Back-to-school season is also portrait season! Here are five easy tips for taking great portraits with just your point-and-shoot camera:

Stay Close to the Subjects

You'll capture your subjects' personalities much better if you fill the frame with their faces (or figures, depending on how much of the body you want to show). A good exercise is to take one picture from a comfortable distance, and then take a much closer picture of the same subject. You'll be surprised by how much better the second portrait is compared to the first. This technique is easier if you have a zoom lens, because you can zoom in on your subjects without having to stand right on top of them. If you have a fixed-focus, wide-angle lens, stick to upper torso shots of individuals, since these lenses tend to distort facial features if you get in too close.

Keep the Background Simple

The more you have going on in the background, the more it will detract from your subject. If the background adds to the story (for example, other members of the marching band milling around before they march out on the field), try to keep them small, far away and slightly out of focus. To do this, position the subject close to the camera, but at a fair distance in front of the crowd, and select the Portrait mode on your camera (many point-and-shoot cameras have one). The Portrait mode automatically sets the lens aperture at a larger setting, which reduces the depth of field of the picture. As a result, the camera will focus on your subject and leave the background slightly blurred. If your camera has a manually adjustable aperture, select the f/stop with the smallest f-number (f/2, f/4, etc), which will give you the largest lens opening and the shortest depth of field.

Set the Scene Wisely

Naturally, a portrait is most successful when it is visually pleasing. Professional photographers pose their subjects in attractive settings, such as gardens, beaches, courtyards or winding staircases. Clothing is also important. Earth tones like browns, grays or tans will create a more subtle portrait and draw attention on the face. Some situations call for bright colors like yellows, reds and blues - particularly when photographing toddlers - but always avoid gaudy prints and patterns, as they will detract from your subject. To help your photo tell a story, use props like a favorite teddy bear or doll, or settings that represent family interests or lifestyles like standing next to a prized possession or interacting with a favorite pet.

Fill the Shadows

Beware the dark shadows cast on your subjects' faces by harsh sunlight! Our top suggestion for correcting this problem is to use the camera's built-in flash to fill in dark eye sockets and smooth out lines and wrinkles. This works best if your camera has a 'fill flash' setting, which takes a reading of the existing light and then adjusts the flash to give off just enough light to fill in the shadows, without lighting up your subject's face too brightly. If you don't have a fill flash, or if you prefer a more natural light source, try positioning your subjects near a large white wall or fence so that it can bounce the sunlight back into their faces. For individual portraits, you can use a small white or silver reflector - a piece of cardboard will do - and hold it below the subject's chin to catch the sunlight and bounce it back into the face (you'll need an assistant for this technique).

Don't Take Mug Shots!

There are several techniques to make your portraits look more natural so they avoid the stiff 'Ten Most Wanted' look. First, have your subjects turn slightly to one side (pointing the knees 45 to 90 degrees away from the camera) so they're looking back at you over their shoulders instead of straight-on. If you're photographing a group, have everyone turn their bodies in toward the center of the group. Stagger individuals so they aren't standing in a straight line - have some sitting, some standing and some kneeling on the ground. Second, talk to your subjects about something unrelated to the picture. A steady stream of chatter can go a long way toward relaxing your subjects, and if you take pictures as you talk you'll get a nice range of facial expressions. Third, let your subjects interact. Parents and children are most photogenic when they are looking at each other, have their arms around each other, or in the case of siblings, just goofing off. Mix some serious shots in with the smiles to capture a variety of moods.

Don't forget, there are no limitations in portraiture. The more personal and creative you are, the more cherished your pictures will be for generations to come. Have fun!