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Photographing people, especially friends and family, is a lot of fun. Now it's time to get creative and take your portrait photography skills to the next level. These tips will help you turn snap-shots into photographs you will cherish.

1. Do not place your subject in the middle of the frame. Rarely do you want someone in the center because it does not make for an interesting photograph. Experiment putting your subject to one side of the frame- by doing that you include some background which adds context.

2. You will want soft lighting for portrait photography. By keeping the light source to your back, you will avoid backlighting your subject, which makes them dark (this is a cool effect sometimes) losing detail in their face. Natural, outdoor lighting is best, and that is usually before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m.

3. Some cameras will have a "Portrait" setting, which sets a shallow depth of field that creates a blurred background. This is a great feature because you subject is the main focus. Manually, you can set your aperture below 5.6 to get the same effect.

4. Don't be afraid to get close to your subject. Zoom in; fill the frame with their face. Also, photograph your subject looking somewhere else besides the camera. Always make sure that your subject is comfortable and having fun.

5. Don't forget that a portrait does not just have to be a subject's face. Challenge yourself to capture your subject without including their face. Can you tell a story using your subject's hands, feet, or possessions? Where do they enjoy spending time, where do they work, where are they in their element?

6. Explore your inner creativity. Have fun tilting your camera, or have your subject run around or jump up and down. If you use a tripod in low lighting, you can create a streaking effect using a slow shutter speed with a moving subject.

There are no specific rules to follow, just have fun. Ask you subject if they have any ideas for certain shots or locations. Remember, after your photo shoot, it is nice to send your subject a photograph.