Digital portraiture is a demanding yet accessible form of photography. Practice, experimentation and the application of some basic rules can help you get a long way in digital portrait photography. Here are seven tips to help you along your way:

1. Practice Your Portrait Photography People Skills

Perhaps the most overlooked of all digital portrait photography tips is to practice your people skills so that the subject can be themselves and not force the situation. Take control of the shoot and direct your portrait image but do so in a natural way so the subject is comfortable. People skills are the foundation of all portrait photography so practice with each shoot and try to improve with each portrait.

2. Capture Natural Reactions from Your Portrait Subject

A natural extension of having good people skills is capturing natural reactions from you subject. Help the people in your portrait to relax and you will capture a natural reaction. A good example of this is parents with babies. By having a relaxed atmosphere at the shoot, you will get great reactions between the parents and their baby. Be alert to candid portrait opportunities with these types of shoot.

Use your judgement of how to get the best reaction when working with different groups of people. For example groups of friends, family and work colleagues may act differently to each other so a different plan of action is needed for each group.

3. Be Alert for Candid Portrait Photographs

Some of the best portrait photography comes when people are not expecting a photograph to be taken. Sometimes this can be used when one or more people in a portrait are not comfortable in front of the camera. You can use the tips above to encourage them to act natural while taking photographs of them as they are doing this. Review the final images with your subjects to make sure they are happy with the results.

4.Try Something Different

Try to produce some creative portrait photography by using your imagination to do something out of the ordinary. Experimenting with different settings and techniques can help your portrait images to stand out.

5. Vary the Angle

Constantly search for the ideal angle from which to shoot your portrait. This may include getting down on the ground. If so, don't be afraid to get dirty just take a ground covering or a change of clothing!

6. Pay Close Attention to the Digital Portrait Photography Background

The portrait background is hugely important to the overall quality and feel of the shoot. The background needs to be attractive without taking attention away from the main subject of the composition. Pay special attention to colours as bright colours can be especially distracting.

7. Practice Makes Perfect

As with all aspects of photography, there is no substitute for practice. You can study all the theory there is but practice make perfect. Some people are more naturally gifted than others but you can maximise your potential by getting out there and taking as many photographs as you can.

Keep your image composition as clear as possible and gradually experimenting with different settings and techniques will advance your portrait photography to the next level. Never be happy to just take a portrait that will be the same as everyone else. Use your creativity to make outstanding digital portrait photography.