudy day. Then the light is neutral and soft which has the effect of nicely lit photos.
There is nothing to limit only to shooting in the golden hour or only on a cloudy day. If you only have a vision for photos in the bright sun and want to achieve the intended effect, why not? That's what I did in the case of a session in the bright sun with Kasia. However, I do not recommend such a solution to beginners. It is not easy and you have to do it very consciously but I still recommend experimenting because I know from experience that it is the best and fastest way to success (of any kind).

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Find a good light.

Even if I photograph in the golden hour or on a cloudy day, I constantly observe how the light decomposes. I search for interesting flashes, I am looking for places that look great thanks to the incident light and I fit the posing person in the whole.
At first I didn't have the eye like now. I didn't notice many things, I passed by great places indifferently. However, when I returned there some time and I was more aware of what I was doing. I had the thought in my head that I had to watch the light and the environment closely. I noticed much more, which translated into great shots.
It's difficult to present a recipe for finding good light. It is impossible. You just have to watch and try, there is no other way and it will not be.

Take care of the background.

Another basis many people forget about because they "blur the background". So what am I asking ?! Anyway, it has a huge impact on the photo and if such a "photo shoot" does it on a case-by-case basis, this is how his photos will be, accidental. Nothing will give a new, beautiful body and glass for the few lowest domestic.
If the background is wrong, despite the good light, good pose and other favorable factors, the photo will still suck. Simply in the world.
Even if the background is so blurred that what is in the background can hardly be seen, you can choose its colors, brightness and clarity. These are very important factors that we have an influence on and which should be controlled.
The situation is a bit different in the case of smaller background blur. Then you need to take care of other factors such as: integrating the photographed person into place, accurate control and conscious placement of elements in the frame and good composition of the whole.
The basic mistakes of beginners are, for example, protruding branches from behind the head of the model, a mess in the background that distracts attention and trimming important elements in the frame.
Just because you do a portrait does not mean that you focus only on the right position of the model and good light. The background is equally important.

Appropriate selection of other parameters. Correct exposure.

If all the above points have been met, set the correct exposure time. The machine will not do it just blindly but I believe that if you read this text you know how to set the parameters in manual mode or at least in aperture preselection mode (if you can't learn it, unless you only want to do the usual Facebook not raising "oh and ah").
Set a low aperture and adjust all other parameters appropriately so that the picture is sharp and motionless.
If the background is bright and the correct exposure set to the face causes its burning, then the subject should be illuminated, e.g. with a diaphragm.
God forbid with a built-in or system lamp mounted on a sled and pointed straight ahead (this can be done but only slightly flashing, personally I don't do it because I don't like this effect). The best is a diaphragm or lamp on a tripod with an umbrella. If you are not able to use the above accessories, lower the exposure a little and hence the face will be slightly underexposed. You will correct this in the post-process or at least the background will not be burned out.
The last option is simply moving the person to a different place where the background will not be burned out.