Your portraits might look technically correct but still feel off in ways you can't quite pinpoint. The difference between amateur and professional-looking portraits often comes down to six specific mistakes that most people make without realizing it.
Coming to you from Julia Trotti, this practical video breaks down the most common portrait photography errors that hold your work back. Trotti starts with what might be the most overlooked aspect of portrait work: pre-production planning. She explains how location scouting a few days before your actual shoot can completely change your results. You'll learn why spending time at your chosen location beforehand helps you understand the natural light, check accessibility, and work out timing issues you never considered. The difference between shooting blind and shooting prepared becomes obvious once you see how much control you gain over your final images.
The video also tackles background awareness, something that gets forgotten when you're focused on directing your subject. Trotti demonstrates a specific technique for positioning subjects that creates much more interesting compositions than simply relying on shallow depth of field. Instead of placing someone directly in front of trees for a completely blurred background, she shows how positioning them within natural frames creates layers of focus that keep viewers engaged longer. You'll see exactly how this small change transforms a basic portrait into something that draws the eye through multiple focal points. This approach requires you to think beyond just your subject and consider the entire frame as part of your composition.
Distance and cropping represent two more critical areas where small adjustments make huge differences. Many people shoot from too far away, creating boring compositions that fail to capture attention. The video covers specific cropping guidelines that prevent awkward cuts at joints like knees, elbows, and wrists. Communication skills round out the technical advice, with practical tips for directing subjects and explaining your vision so they understand what you're trying to achieve. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Trotti.
If you would like to continue learning about the art of portraiture, be sure to check out our range of tutorials on the subject in the Fstoppers store.
