Get the perfect portrait on Pixel 2: Here are top 10 tips

Portrait pictures with blurred background (aka bokeh) are all rage these days. Once considered a feature exclusive to only DSLR cameras, today many smartphones have dedicated portrait modes to create these artistic images.

Until now, we have seen that to capture these portrait shots, all manufacturers have utilised a dualcamera setup where the primary lens captures the subject and secondary telephoto/wide lens senses depth to differentiate between the subject and background. Once combined, the data is then used to isolate the subject from background to give a perfect portrait shot.

Now Google’s Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are armed with a single camera module, yet promise quality portrait shots using dual pixel focus, software algorithms including machine learning and computational photography. Not only that, Google’s portrait mode works for both front and rear camera which means you can take portrait selfies as well. So if you own one of the latest Pixel phones and want to take the best portrait shots, here is how you should do it.

Get Closer: The less distance between you and your subject, the more likely your photos will have beautiful blur.

Increase distance between your subject and the background: The further your subject is from the background, the more the background will be blurred.

Tap to focus : For the best results, tap to focus on your subject, whether a person’s face or an object. Tapping also tells the Pixel 2 what’s most important to you in the photo and adjusts the exposure to prioritise your subject. This is especially useful when your subject has strong light source (the sun or a window) behind them. Tip -you can always adjust the exposure by tapping on the screen and dragging your finger up or down.

Put the subject in prominence: Seems obvious, right? But you’ll get more blur and beautiful bokeh if your main subject stands out, is prominent, and is clearly located in the foreground,

Remember the rule of thirds: Pixel 2 makes it easy to follow this classic photography recommendation. Tap the grid icon in the camera app to activate the 3x3 grid on your screen. Placing the subject along one of the lines or where the lines intersect can improve your composition.

Change perspective: A unique angle adds visual interest to your photos, Get low to match the eye level of a child or an animal, or shoot from above to emphasise shapes and graphic components in an object.

Get in line! This is one of our favorites. Look for lines, like bricks or tiles, staircases, or a building’s grid. Lines can enhance the sense of depth in photos and emphasize your subject.

Lighting is everything: You can’t always control lighting conditions, but you can surely find better light outdoor. Change your location or the camera’s orientation, reposition subjects, or take photos in the shade (especially at midday). Clouds are your friends, creating a softer, diffuse light. At night, try lighting up your subject from the side using a second phone in flashlight mode, or any simple light source.

Ditch the crowds: Portrait mode works best when all your subjects are the same distance from the camera. This is easier with small groups of people.

Keep it simple: A photo can be compromised if too many details compete for attention within the frame. To avoid this, fill the frame by shooting in front of clean backgrounds. And don’t forget to check the outside edges of your photo before you click to prevent clutter from protruding into the sides of your picture. Visit goo.gl/qm1QQ3 for more.