Choose a clean background, direct the light onto the face properly, and use portrait mode deliberately.
Lesson rule: watch the background and the light on the face
Background and light in a portrait
In a portrait the viewer looks at the person — but the background decides whether the shot looks clean. Two main checks before you shoot:
Background. Clear everything extra from behind your subject's head: a pole or a tree “growing” out of the top of their head, a bright sign, trash, random people. Take a step to the side or change the angle — and the background gets cleaner. A simple, plain, or blurred background always works better than a busy one: nothing distracts from the face.
Light on the face. The face should be lit softly and evenly. The best option is soft light from slightly to the side (from a window, in the shade): it gives a little depth but no harsh shadows. Avoid harsh overhead sun (shadows under the eyes) and backlight without correction (the face will go dark). If the sun is bright, turn the person so the light falls softly on their face, or move them into the shade.
Portrait mode. In this mode, the phone artificially blurs the background, imitating the “bokeh” of expensive lenses, and makes the person stand out more. It's handy, but software blur sometimes gets the edges wrong (it catches hair, glasses, ears). Use the mode deliberately and check the outline; for a group of people or tricky edges, the regular mode is often more reliable.
Lesson notes
Background and light in a portrait
In a portrait the viewer looks at the person — but the background decides whether the shot looks clean. Two main checks before you shoot:
Background. Clear everything extra from behind your subject's head: a pole or a tree “growing” out of the top of their head, a bright sign, trash, random people. Take a step to the side or change the angle — and the background gets cleaner. A simple, plain, or blurred background always works better than a busy one: nothing distracts from the face.
Light on the face. The face should be lit softly and evenly. The best option is soft light from slightly to the side (from a window, in the shade): it gives a little depth but no harsh shadows. Avoid harsh overhead sun (shadows under the eyes) and backlight without correction (the face will go dark). If the sun is bright, turn the person so the light falls softly on their face, or move them into the shade.
Portrait mode. In this mode, the phone artificially blurs the background, imitating the “bokeh” of expensive lenses, and makes the person stand out more. It's handy, but software blur sometimes gets the edges wrong (it catches hair, glasses, ears). Use the mode deliberately and check the outline; for a group of people or tricky edges, the regular mode is often more reliable.