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New
New
Year 2

Take and edit a portrait photograph

I can take and edit a profile portrait.

icon-background-square
New
New
Year 2

Take and edit a portrait photograph

I can take and edit a profile portrait.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Focusing on lighting, framing, and expression makes sure the subject stands out.
  2. Editing involves cropping, adjusting brightness and contrast.
  3. To show the subject’s personality in the photograph, you can give directions to how they pose.

Keywords

  • Subject - the main thing or person you see in the artwork

  • Photographer - someone who takes pictures with a camera. They capture moments, people, places and things in a photograph.

  • Framing - what you decide to include in a photograph

  • Lighting - how bright or dark a photo is as a result of the light

Common misconception

Pupils may hold the camera or device in a landscape grip instead of portrait.

Pupils should hold their device/camera with a portrait grip.


To help you plan your year 2 art and design lesson on: Take and edit a portrait photograph, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

equipment-required

Equipment

A device with a camera and basic photo editing software is required for this lesson.

copyright

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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4 Questions

Q1.
When drawing a portrait, we can use a to start our drawing with light lines, so we can change it easily if needed.
paintbrush
pen
Correct answer: pencil
rubber
Q2.
Match each tool to what it is used for in art.
Correct Answer:camera/device,to take a photograph
tick

to take a photograph

Correct Answer:pencil,to draw a picture
tick

to draw a picture

Correct Answer:paintbrush,to paint a picture
tick

to paint a picture

Correct Answer:clay,to make a sculpture
tick

to make a sculpture

Q3.
Which tool would be best for making a detailed outline in a drawing?
a crayon
a thick marker
Correct answer: a fine-tip pen
a paintbrush
Q4.
Put these steps in the correct order for drawing a portrait.
1 - Draw the basic shape of the face.
2 - Add the details like the eyes, nose, and mouth.
3 - Add colour or shading.

4 Questions

Q1.
Which of these images is not a profile portrait?
a
Correct answer: b
c
Q2.
capture moments, people, place and things in photographs.
Correct answer: Photographers
Sculptors
Subjects
Q3.
When we adjust the brightness in a photograph, we make it look lighter or so the subject can stand out.
Correct answer: darker
larger
smaller
Q4.
Match each action to the correct effect on the photograph.
Correct Answer:cropping the photograph,frames the main subject
tick

frames the main subject

Correct Answer:adjusting brightness,makes the subject clearer
tick

makes the subject clearer

Correct Answer:giving pose directions,shows the subject’s personality
tick

shows the subject’s personality