Tip of the week ... how to take a snappy portrait
Plan ahead. Don
Tip of the week ...
how to take a snappy portrait
Plan ahead. For any picture you intend to distribute to the public, “decide on everything before you start shooting,” from clothing to setting. The former should be simple—no bold patterns. The latter should have proper lighting.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Don’t use direct light. “To avoid accentuating Mom’s wrinkles,” employ indirect light. Find a place, indoors or out, where the sun reflects off white walls. “Reflected daylight is incredibly flattering.”
Ditch the tripod. “Sure, it keeps the camera steady,” but you’ll like the results better if you can move around and take shots from several different angles. Particularly if you’re photographing pets or children, “you need to enter their world.” That means getting down on hands and knees.
Play with Photoshop or other photo-editing software, and learn a few simple but useful effects. Just be sure to save the original. “If you modify some areas too much,” you may want to revert back.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Today's political cartoons - March 30, 2025
Cartoons Sunday's cartoons - strawberry fields forever, secret files, and more
By The Week US Published
-
5 hilariously sparse cartoons about further DOGE cuts
Cartoons Artists take on free audits, report cards, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Following the Tea Horse Road in China
The Week Recommends This network of roads and trails served as vital trading routes
By The Week UK Published