There are over six billion people in the world. Each could be a subject for a photographer. Of all the images captured since the invention of photographic film, the vast majority are of people. Yet only a small fraction of these are true portraits. A good portrait should capture something about the character of a person as well as their physical features.

There are several types of portraiture. The most common is probably the formal portrait where the subject is posed in their best clothes in a fairly stiff standing or seated position. Lifestyle portraits appear much more spontaneous, even if they are carefully arranged. They are shot as if the subject is not aware of the camera and are usually taken outdoors. Environmental portraits use location and props to reveal something about the subject's interests or livelihood. A teenager holding a skateboard while listening to his i-pod tells you much more about him than his formal school portrait.

You do not need a long list of skills to produce a portrait, but there are some basics that need to be understood.

Firstly, you should aim to take control of the light falling on and around your subject. This does not mean you have to work in a studio with a vast array of lights and reflectors. Simply positioning your subject near a window can light an interior portrait. One common mistake that often spoils portraits is the excess light produced when the camera's in-built flash is used. Try to use natural light from a window or reflected from a silver, gold, or white surface.

Focus your camera on the subject's eyes. Even when people look at someone in a photograph they tend to look at the eyes. If your model is turned slightly from the camera focus on the nearest eye.

Make sure the background is not too cluttered or busy. Make your model they main point of interest in the picture and keep distractions to a minimum. The most common mistake is not checking what is immediately behind the person posing for the photo. No one looks their best with a tree growing out of their head or half a lampshade protruding from their ear.

Often a portrait photograph will not include the entire body. You have to decide where to cut or crop the picture. The most common cropping mistake is usually the unintended slicing of the top of a head. Be aware of where the picture will end at all sides of the frame. Try to crop the shot above or below body joints. Cutting the picture off at the neck, knees or waist often looks unnatural.

Although your subject should be the center of attention that does not mean they have to be in the center of the frame. Try placing them to one side. It makes for a more interesting picture.