My very favorite portrait photography tip is to shoot in RAW and slide the "clarity" slider in ACR or Lightroom to the left a bit to soften the skin tones and give the portrait a slightly softer, more dream-like feel.

Tri-X and Rodinol.... but mostly my family.

This is a portrait I just love. You look at it, and just think "Beautiful girl in the country, warm summer breeze blowing by.....". It was done by Michael Thompson:
http://picasaweb.google.com/michael.orangetree/Lightenupandshoot#5401434...

Always shoot in raw and use a tele lense (50mm and up) for portrait. It's always good to have a small chat with the modell before.

And I'm thankful for my family. :-)

hmm.. I just wrote a small blog post on thinking outside the box... or rather in this case, inside a dressing. basically, how to get better lighting when the only options you're given are crazy track lighting and a dressing room with an ikea lamp. see here: http://yeahmanh.com/2009/11/20/thinking-outside-the-box/

I am most grateful for my great talent in photography that I am so passion and that I didn't lose whole bunch of my vision that I am half blind and deaf.

I'm grateful for many many things, but in terms of things pertinent here I'm grateful for my one-a-day photo project, which is forcing me out of my photographic comfort zone, encouraging spontaneity, and giving me a good feel for my personal style.

Set up the subject sideways in front of a window with naturally strong backlighting, exposure metered on the face (of course), eyes turned just slightly toward the camera, then printThe result was stunning.
***
Thankful for all good things--after working with film for years, I am thankful for pixels.

One of my favorite portraits, a spur-of-the-moment grab under sodium lights after leaving a restaurant with my wife and her good friend, Victoria.

Good friends, incidentally, are one of the things for which I am eternally thankful.

I am thankful for the many insightful photography tips i find on this blog. Between this and strobist, i have learned a LOT about photography. Also thankful for the great country i live in and the fact that there is a holiday all about stuffing your face. :)

Friends, Family, and God's beautiful creation all around us.

Purchased a copy on a whim, it is certainly not worth the money. The ebook pieces together random portrait knowledge that could easily be found for free on many discussing boards. Not sure how Rowse can sleep at night charging for this effort, most likely on a large pile of money from suckers like me.

im so thankful for the ability to live a healthy life and take pictures to relax!

I was diagnosed at the beginning of this year with metastatic thyroid cancer. I've endured surgery, radioactive iodine treatment,six weeks of daily radiation therapy, CyberKnife surgery to my spine, and on-going chemotherapy that I'll have to take for the rest of my life. Despite all these traumas, I'm still alive and kicking. Just last weekend, my brother took me to Yosemite for what may be my final visit to a national park, and to the one that ignited my passion for photography forty-odd years ago. The light on the trees in the valley was fantastic and wonderful photos were there for the taking.

My endurance isn't what it used to be, so my photography is limited to that in-house or nearby. This book would come in handy for learning indoor portrait photography techniques.

I'm thankful for the time that I've had and for the days yet to come. I'm thankful for my family and friends who are helping me through this difficult time.

Every day is a blessing that should not be wasted.

I'm thankful for family, friends and the great photography info found here.

... a very understanding wife, who has not yet insisted that I stop wasting time on this crazy photography hobby.

when shooting kids there is nothing better than a stuffed animal falling off your head to get a great expresion.

I am most thankfull for my wife who puts up with all of my constant shooting and taking up half our basement for my studio, and also for my little girl who everyday brings more joy to my life than I could have ever imagined.

I'm thankful for my family and their willingness to let me take pictures all the time. All. The. Time.

My favorite outside portrait tip is to have the sun behind the subject.

I'm thankful for the incredibly generous photography community. I'm amazed at all the tips and tricks I've learned just this last year!

I am thankful for the Impossible Project, relaunching Polaroid Film.

That I still have the opportunity to take portrait photos of my two beautiful children my late wife and I had. With each portrait of them I take, I get to relive the beauty of her love to myself and them that she shared freely with us. I see it so clearly in their eyes.

I took this shot in a studio (not my own) without the studio lights. Here in Japan girls get dressed up and take special portraits when they turn 3 and 7 (she is 7). Her grandmother paid for a studio portrait, and I brought my camera along. When the photographer was taking a break, and I told my daughter to turn and face the light coming in from a window (with his permission). It's hard to see in this small photo on Flickr, but her eyes catch the light and it works out very nicely. Here's the link:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/photosensibility/4140221238/

BTW, you can see my documentary slide show of the whole session, including kimono pictures, here:

http://www.photosensibility.com/2009/11/20/shichigosan/

I just downloaded my copy and after a quick scan, it appears to have some great information in it. I can't wait until I can read it tomorrow.

