How Can I Improve Taking Portrait Shots?

Here are some general guidelines for taking good portraits:

• Use longer focal lengths instead of shorter (telephoto instead of wide angle). This will make your subject's face more natural and less bulbous. 
• Use a wide aperture for shallow depth of field. This will focus attention on your subject and not your background. 
• Avoid distracting backgrounds. 
• Try to achieve even illumination by exploiting natural light. If you can't use natural light, then use studio lights and/or multiple flashes and/or a bounce flash. 
• Avoid taking pictures where part of your subject's face is in shadow unless you really know what you're doing. 
• Avoid using a single flash pointing directly at the subject. This will create harsh shadows on either the subject of the area behind the subject.