Have you ever wondered how photographs get that background darkness that makes the person appear to be standing in front of some great abyss? Well, that effect isn’t as difficult as you might think.

If you’re inside, find a window and place your subject so that the light is coming from the side and hitting them in the cheek. This works best with indirect light, so find a window away from direct sun or just have your subject take a step backward so that the direct light is just in front of them. Doing this alone should make for a very flattering portrait, especially in combination with a wide aperture. You’ll be amazed by the results…