And by the way, I'm very thankful for all the blessings in my life, including my faith, my family, my photography and the great network of photographers out there willing to share their knowledge.

Don't be afraid to try something different. Usually shot high key? Give low key a try, you might like it. :)

Also, in in a pinch, a white binder makes a great small reflector for bouncing light back onto the face. :)

I'm thankful for my life, my friends and family and for being able to put my passion into the things I love.
Tips to portraiture... well, I just got a 50mm and I absolutely adore it. I would say that it is key to try to connect with the subject and see if there's any particular aspect that outstands. If there is, go for it on the pic.
My favourite portraits so far are those three
http://www.flickr.com/photos/iridiscat/4136118735/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/iridiscat/4077958869/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/iridiscat/4077958405/
And yes, one is a selfie because so far I only have me to practice :D

One of my favorite bridal portraits...

http://www.facebook.com/photos.php?&id=1273492314&s=54&hash=89d3a2451912...

Those that have generously given of their time and knowledge in my infant journey into photography. I'll be looking for ways to pay it forward somehow, trust me.

Hi
I'm learning about portraits through a selfportrait project: learning to shoot myself I see the poses, light, etc ... the things that work.
I find this group very useful: http://www.flickr.com/groups/fiftytwo/
And I want to win the book!!!!!

I'm thankful for skype so we can call home for cheap from Europe!

I am grateful for being born. That's the most valuable thing I've ever gifted. Thanks mom and dad!

I'm grateful for out Strobist group that gets together once a month.

As a person, I am most thankful for my good health and my loving family with 7 amazing grandchildren. I am also thankful for the freedoms that we have in our country.
As a photo enthusiast, I am grateful for the people who take the time to write blogs and help struggling amateurs like myself become as good as we can be. I am thankful to Artur Grajewski who wrote a piece in "Instrucables" a while back about making a DIY Gary Fong-like flash diffuser that I have used hundreds of times to take pictures of children, adults, and sometimes things in table top photography that just amaze me and the people I show them too. Anyone who isn't familiar with this simple tool that you can make yourself in 10 minutes or less for minimal expense should check it out!

I am thankful for my husband having a good job so I can stay home with our son and work on getting my photography business started.

I am grateful that it has not rained in a few days. So we can get back to harvest that is two months late.

I'm a beginner so no portrait tip.

I am thankful for my wife and my kids, with out them I wouldn't have a reason to be on this planet (or any other)

I'm thankful for sites like DIYP that help me participate in photographic activities that are potentially prohibitively expensive...

It may be cliche, but a portrait that I've always loved:
afghan girl

Shooting portraits is what makes me love photography.

I feel like I will never stop learning about taking portraits, that's why I never get tired reading about it.

Here's on my favourite ones. That big hand in the picture is a "mistake" but I think that the child expression is one of the best I've ever taken.

See you! :)

I'm grateful for my daughter, my iphone and my 50mm lens. No matter how many times I try to find the sweet spot on the other lenses, the 50 always makes me feel like a better photographer. I'm also grateful for diyphotography.net. I'm not just blowing sunshine up your skirt (maybe a little), but I am truly grateful for this site and for sites like DIY school and for Charlotte from 360 for posting your link on her twitter account, which led me to you.

The reasons I love this pic are because 1) It's my daughter in a nutshell and 2) shot with my own DIY ring light!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bulldog413/4140385209/

I am thankful for all the great things in my life. Honestly I look at my life and it could be a lot worse. I have a great wife and wonderful kids. I'm thankful for my new (first) DSLR and very thankful for all the different types of photography to keep me learning new techniques and enjoying my hobby. I'm very thankful to sites like this and DPS as that is where I've learned most of my techniques and this site because I am a DIY all the way!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27929078@N02/4139268705/

Of the photos that I have taken, the above is one of my all time favorites. While I have done setups with up to 5 flashes, I find that the ones I'm most drawn to are the single light setups. This was done with nothing more than a 200 w/s Multblitz flash, a Photoflex 2x3' softbox, a white wall, and a great subject.

My tip:
Shadow = Drama. Don't over light.

I am thankful for my family, my relatively good health, my somewhat employed status (some is always better than none), the nine months Syracuse, NY has escaped without snow, and the 5 years my compact point and shoot has given me, being battered and carried and occassionally dropped, and used (thank you apeture and shutter priority). It has finally given up the ghost- I mourn and am grateful for the wonderful photos and that with a Nikon D50 I am not digital cameraless.

