Try silhouette portraits and make your photos more exciting!

How to take a silhouette portrait

1. Choose the background. It an be a lovely landscape, a simple beach scape or a city situation.
2. The background has to be bright for this to work out.
3. Focus on the person and adjust the brightness until the figure is dark and the background looks good.

How to make silhouette portraits with an app like Snapseed

Pick the brush and darken the figures carefully. Be attentive not to darken the edges around the image because it will look like you are trying to do a silhouette!

Is it better to photograph do the silhouette when you shoot or to edit and do it with an app later?

I prefer to do silhouettes when I photograph.  They will always look more natural.

Silhouettes will allow you to photograph the beautiful landscape and not worry about everything being well exposed.

But, don’t forget, the background has to be bright or brighter than the figure.

The main person or object will always be a dark shape and it’s all about the location.

Silhouette portrait and exposure

1. Make sure that there is enough space in between your main subject and everything else.
   Silhouette photography is all about shapes.
2. Photograph during the sunrise or sunset.
   When the sun is at an angle the main subject will be nice and dark. If you place the person exactly in front of the sun rays you will get beautiful rays on your image.

Silhouette Photography and Shapes

Do you remember the “cut out paper dolls?” They were always more fun if the figures were doing something. 

When you photograph a silhouette:

Ask people to show some sort of movement.

Look for interesting things that will make the silhouette stand out. 

Study the shapes. This is all about the shapes!

Making fun silhouette portraits

Ask your friends to pose in a way so that they will become a creative shape.

If they raise an arm they will create space in between their body and the arm and the shape will change.

Exaggerated postures are the best. They become beautiful shapes and they will make for unique images.

The illusion of movement will make your photos more exciting.

Silhouette Portraits

A silhouette portrait doesn’t have to be a completely dark shape.

You can adjust the brightness just a bit to show a few details of the person’s face or body parts.

More photography tips for women over 50

How to take fantastic vacation photos

Photo composition to take more exciting photos

Take the best iPhone landscape photographs

The faceless portrait

Flatlay all day

Having fun with food photos

How to make your photos more vibrant

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Updated August 2025