How to take professional portrait photos

Once shoot day comes, make sure you have a solid plan—for both the portrait setting and any setup needed for your camera and lighting. If you’ll be shooting in an interior or studio setting, acquaint yourself with existing options for backgrounds and lighting within the space. Will it be possible to shoot a natural-light portrait or will you need to plan for artificial lighting? Are there clean walls or a simple drapery that you can use for a backdrop, or will you be doing an environmental portrait within the space?