One of the sure fire ways to a great portrait is a fast lens with a large aperture. Just such a lens will allow you to blur the background so the subject is the only thing in sharp focus within the image. Controlling your viewer’s eye is the key to a successful image. Good composition paired with technical skill will allow you to make a great portrait in almost any situation. The image attached to this post was shot outside near Noon time with great results. How? I moved my subject under the building overhang to get her out of the harsh sunlight which would have caused dark shadows, and I shot wide open to keep the background well out of focus.
