Lighting is a major factor in setting the mood of the portrait. Bright lighting expresses vibrancy and happiness, while low lighting produces a feeling of tranquility or melancholy. To create a sense of drama, the subject can be lit from one side only. Indoors, try to move your subject near a window, instead of relying on the on-camera flash. Early morning and late afternoon light is less direct and can add a pleasing glow to the scene. Outdoors, the gentle, diffused light of an overcast day can help conceal facial flaws. Bright sunlight, however, not only casts harsh shadows and exposes flaws, it also makes people squint. On sunny days, move the subject into the open shade under a tree or beside a building, or wait for a passing cloud.
Bright light does have its uses, though. Whether in sun or open shade, fill flash can be used to soften shadows and cast enough extra light on the subject to help set the person apart from the background. Flash can also add sparkle—or "catchlights"—to the eyes. This sparkle will often occur naturally if the subject is lit from the front. If the light is coming from the side, though, a low-intensity light source placed off to one side of the camera can also produce catchlights.
If you don’t have a fill flash or extra light source, a reflector can work just as well. Although purpose-built photographic reflectors are the easiest to work with, a two- or three-foot square of cardboard covered with crinkled aluminum foil, a section white poster board, or even a car windshield reflector can be used to direct light onto the subject.
Posing
For casual or even semi-formal portraits, posing doesn’t have to take much time. In fact, candid shots often reveal more of the subject’s character than formally posed shots. That doesn’t necessarily mean less work for you as the photographer, though. Rather than asking the subject to adjust to your camera angle, you’ll get better results by letting the subject move and pose naturally and moving your camera to capture the best angle.
Showing the subject interacting with their environment or with props can also express a lot about the subject’s personality and interests. For instance, an avid woodworker might be shown working on a project or sitting beside a completed project. Social interaction also offers great photo opportunities. As an added benefit, a person involved in something is paying less attention to the camera and is better able to relax and act naturally. While smiles and laughter are always welcome, a serious or contemplative expression also offers a glimpse of the subject’s disposition.