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1) You need your subject to be relaxed. This means that you need to be relaxed. If you are confident and calm – then your subject will pick up on that and mimic your emotions.

2) Get Closer to your subject. The photo is all about them after all – don’t be shy if they fill the whole viewfinder. Rather step closer than using your zoom.

3) Be aware of your surroundings. You don’t want a pole appearing to come out the side of your subjects head or a tree branch blocking half their face.

4) Don’t count to three and say cheese! You want your subject to appear relaxed and at ease. Your first few photos you will most likely discard, it takes them a little while to get used to the camera and the less warning you give them that you are about to click the shutter – the more natural they will appear.

5) If you want a more modeled look – be specific and tell your subject exactly how you want them to stand or where you want them to look. If you are too shy to say exactly what you want – then you aren’t going to get it.

6) If you are taking a photo of subjects who are unaware, for example a colourful shop stand on the side of the road, you want the scene to be as natural as possible. Find a spot to the side, out of the way, and be patient. Wait for the right mix of colour and content to come into your frame and then snap quietly away.

7) If the subject is looking directly at the camera – focus on their eyes. The eyes are the most captivating part of the face and hold the most emotion.

8 ) Be very aware of lighting. Lighting will set the mood, colour the skin and create shadows where you do or don’t want them. Watch the shadows under your subjects eyes as harsh lighting will over emphasis those.

9) Think outside the box. Look at your subject from a different angle; above, under, from the side. Get them to look at your over a half turned shoulder. Let your subject move freely in an area and snap them doing every day things. A portrait doesn’t always need to be a face-front image.

10) Most importantly – relax, don’t be shy and have fun. The better your attitude the more relaxed your subject is going to be.