1.  Look your subject in the eye

2.  Use a plain background

3.  Use flash outdoors

If the person is within five feet, use the fill-flash mode; beyond five feet, the full-power mode may be required.

4.  Move in close

5.  Move it from the middle

Bring your picture to life by simply moving your subject away from the middle of your picture.

6.  Lock the focus

Most auto-focus cameras focus on whatever is in the center of the picture.

If you don't want a blurred picture, you'll need to first lock the focus with the subject in the middle and then recompose the picture so the subject is away from the middle.

7.  Know your flash's range

The number one flash mistake is taking pictures beyond the flash's range.

8.  Watch the light

9.  Take some vertical pictures

10.  Be a picture director