If you’re loking to break out of a creative rut or take your portrait photography to the next level, in this post, I’m sharing 20 unique and inspiring portrait photography ideas. These ideas will help you experiment with new techniques, fresh concepts and different ways of capturing your subject. Whether you’re shooting with natural light, in a home studio, or out on location, these ideas are designed to spark creativity and push you beyond the usual poses and backdrops — perfect for photographers of all levels looking to grow their style and portfolio.

  1. Shoot through prisms

    Taking photos through prisms, lens spheres and FX filters is a quick and easy way to add a creative flair to your photos. In the images below I am using the Lensbaby Omni Filter kit and Universal Expansion Pack

2. Experiment with reflections

Use a mirror to take reflection portraits, make use of your subject in the foreground to add more interest to your photo.

3. Take extreme closeup shots

4. Play with light and shadows

Photograph your subject in direct light and use props or your surroundings to create interesting shadows.

5. Take golden hour portraits

6. Include your environment

When taking portraits in a natural location, interact with your environment to create immersive portraits.

7. Shoot from interesting angles

Experimenting with different angles can lead to interesting looking portraits. I took this photo low from the ground pointing upwards, this creates an environmental portrait with the canopy of the tree.

8. Play with hand posing

Hands can be one of the most difficult parts of the body to pose and capture in a portrait. Try experimenting with interesting, soft and whimsical hand posing when taking portraits.

9. Faceless portraits

If you don’t feel confident to face the camera, try taking some faceless portraits. You can use props to hide your face or take lifestyle images with your subject facing away from the camera like the image below.

10. Try taking a double exposure

Double exposure portraits are super fun to play around with. There are endless combinations of posing and texture you can overlay on your exposure. Check out this tutorial for how to create a double exposure portrait in camera without ever needing Photoshop!

11. Experiment with different colour combinations

Colour plays a huge part in conveying a mood with your portrait photography. Try different colour combinations with your outfits and locations to see what you can create. For this portrait I used minty greens with soft pinks for the outfit, mixed with a vibrant green location for a whimsical theme.

12. Use a wide angle lens

Typically longer lenses like an 85mm or 135mm are ideal for portrait photography. However, with a wide angle lens such as the Sony 28mm f2 pictured below, you can create some interesting portraits incorporating more of your location in the shot.

13. Shoot portraits in black and white

14. Take portraits with animals

Taking portraits with your pets or animals can be a great way to create some fun portraits. In this photoshoot, my friend Kristina played with baby goat Ollie.

15. Find an abandoned building

Abandoned buildings can be a great portrait location. You can find interesting textures to shoot against and overgrown shrubbery to use in the background. In this portrait photoshoot, I found old stairs covered in ivy leaves which made for a gorgeous backdrop.

16. Use props in your portraits

Props in a portrait photoshoot can be great for 2 things. If your subject doesn’t feel comfortable in front of the camera, often holding something can take their mind off the camera and help them relax. A prop like a bunch of flowers or an old book can also add a fun theme to your portrait photography.

17. Capture lens flares

Lens flares a great way to add a dreamy and surreal look to your portrait photography. You can capture lens flares by taking off your lens hood and shooting directly into the sun.

18. Find flowers to shoot with

19. Take photos on your phone

If you don’t have a DSLR or mirrorless camera, you can still take some amazing portraits on your phone. Experiment with different lighting and locations to create portraits. If you normally take photos on your camera, taking photos on your phone instead can be a refreshing change of perspective.

20. Shoot portraits at night

Taking photos at night can be a fun challenge dealing with low light situations. You can use available light from street lamps and neon signs, or you can bring your own lighting. For the portrait below, I had a very budget setup with some LED video lights.

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