• For the love of my family
• For my health
• For being able to live in this wonderful country
• For people like you who offer so much (and ask so little in return)

What I am thankful for is my wife who has supported me through the roughest time of my life when I lost additional hearing back in 2005. She was there for me when I received the greatest gift of all which is my cochlear implants which has allowed me to hear more now than when I wore hearing aids. The great lesson I learned is "Don't Give Up. Don't Ever Give Up" which the late Jimmy Valvano lived by when was dealing with cancer.

I'm thankful for so many things: family, friends, home, hobbies...our family dog! Yes, I have a very good life.

I'm thankful for my best friend and I'm thankful that she likes modeling for me :) I'm also really grateful for my camera and all the wonderful resources like DIYP available online.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mandis-photographs/4045056602/in/set-721576...

yeah,I am thankful for all the great things in my life.

I'm thankful for my girlfriend of 5 years, for being faithful with me despite my shortcomings (no puns intended ;)) and I'm thankful for discovering diyphotograhpy.net this year and have since enjoyed reading the articles presented here.
Peace & prosperity to all~

From one of my favourite photographers. The candid look of the photo along with the sparkle in the eyes and the sharpness of the eyelashes and hair is what makes this photo for me.

http://jasminestarblog.com/images/content/BlogJasmineStar0002.jpg

wonderful blogs sharing great photography tips and news for free;
incredible photos that continue to inspire me;
time to go for yet another photo-snapping spree;
but, most of all,
Thank God for cameras, friends, and family!

Tip: I'm not a great portrait photographer, but I've recently discovered the joys of shooting portraits wide open with only a fast 50mm can be. It forces you to think of composition and point of focus quickly!

the photo studios that took a chance on a kid who likes taking pictures and changing my career from an accountant to a photographer.

My darling wife who understands.

I'm grateful for photographers, professionals and amateurs alike, who blog and help me to get better at my new hobby.

When shooting candids of babies who crawl around, try getting below them to see things from that perspective. This set of photos was taken while the baby was crawling on a picnic table.

I wasn't even looking at the viewfinder and was just aiming the camera in her direction. EXIF info is included with each shot:

http://photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=934878

Nice how-to for portraits with strobes:
Studioxil.com – This is how we do it. http://www.studioxil.com

Though there are countless things for which I am grateful, on the top of the list are: God, eyesight, health, freedom, family and an optimistic outlook on life.

Tip, not everyone likes cameras as much as we (photographers) do and they really don't like them pointed at them.

I am thankfull for being home from the Military, no longer overseas for holidays, being with my family and I am thankfull for the people who now have taken my place in uniform,

I'm thankful for so many things. My savior Jesus Christ, my family, my business, and for the opportunity to practice photography! So many blessings!

Homepage: http://www.flickr.com/photos/32959934@N04/

for my family, my new DSLR coming for Xmas, and cheese!

People that are so willing to give despite the economic hardships that most ppl are endearing

I am so thankful for food to eat every day, the chance to give my children more when they want more, a warm house, and a job that I love.

Well, what am I really grateful for, a really big question, so big answers indeed needed. I am grateful for life, I am grateful for my job, I am grateful for the roof over my head, I am grateful for the plate of food I eat, I am grateful for my wife and kids and the patience they show me, for the motivation they provide me, and for offering themselves up to perfect my talents. But as I am unable to write a whole book about everything I am thankful for, I thank you for giving us the opportunity to be thankful and thankful I will be if you give me this ebook.....I just know it will go a long way in making my hobbie be just so much more worth it. Thank you!

I'm thankful that God has given me life and has secured a place for me in heaven with him forever. Everything else, family, friends, shelter, food, etc, is just icing.

My best portrait trick is to use a tele-lens to catch people (especially) my kids off guard.

Greetings from Finland - the land of Santa. Thanks for a great site!

Hi,

I am just new in portraits and would love to win the book. Thanks Marco

I have to say I am very grateful to Digital Photography School for the marvellous tips and constructive comments the site provides.

Thanks to all those contributors!

I'd like to read it to improve my photography skills

I would definitely take this book at a Christmas present. I think my weak point in portrait work remains my posing skills….which is why I specialize in candid style!

Camera Advice has posted a few helpful Christmas portrait tips here:

http://cameraadvice.co.uk/2009/12/christmas-portrait-photography-tips/

Take a look if you have time.