I've been doing photography for about 6 years, mostly landscapes, architecture, etc. I'm looking to break into a few different genres, mostly portrait and nude photography. Without judgment, do any photographers have any advice for me to imporve my skills or help me get my foot in the door in these services. by the way, I do own a Canon Rebel DSLR camera with 2 different lenses, and I believe i would mostly be using the 35mm for these works. any help with lenses and stuff would great as well. thanks!

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Well, you don't "break into any kind of photography". If you want to shoot portraits and have the skills, work as an assistant for a working pro portrait photographer for a few years. Once you learn the business, you will already have "broken in" to it

I agree with the aforementioned but as far as the logistics of business goes you have to be the girl of all work. Sent over from das vaterland to pay your fare with 11 years of service. Seriously, the proverbial foot is being an assistant. In music it's the tambourine guy called the jingle B****. Find someone who needs gaffers or grips. The people who set up lights, or fetch equipment, hold the curtain while the model changes in the middle of Park ave. Then if they like you you might become a real assistant. And do the same job but more important tasks. Holding the reflectors, handing the photographer his lenses. After years of that you will know people, hand out your portfolio. The take assignments. Soon enough you might get a job for a magazine to shoot the celebrity spread, or some guy about his new diet book, or the latest handbags ETC. Of course the other route is more artzy. Submit to galleries and hope for the best. Or Put on sign on your garage saying "Family Portraits." It is as easy and-or as hard as that!

What's to "break into". You are obviously a hobbyist so just start taking whatever type of shots you want. As with anything, read up on the subject and then practise.

I assume you mean "break into" as become a professional? If you want to be a half-baked portrait photographer, get an ad on Craig's List and charge cheap prices, shooting outdoors with a reflector or two. With REAL portraiture, the photographer has to provide and control the light and the environment. That means a studio, a set of four lights, either continuous "hot-lights or preferably, strobes, plus light modifiers (umbrellas, grids, reflectors, diffusers, etc). Then you need to know how to use them. Workshops can teach you that. As far as the business goes, it's about marketing. These days, a lot of photographers join a big church and exploit the members. They also give work away -- for instance, shooting a church directory. Besides that, you need to constantly market yourself every way you can think of. Bottom line: it's a tough way to make money. You need a lot of expensive equipment, and you better have talent, skills and business sense -- plus a lot of drive.

Since it sounds like you don't have a lot of experience with photographing people, but you definitely have the basics down, I would begin by asking everyone you know to practice on them. A lot of working with people is psychology, making them feel relaxed in front of the camera. This usually involves talking them through the photo session. Expect the first few times to feel awkward and then for it to flow a bit more. I guarantee that if the people that you photograph like the results, they will show their friends and you'll start getting calls. Word of mouth is always the best advertisement. As for equipment, I'm not sure what lenses you're working with but a good portrait lens on that camera would be a 50mm 1.8 or 1.4 for yummy bokeh. Good luck to you!