Here are a few tips for taking your portrait photos up a notch.

When you think of portrait photography, the standard head and shoulders shot with a slightly tilted chin probably comes to mind. While there is a place for more formal portraits, adding a little creative flair can change your images and give you excellent results.

Here are a few subtle ways to turn your portrait photography around.

Forget Eye-Level

No rule says a portrait always needs to be taken at eye level. Take the photo above to give your image a more artistic flair.

Lose the Eye Contact

While a subject making direct eye contact with the camera does create a connection with the person viewing the photo, there are other options, such as having the subject focus on something unseen to bring an element of mystery and intrigue to the shot.

Bring in a Prop

Using a prop in a shot helps tell a story, brings in some color, or just adds some general visual interest. You must keep the prop simple, though, so that you aren't diverting the attention of the photo's main subject.

Experiment with Lighting

Try taking photos around a shutter or doorway where you can play with natural light. Another option is to play with shadows or even brightly colored lights. Again, it's important not to detract from the person in the photo if you will be using dramatic lighting.

Play with Backgrounds

Adjusting something as obvious as the background can make all the difference to a portrait shot. Backgrounds of different colors or even different textures can all be used. However, if patterns are used, make sure they aren't too busy.

Once you start getting creative with portrait photography, retaking a plain portrait shot will be hard.