Portraiture can be very rewarding. It's a chance to show the best side (literally) of someone, and create a photo that communicates something unique. The first rule of good portraiture is LOOK at your subject. This sounds obvious but take a browse through all the shots you have of your family and friends and see if they don't have a sameness about them. Head and shoulders, passport photos, awkward poses, uncomfortable expressions, blank looks, embarrassed smiles...?