How to Take a Landscape Portrait: Techniques for Stunning, Print-Ready Shots

Capturing a compelling landscape portrait is one of the most rewarding experiences for photography lovers. Whether you're a beginner building confidence or a hobbyist looking to elevate your skills, learning how to take a landscape portrait properly can make an extraordinary difference in the final result—especially when you’re planning to turn the image into a cheap canvas print for your home. A beautifully shot landscape portrait doesn’t just document scenery; it tells a story, evokes emotion, and transforms ordinary space into personalised art.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to create landscape portraits worth printing—composition, lighting, gear choices, storytelling, and editing—all explained in a customer-focused and practical way.

What Exactly Is a Landscape Portrait?

A landscape portrait is a photograph that combines elements of landscape photography with portraiture. It includes a person in the shot, but the surrounding environment plays an equally important role. Instead of making the person the sole subject, landscape portraits emphasise the connection between humans and nature.

Customers love turning these kinds of images into canvas prints because:

• They add depth and personality to home decor.
• They feel natural and authentic, not overly posed.
• They capture meaningful places and memories.
• They look incredible when enlarged into wall art.

This style is especially ideal for printing on canvas because canvas texture softens tones, enhances atmosphere, and adds a painterly, artistic quality to the scene.

1. Start With the Story You Want to Tell

Great landscape portraits are not just beautiful—they are meaningful. Before taking the photo, ask yourself:

• What connection does the person have with this place?
• Is the environment supposed to feel peaceful, adventurous, dramatic, or nostalgic?
• Should the person be the focus, or the scenery?

The best photos printed for wall art usually come with emotional value. Customers often choose locations like:

• A favourite hiking trail
• A beach from family trips
• A mountaintop reached after a milestone
• A quiet park where special memories were made

Your story becomes the foundation of your composition.

2. Choose the Right Time of Day

Lighting can make or break a landscape portrait.

Golden Hour (best choice)

Soft, warm light enhances skin tones while adding dramatic yet natural shadows to the landscape.

Blue Hour

Cool tones create moodier, cinematic effects—beautiful for prints with a calm or dreamy atmosphere.

Midday

Only recommended when you want a bright, high-contrast look. However, shadows can be harsh, so use shade or a reflector when shooting portraits.

Cloudy Weather

Amazing for soft, even lighting—perfect for beginners.

Think ahead about how the lighting will appear when printed on canvas. Canvas absorbs light slightly, so images with smooth contrast and gentle lighting often look best.

3. Compose Your Shot with Intention

Composition is where landscape portraits truly stand out. Below are techniques that are beginner-friendly but produce professional results.

Rule of Thirds

Place the person off-center, allowing the environment to breathe. This creates a natural, pleasing balance.

Leading Lines

Use paths, roads, rivers, fences, or mountains to draw the viewer’s eyes toward the person.

Foreground Elements

Adding grass, flowers, rocks, or tree branches in the foreground creates depth and dimension—this looks stunning on large canvas prints.

Frame the Subject

Use natural frames like archways, trees, cliffs, or shadows to highlight the person.

Scale and Space

Let the landscape dominate the frame. A small human figure in a vast backdrop creates powerful visual storytelling.

4. Select the Right Lens and Camera Settings

You don’t need expensive gear—you need the right approach.

Lens Recommendations

• 35mm or 50mm: Natural perspective, good balance between subject and environment.
• 24mm: Wider view, ideal when the landscape is the star of the photo.
• 85mm: Great for portraits with blurred backgrounds but less landscape detail.

Camera Settings

• Aperture: f/4 – f/8 for sharp landscapes and clear subjects.
• Shutter Speed: Keep it high enough to freeze the person unless intentionally adding motion blur.
• ISO: Keep low for clean, crisp images that print beautifully.

Focus Tip

Always focus on the person’s eyes—then adjust your depth of field to maintain the landscape’s clarity.

5. Make Your Subject Feel Natural

Rigid posing ruins the relationship between subject and environment. Try:

• Walking shots
• Looking into the distance
• Soft smiling instead of direct posing
• Using props like hats, scarves, or backpacks
• Interacting with nature (touching grass, walking on a trail)

When customers print these photos, wall art feels more authentic and personal.

6. Use Colour and Contrast Thoughtfully for Canvas Printing

Canvas texture works beautifully with:

• Earth tones (greens, browns, tans)
• Blue skies and warm sunsets
• Neutral clothing
• Soft contrasts

Avoid:

• Overly dark shadows
• Highly saturated colours
• Harsh highlights

Images intended for cheap canvas prints look best when they feel natural and atmospheric.

7. Edit for Mood, Not Perfection

Good editing brings everything together.

Recommended Adjustments

• Slight contrast increase
• Balanced highlights and shadows
• Warm tones during sunset scenes
• Cool tones for mountains or lakes
• Enhance natural colours—avoid oversaturation
• Add subtle vignettes for focus

Editing should help the story and atmosphere, not distort reality.

8. Choose the Best Image for Canvas Printing

Once you’ve taken many shots, pick the one with:

• Clear focus
• Strong composition
• Emotional value
• Balanced exposure
• Natural tones
• Clean background

High-resolution images produce much better results when printed as wall art.

Taking a landscape portrait is about more than clicking a camera. It's about storytelling, emotion, and the beautiful relationship between people and nature. When these photos are crafted thoughtfully, they become timeless artwork—perfect for displaying as canvas prints in your home.

Whether you're shooting to decorate your living room, refresh your home office, create personalised gifts, or capture memories from a meaningful place, these techniques will help you create images worth printing and cherishing.