Do you know what the basics of portrait photography are?  Which composition methods are suitable for portrait photography?  What kind of composition do you usually use for portraits?  

The following are some of the most commonly used composition methods in portrait photography. Their principles are simple and flexible.  

1. Central composition  

Central composition, also known as center composition, is the most common way of portrait composition. Central composition is to put the subject of the target in the middle of the picture, so as to emphasize the effect of the subject, which is also a composition technique we use most in portrait shooting.  

2. Golden section composition  

Golden Section composition is the most classical composition principle. We approximately treat the golden section proportion as a three-equal division and divide the picture into three equal parts horizontally and vertically to form a nine-grid. Therefore, the golden Section composition can be approximately regarded as nine-grid composition in proportion.  

Connect the three equal points on the four sides. The four points intersected are the golden section points. These four lines are the golden division lines.  

“Golden mean” is a kind of geometry formula invented by the ancient Greeks, follow the rules of the composition form is considered to be “harmony”, enjoying an image work when the meaning of this rule is to provide a reasonable integral geometry line, for many painters, artists, “golden mean” is that they must grasp in the creation of the current guidelines,  Photographers are no exception.  

Golden section composition is not only the most widely used composition method in portrait photography but also the most used composition technique in many other types of photography, such as landscape photography, which is considered to be harmonious in the picture.  

3. Nine-grid composition  

Scratchable latex composition is actually a simplified version of the “golden mean”, also known as the rule of thirds composition, we can often see in the camera’s built-in reference line, the rule of thirds composition can be divided into vertical and horizontal trichotomy of two, when a portrait, will the picture average is divided into three equal horizontals, vertical, can be placed on each line characters the main trunk,  The character is placed in one of its four intersection points, which highlights the character subject more clearly.  

4. Frame your composition  

Frame composition makes use of the frame formed by doors, frames, or branches as the foreground and the position of the characters in the frame. This composition method leads the viewers’ eyes to the characters in the frame.  

Frame composition is widely used in ancient costume films and TV dramas. Frame composition reflects the real-life state of ancient women being bound and repressed.  

This composition allows the picture to form a sense of hierarchy and depth.  Increased visual effects and artistic rendering power.  

5. Guideline composition  

Guiding line composition is to broaden the depth of the picture and guide viewers’ eyes with the help of existing lines in the picture as guiding lines.  

The guiding line in the picture can be the real line in the picture or the line of sight of the character. The lines in the picture and the line of sight of the character gather on the character.  

6. Mirror surface composition  

Mirror composition according to the literal meaning of understanding, is to find a mirror, take the picture of the character in the mirror, but in a group of photos, take two or three, it is not recommended to take too many, mainly for the role of ornament.  

If you want to learn more about photographic composition, you can visit this article:  Ways to help improve photographic composition